ACWA Power Innovation Days February 2025 at The Garage in Riyadh
Back
Monday
February 3, 2025
7:00 pm
Gala Dinner
Gala Dinner
Tuesday
February 4, 2025
8:00 am
DAY 1
Theme: Innovation Vision, Digitalization/AI, Water Desalination
8:00 am
Registration and Networking
9:00 am
Opening and Keynotes
9:00 am
Welcome Note
Options depending on the patronage:
ACWA Power - Mr. Mohammad A. Abunayyan - Chairman to invite MoEn speaker to the stage (speaker to be advised by MoEn - Minister or Deputy)
Mohammad Abunayyan
Chairman, ACWA Power Company9:05 am
Keynote 1 (Speed of Saudi Arabia to deliver one of the world's most ambitious decarbonization programs through innovation)
ACWA Power - Mr. Marco Arcelli - CEO
Marco Arcelli
Chief Executive Officer, ACWA Power Company9:15 am
Keynote 2
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) - H.E Dr. Munir Eldesouki - President
Munir El-Desouki
President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology9:25 am
Driving Innovation for Impact
9:25 am
Talk - Session Opener
The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) - Dr. Mohammed Aloitaibi - Acting Head
OR
The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) - Dr. Rami Niazy - Vice Governor for Research Grants & National Programs
Mohammed Alotaibi
Acting Head, Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Rami Niazy
Vice Governor, Research, Development and Innovation Authority9:35 am
1st Panel : Innovation Vision and Ambition - Creating Synergies and Fostering Collaboration to Boost the Innovation Ecosystem for a Larger Impact.
Moderator:
ACWA Power - Mr. Raad Al Saady - Vice Chairman
Panelists:
1. Aramco - Dr. Ali A. Al-Meshari - Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight
2. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) - Dr. Abdulaziz Aljodai - Director, Corporate Programs
3. Ma'aden - Mr. Saud Al Mandil - Vice President, Technology, R&D, and Innovation
4. MEWA - Dr. Abdulaziz Al Malik - Deputy Minister for Research & Innovation
5. MoEn - to be advised by MoEn
More Options:
1. Public Investment Fund - Mr. Ali Al Ali - Director
Raad Al-Saady
Vice Chairman & MD, ACWA Power Company
Abdulaziz Al-Jodai
Director, Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation
Abdulaziz Malik Al Malik
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture
Ali A. Al-Meshari
Senior Vice President, Aramco
Ali AlAli
Director, Public Investment Fund
Saud Almandil
Vice President, MAADEN10:10 am
Coffee Break and Networking
10:45 am
Key Enablers of Innovation Ecosystem
10:45 am
Talk - Session Opener
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - Sir Dr. Edward Byrne AC - President
AND/OR
MISK - Dr BadrAl Badr - CEO
Badr Al Badr
Chief Executive Officer, Misk Foundation
Edward Byrne
President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology10:50 am
2nd Panel: Translational Research - Accelerating Technology Development and Minimizing Time To Market.
Moderator:
1. The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) - Ms. Ghadeer Khalil - Development and Attraction of Innovative Talents General Manager OR Dr. Ahmad Aljaadan - General Manager of Private Sector and Entrepreneurship Support
OR
2. ACWA Power - Ms Sarah Al Harthey - Strategic BD
Panelists:
1. MISK - Mr. Omar Najjar - Deputy CEO
2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - Dr. Ian Campbell - Vice President - National Transformation Institute
3. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) - Dr. Saeed AlShehri - Vice President for the Energy and Industry Sector
4. MoEn/King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) - Dr. Haleema Alamri - Director of Innovation & Technology Observatory Department
5. King Saud University (KSU) - Dr. Majid Nour - Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center
6. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) - Dr. Ali Al Shaikhi - Dean of the College of Engineering
7. Gradiant - Mr. Prakash Govinda - Co-Founder & COO
8. Aramco Energy Ventures - Mohammed K Al Juaib - Senior BD
9. King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC)) - Dr. Axel Pierru - Vice President, Knowledge & Analysis
Ahmad Aljadaan
General Manager, Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Ghadeer Khalil
General Manager, Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Sarah Al Harthey
Executive Manager, ACWA Power Company
Ali Al-Shaikhi
Vice President, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Axel Pierru
Acting Vice President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center
Haleema Alamri
Director, Ministry of Energy (KSA)
Ian Campbell
Vice President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Majid Nour
Director, King Abdulaziz University
Mohammed Al-Juaib
Chief Technology Officer, Aramco Ventures
Omar Najjar
Deputy CEO, Misk Foundation
Prakash Govindan
Chief Operating Officer, Gradiant Corporation
Saeed AlShihri
Vice President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology11:40 am
Fire Side Chat OR Guest Speaker: Global Trend of Innovation
1. MIT Sloan
AND/OR
2. BCG
OR
3. Roland Berger
12:00 pm
Demos and Posters
12:45 pm
Lunch Break and Networking
Prayer and Lunch Break
2:00 pm
Accelerating Deployment through Innovation at Scale and Pace
2:00 pm
Talk - Session Opener
ACWA Power - Dr Bart Boesmans - CTO
Bart Boesmans
Chief Technical Officer, ACWA Power International2:10 pm
