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Doha, Qatar - Dr. Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec), a member of Qatar Foundation, delivered the keynote address at the Energy Security Summit 2016. His address, entitled "Transition to Renewable Energy - Evolution, Not Revolution," described the global move from conventional to renewable sources of energy as a trend that was part of a consistent progression to meet the growing need for power in a reliable, sustainable and cost-effective way. The meeting was held at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin, Germany.
In addition to Dr. Khalid K. Al Hajri, other notable speakers included Barbara Hendricks, the German Federal Environment Minister, and Michael Schmidt, CEO, BP Europe.
This conference was the fourth instalment of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Forum that brings together decision-makers from across the globe to discuss sustainable technologies and the achievement of a diversified energy supply. It was hosted by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.
Speaking to the audience that comprised members of the global business community, government officials, scientists and representatives of nongovernmental organizations, Dr. Al Hajri said, "At the Paris Agreement on climate change, in December 2015, government leaders agreed that renewables were key to reducing green house gasses. Something we know about the solar industry is that as the costs of producing electricity reduces, the number of installations increase remarkably, and we are seeing this right across the world today."
As of 2015, the renewable energy sector growth accounts for more than half of all new power generation worldwide. It is projected that by 2040 the amount of energy produced from renewables will increase to 60%, with the solar energy sector having the majority share at 26%.
During his address, Dr. Al Hajri lauded the record investment in the international renewable energy sector in 2015, reaching USD $321 billion globally. Additionally, he highlighted that last year, over 121 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity were installed across the world, setting a new record of achievement for this flourishing energy sector, with almost half of this coming from emerging markets.
He concluded his speech by emphasizing that in order to enable the renewable energy sector to truly consolidate its successes, the various stakeholders in the industry must cooperate to address the challenges of continued cost reductions and energy storage. Dr. Al Hajri cited the example of the consortium formed by QSTec, and the two German companies, SolarWorld and Centrotherm, as a model of different organizations pooling together their intellectual prowess and physical assets to optimize benefits, and urged others to form similar alliances to accelerate industry growth.
"The oil and gas industry has been collaborating together for years and has had tremendous success in reducing costs and improving efficiencies," said Dr. Al Hajri. "I strongly encourage the renewables industry to learn from this and, like QSTec, form strong consortiums that will enable us to address these challenges sooner."
QSTec has established a solar energy industry in Qatar, as well as initiated a series of countrywide education initiatives to encourage the creative use of solar energy technologies, design and sustainability.
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About Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec)
Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is enabling Qatar reach a sustainable future by manufacturing and supplying solar energy solutions that are used locally and exported globally. QSTec, a world leading integrated solar company, is a joint venture formed between Qatar Solar (a wholly owned subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development), SolarWorld AG and Qatar Development Bank, that is built on a philosophy of quality, operational excellence and commercial integrity.
QSTec is currently building an 8,000 metric ton per annum polysilicon facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar in addition to being the largest private equity holder in the global solar company SolarWorld AG and owning 50% of the solar and semi-conductor manufacturing technology company, Centrotherm AG. The plant is spread on a site of 1.2 million square metres and covers an area of half a million square metres. The facility will run two polysilicon trains with a capacity to produce 8,000 metric tons per year of pure polysilicon - the key ingredient used in 90% of the world's solar modules. Built on an area of 500,000 square metres, the plant is set to be the largest solar facility in the region - with a pipe network of 200 kilometres and an electrical cable above 3,000 kilometres. Construction utilised is 15,000 metric tons of steel and 100,000 cubic metres of concrete.
QSTec and its partners are the key solar technology suppliers for some of Qatar's most iconic buildings and offer turnkey solar energy solutions for any sized project in addition to offering high quality Polysilicon and manufacturing technologies to customers around the world.
For more information visit QSTec.com.
For more information please contact:
Craig Field
Corporate Communications Specialist
Qatar Solar Technologies
Email: cfield@qstec.com
Phone: +974 4020 2358
www.qstec.com
© Press Release 2016
