WFES 2026 to Showcase Solar, Clean Energy Growth

News Desk - 22/12/2025

The World Future Energy Summit, WFES 2026, hosted by Masdar as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will address economic and geopolitical challenges facing the solar energy sector. The event will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from January 13–15.

The Summit’s Solar and Clean Energy Conference and Exhibition will gather thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore new technologies and strategies for solar energy management across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Global solar power installations surged to 597 gigawatts in 2024, a 33% increase over the previous year, according to SolarPower Europe. This pushed global capacity beyond 2 terawatts (TW), with forecasts suggesting annual installations could reach 1 TW by 2030.

In the MENA region, solar capacity rose 23% in 2023 to 32 gigawatts peak (GWp). The 2025 MESIA Solar Outlook Report predicts it could surpass 180 GWp by 2030. Initiatives such as the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 aim to produce 75% and 30% of energy requirements from clean sources, respectively.

Experts at WFES 2026 will discuss monetising stranded renewables into revenue streams. Nicolás Bohrer, Puroil’s Managing Director, said surplus electrons from solar could be converted into steady income through dynamic off-takers, including bitcoin miners and data centres.

“With solar capacity soaring, the challenge is integration rather than generation,” Bohrer noted. He added that MENA is well-positioned to demonstrate how abundant solar production can align with real-time demand while preserving system reliability.

The Summit will examine integration and deployment barriers, including intermittent solar output, grid fluctuations, and connection delays. Countries are exploring large-scale energy storage, decentralisation, smart grids, and AI-driven systems to maintain stability.

WFES 2026 will also highlight regional power trading, cross-border energy flows, and efforts to localise solar manufacturing amid global supply chain and geopolitical pressures.

Shyam Parmar, WFES Event Director, said the Summit will unite public sector companies, private corporations, investors, and entrepreneurs. “The aim is to spark collaboration that drives solar growth across the MENA region,” he added.

The event will also focus on green hydrogen, powered by renewable energy. Projects such as Saudi Arabia’s Neom Green Hydrogen Project and Oman’s clean hydrogen ambitions demonstrate the region’s competitive edge.

Mohammad Al Natour, Managing Director at SMA Middle East, noted that combining intelligent technologies, decentralised solutions, and global collaboration is key to overcoming complexity, improving efficiency, and supporting clean energy goals.

The MESIA Solar Awards, held at WFES, will recognise industry excellence while aligning with the annual MESIA Solar Outlook launch. Hinde Liepmannsohn, MESIA Executive Director, said the awards bring together policy leaders, investors, and pioneers to shape the future of solar energy in the region.

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