Technology Option: Water Desalination
2:10 pm
3rd Panel: Distruptive Innovation in Desalination
Moderator:
1.International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) - Ms. Shannon McCarthy - Secretary General-Executive Director
OR
2. Global Web Index (GWI) - Mr. Christopher Gasson - Managing director
Panelists:
1. Khalifa University - Prof. Hasan Arafat - Senior Director of the Research and Innovation Center for Graphene & 2D Materials (RIC2D)
2. Saudi Water Authority (SWA) - Mr Mohammed H. AlMaghrabi - Director Strateic Partnerships
3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - Dr. Johannes Vrouwenvelder - Director of Water Desalination and Reuse
4. Public Utilities Board Singapore (PUB) - Dr Gurdev Singh - Chief Enginer and CTO
5. ACWA Power - Dr. Tariq Nada - Vice President of Water
6. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) - Dr. Ali Alaleeli - Vice President of R&D
7. Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) - Mr. Bruce Smith - Executive Director - Strategy and Planning
Christopher Gasson
Founder, Media Analytics Ltd.
Shannon McCarthy
Secretary General, International Desalination and Reuse Association
Ali Al Aleeli
Vice President, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Bruce Smith
Executive Director, Emirates Water And Electricity Company
Gurdev Singh
Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, PUB Singapore’s National Water Agency
Hassan Arafat
Senior Director, Khalifa University
Johannes Vrouwenvelder
Director, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Mohammed Almaghrabi
Director, Saudi Water Authority
Tariq Nada
Vice President, ACWA Power Company3:00 pm
Fire Side Chat: Facilitating the Adoption of New Technology to get Affordable Green Desalinater Water
1. Red Sea Global (RSG) - Edward Oldmeadow - Senior Director- Environmental Resilience and Assurance
2. Badeel
3. The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) - Mr Yazeed Alaskar - Executive Director of Institutional Funding
4. ACWA Power
5. Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC)
6. Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA)
Edward Oldmeadow
Senior Director, Red Sea Global
Yazeed Alaskar
Executive Director, Research, Development and Innovation Authority3:00 pm
OR
3:00 pm
Research Centre Chat: Advancement of research roadmap for distruptive innovation in sea water desalination and the resources required for its success.
Expected Speaker Profile:
1. China Innovation Center
2. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
4. Hassyan
5. Public Utilities Board Singapore (PUB)
3:20 pm
Coffee Break & Networking
Prayer and Coffee Break
4:00 pm
Artificial Intelligence/Digitalization
4:00 pm
4th Panel: Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Fuel Innovation.
Moderator:
1. ACWA Power (name tbc)
Panelists:
1. Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) - Mr. Hesham Banaser - CEO of AI & Data Initiatives
2. SCAI Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence- Dr. Esam Alwagait - Board Memeber
3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) -Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schmidhuber - Director, Artificial Intelligence Initiative
4. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) - Prof. El-Sayed El-Alfy - Professor & Fellow of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA)-King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Joint Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, and Affiliate of Interdisciplinary Research Center
5. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) - Dr. Mariam Nouh - Vice President, Economies of the Future Sector
6. Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) - Dr. Eyad Buhulaiga - Chief Data Management & Digital Strategy Officer
7. Saudi Aramco - Mr. Nabil Alnuaim - Senior Vice President of Digital & Information Technology
Elsayed Elalfy
Professor, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Esam Alwagait
Director, National Information Center – Saudi Arabia
Eyad Buhulaiga
Chief Data Management & Digital Strategy Officer, Saudi Electricity Company (Riyadh)
Hesham Banaser
CEO of AI & Data Field Initiatives, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority
Jürgen Schmidhuber
Director, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Mariam Nouh
Vice President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
Nabil Alnuaim
Senior Vice President, Aramco4:40 pm
Fire Side Chat: Digital innovation: fully automated renewable driven desalination plants.
Digital and Technology Officers
5:00 pm
Feedback/Open Mic
5:00 pm
Closing Note
Wednesday
February 5, 2025
8:00 am
DAY 2
Theme: Innovation Ambition, Finance, Green Hydrogen, Renewables and BESS
8:00 am
Registration and Networking
9:00 am
Opening and Keynotes
9:00 am
Welcome Note
Expected Speaker Profile:
ACWA Power Dignitary
9:05 am
Keynote 1
Expected Speaker Profile:
China Dignitary
9:15 am
Keynote 2
Expected Speaker Profile:
Uzbekistan Dignitary
9:25 am
Innovation Ambition
9:25 am
Talk - Session Opener
ACWA Power - Mr. Thomas Altmann - Executive Vice President - Innovation & New Technology
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President, ACWA Power International9:35 am
1st Panel: Innovation Ambition - the journey from incremental to breakthrough innovation.
