Under the patronage of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM) proudly launched the 2nd annual RetrofitTech UAE conference at Park Hyatt Dubai. This conference is officially supported by the Ministry of Energy in UAE, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Tourism and Etihad ESCO.
RetrofitTech UAE brought together government authorities, energy consultants, sustainability experts and technology providers to discuss the exciting retrofitting projects, the associated opportunities and the update on UAE’s retrofit programme.
The conference started with the opening remarks of Holley Chant followed by three keynote addresses delivered by H.E. Saeed Al Tayer the CEO and Managing Director of DEWA, H.E. Dr. Matar Al Neyadi the undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy – UAE and H.E. Ahmad Al Muhairbi the Secretary General of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.
Stephane Le Gentil, the CEO of Etihad ESCO delivered a presentation detailing the progress update on Etihad Energy Services recent projects and upcoming activities while James Grinnell shared a presentation on RSB’s regulatory framework for Dubai’s ESCO market. Another presentation discussing retrofitting for improved energy efficiency and fire safety in UAE buildings was delivered by Leif Andersson. Tim Hymans shared a presentation titled: Maximizing your most valuable assets: people, places and technology. Erdem Soyal presented on how data and software can create value to customers beyond energy efficiency followed by a presentation on the role of building retrofits in the COP21 Paris Agreement by Saeed Al Abbar. Olav Scholte presented on lighting in energy performance contracting. Another presentation titled: Better MEP designs for better future energy retrofits was delivered by Hassan Younes. Yousuf Lootah delivered a presentation by Dubai Tourism on how we will introduce the retrofit program to the hospitality industry.
Two enriching panel discussions on the future of retrofit – Assessing the upcoming challenges and opportunities and comparing energy retrofit with cost effective FM Solutions were delivered by the industry elites: Stephane Le Gentil, Saeed Al Abbar, Francisco Silverio Marques, Faisal Ali Hassan Rashid, James Grinnell, Ivano Iannelli, Jagath Gunawardena, Hassan Younes, Sandrine Le Biavant, Abdulla Al Wahedi, Ali Alsuwaidi and Mick Dalton.
“Very good opportunity to network with the government and private sector” Supun Fernando, Facilities Manager, Atlantis the Palm
The first day of RetrofitTech UAE conference created the perfect platform for the attendees to build relations, exchange ideas and seize business opportunities throughout the ACMi+ interface that allowed for many networking breaks which created a dynamic, efficient and relevant learning environment.
“This conference combines the leaders in the market”, Omnia Halawani, Managing Partner, Griffin Consultants
Many key players participated in this event, to name a few: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), Ministry of Energy in UAE, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Tourism, Etihad ESCO, Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau for Electricity & Water Dubai, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Airport Free Zone, KEO International Consultants, Emirates Green Building Council, Griffin Consultants, Enova, Dubai Carbon Center of Excellence, EMS, Farnek, Emaar Properties, MEFMA, Meraas Holdings, Yellow Door, Alpin Limited, BuroHappold Engineering | Fire Engineering, Rotana Hotels, The Rezidor Hotel Group, British University in Dubai, Novus Community Management and SAGA International.
Solution providers like GE, Philips, Sodamco Weber, Isover, Crestron, Reengen, Smart Automation, Intercool, Creara (Associate Sponsors), Grundfos (Water Efficiency Partner), Satbir, SKC, Kamstrup, GECO, Greenfield, Gerab, Greentech, Daikin, Infratech Controls, Armstrong, Rasmi, LeGrand, Trinity, Energy Savers, Diehl Metering, BASF, Jumbo Engineering, Globcom, Madico, Swiss LED, Lonix, Granlund (Networking Sponsors), Sylvania (Lanyard Sponsor) and Farnek (FM Partner) showcased their newest technologies, innovation and solutions for retrofit.
Day two (March 15) of the conference will feature many more interesting presentations, to name a few: A presentation on outlining the importance of Dubai’s Retrofit program in relation to its Demand Side Management (DSM) strategy, updates on the rehabilitation of 157 buildings located within the Jebel Ali Free Zone and associated opportunities valued at US$17.4 million, a panel discussion on green financing opportunities and challenges and OA’s perspective in involving owners in retrofitting buildings.