Moderator: ACWA Power Mr. Thomas Altmann - Executive Vice President - Innovation & New Technology
Panelists:
1. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) - Mr. Michael Taylor - Head, Renewable Energy Costs and Outlook
2. Institut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles - Mr. Samir Rachidi - Director General
3. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) - Dr Ali Rashed Alsuwaidi - Chief Innovation Officer
4. The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) - Dr Hani Choudhry - Vice Governor for Innovation Ecosystem
5. DOE X Prize - Dr. Lauren Greenlee - Executive Vice President
6. Ministry of Investment KSA -
7. Government Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority - Dr. Fahad Al-Sulaiman - Sr. Executive Advisor - Energy, Water, Environment, Industry & Infrastructure Sectors, Enablement
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President, ACWA Power International
Ali Al suwaidi
Chief Innovation Officer, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Fahad Al-Sulaiman
Senior Executive Advisor - Energy, Water, Environment, Industry & Infrastructure Sectors, Enablement, Government Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority
Hani Choudhry
Vice Governor, Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Lauren Greenlee
Executive Vice President, XPRIZE
Michael Taylor
Head, International Renewable Energy Agency
Samir Rachidi
Director General, Institut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles10:10 am
Presentation: Innovation Roadmap
Expected Speaker Profile:
ACWA Power
10:30 am
Coffee Break and Networking
11:00 am
Financing Innovation
11:00 am
Talk - Session Opener
ACWA Power - Mr Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib - CFO
Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib
Chief Financial Officer, ACWA Power Company11:10 am
2nd Panel: Powering Progress: Financing Green Innovations
Moderator: ACWA Power - Mr Atanu Das - EVP Project Finance
Panelists:
1. Saudi National Bank - Mr Wael Raies - Head of Corporate Bunsiness Group
2. Public Utilities Board Singapore (PUB)lic Investment Fund - Mr Abdulwhhab Al-Shehri - Senior Vice President
3. Riyadh Bank
4. Al Rajhi Bank
5. Samba Bank
6. Morgan Stanley
7. Saudi Technology Ventures - Dr. Mazin Alzaidi - General Partner
8. Aramco Ventures - Mr Mahdi Aladel - CEO
9. Future Investment Initiative (FII) - Mr Richard Attais
10. PIF
11. ACWA Power - Mr Thomas Brostrom - CIDO
Atanu Das
Executive Vice President, ACWA Power Global Services
Abdulwhhab Al-Shehri
Senior Vice President, Public Investment Fund
Mahdi Al-Adel
Chief Executive Officer, Aramco Ventures
Mazin Alzaidi
Partner, STV
Richard Attias
Chief Executive Officer, FII Institute
Thomas Brostrom
Chief Investment Officer, ACWA Power Company
Wael Raies
Head, Saudi National Bank12:00 pm
Lunch Break and Networking
2:00 pm
Technology Integration and Synergies for Green Innovation
2:00 pm
Talk - Session Opener
ACWA Power - Mr. Jose Barragan - Vice President - Renewable Technical Services
Jose Barragan
Vice President, ACWA Power International2:10 pm
3rd Panel: Breakthroughs in Renewables and Supply Chain Synergies
Moderator: Mr. Alfons Juan - VP Strategic Supply and Contracting
Panelists:
1. LONGi Solar Technology - Mr. James Jin - President
2. Envision - Mr. Eric Hemu - Managing Director, Middle East and Africa Region
3. Jinko - Mr Du Wei - General Manager of Supply Chain
4. Sungrow
5. ACWA Power - Mr Fazle Moyeen - EVP BDTS
Alfons Juan
Executive Director, ACWA Power International
Du Wei
General Manager, Jinko Solar
Eric Hemu
Managing Director, Envision Energy
Fazle Moyeen Quazi
Executive Vice President, ACWA Power Global Services
James Jin
President, LONGi Solar Technology3:00 pm
4th Panel: Energy Storage Solutions optimum for local climate conditions
Moderator: TBC - ACWA Power
Panelists:
1. LiNa
2. Aramco
3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - Prof. Hussam Al Sareef - Director, Center for Renewable Energy & Storage Technologies (CREST)
4. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) -
5. Enervenue
Husam Alshareef
Director, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology3:20 pm
Fire Side Chat: Integration of Renewables, BESS and Desal for Affordable (Green) Water Price
3:50 pm
5th Panel: Green Hydrogen
Moderator: ACWA Power - Mr. Driss Berraho - Head of Green Hydrogen - Business Development
Panelists:
Longi
Shanghai Electric
Denora
Japan
Korea
SOEC
Driss Berraho
Vice President, ACWA Power International5:00 pm
Presentation: The furure of green hydrogen
Expected Speaker Profile:
ACWA Power
5:20 pm
Feedback/Open Mic
5:20 pm
Closing Note
ACWA Power - Mr Thomas Altmann - EVP Innovation & New Technology
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President, ACWA Power International6:15 pm
Delete
6:30 pm
Delete
Amit Kumar Beriya
Executive Director, ACWA Power Global Services
Arjun Bhattarai
Co-Founder & CTO, V-Flow Tech Pte Ltd
Björn Mårlid
Chief Executive Officer, Altris AB
Craig Evans
Founder & President, ESS
Eric Trusiewicz
Chief Executive Officer & Member of the Board, Rondo Energy
Husam Alshareef
Director, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
James Quinn
Chief Executive Officer, Faradion
Joe Mastrangelo
CEO, Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc.
Jorg Heinemann
Chief Executive Officer, EnerVenue
Larry Zulch
Chief Executive Officer, Invinity Energy Systems
Mateo Jaramillo
Co-Founder & CEO, Form Energy
Michael Peither
Co-Founder & CTO, Voltstorage
Norah Hornsveld
Chief Technology Officer, HyET Lithium
Peter Carlsson
Chief Executive Officer, Northvolt
Sanzhar Taizhan
Founder, TaiSan
Tallat Azad
Chief Executive Officer, Storelectric
Thomas Gebauer
Chief Executive Officer, Redox One
Thomas Lüth
Chief Commercial Officer, Cellcube6:45 pm
Delete
Alexey Ustinov
Senior Vice President, Siemens Energy
Christopher Hebling
Director, Fraunhofer ISE
Mani Sarathy
Chair, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Minh K Le
Vice President, Rystad Energy
Paul Dainora
Head Business Development, Thyssenkrupp Nucera
Philip Boustead
Director, ACWA Power International
Ruth Prelicz
Senior Advisor, H2-diplo6:45 pm
Delete
Abdulwhhab Al-Shehri
Senior Vice President, Public Investment Fund
Deyuan Wang
Business Development Director, Shanghai Electric
Hussain Shibli
Head, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy
James Jin
President, LONGi Solar Technology
Michael Taylor
Head, International Renewable Energy Agency
Ruggero Arico
Chief Executive Officer, RAMP Advisory
Samir Rachidi
Director General, Institut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles
Stefaan De Wolf
Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Wael Raies
Head, Saudi National Bank7:20 pm
delete
7:30 pm
Delete
7:30 pm
delete
Abdullah Al-Zowaid
Deputy Governor, Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC)
Kamal Youcef-Toumi
Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Khaled Alqureshi
Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Water Partnership Company (LLC)
KIm Choon NG
Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Menachem Elimelech
Professor, Yale University
Shadi Hasan
Director, Khalifa University
Shannon McCarthy
Secretary General, International Desalination and Reuse Association
Thierry Froment
Chief Executive Officer, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies7:30 pm
Delete
Ahmad Aljadaan
General Manager, Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Ahmed Hababou
President, Air Products & Chemicals
François Boul
Head of BD and Managing Director, Engie Middle East
Mazin Alzaidi
Partner, STV
Osamah Alamri
Chief Business Development Officer, Saudi Venture Capital Company
Riad Meddeb
Director, UNDP
Stefan Verlee
Chief O&M Officer, ACWA Power Company
Tom Foley
Executive Director, GHD Newcastle7:30 pm
Delete
Abdulaziz al Shidhani
Managing Director, Hydrogen Oman
Benjamin Queisser
Head, Neom HQ
Driss Berraho
Vice President, ACWA Power International
Hatem Azaiez
Sales Director, LONGi Hydrogen Technology
Lourdes Vega
Director, Khalifa University
Nawal Alhanaee
Director, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
Wesam Al Ghamdi
Chief Executive Officer, NEOM Green Hydrogen
Xu Lu
Assistant Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Zeid Alghareeb
Director of Hydrogen & Circular Carbon Economy National Program, Ministry of Energy (KSA)8:45 pm
Delete
Abdullah Alkhudhiri
Vice President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
Ernesto Parra
Vice President, Engie Middle East
John Webley
CEO, Chairman & Member of the Board of Directors, Trevi Systems Inc
Johnny Obeid
Vice President, Veolia Water Systems OTV SA
Khalid AL Habib
Acting CEO, Water Transmission and Technologies Company
Rami Moussilli
Chief Executive Officer, Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies