IRENA at World Utilities Congress 2025

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The World Utilities Congress takes place from 27-29 May in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, bringing industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to address challenges and opportunities in the energy transition, water security and digitalisation. By prioritising renewable integration, stronger grid resilience and improved water management, the exhibition and conference is spearheading the move toward a sustainable, dependable and inclusive future for utilities worldwide.

As a part of the conference’s proceedings, IRENA will host and actively participate in several events, inviting all participants to visit its Pavilion at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi to browse our publications and engage in conversation on the renewable-based energy transition.-

IRENA Pavillion
GULF STANDARD TIME (GST)
15:00 – 16:15

Unlocking Geothermal Energy Applications on the Road to a Net Zero World
Hosted by IRENA and Tabreed, this session will be opened by IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera, and Tabreed CEO, Khalid Al Marzooqi. This panel highlights geothermal energy’s growing role in decarbonising key sectors beyond electricity such as cooling, agriculture, tourism, and industry. Global case studies and innovations will highlight how direct-use geothermal applications can support net-zero goals, with a focus on regional projects. Participants will explore collaboration opportunities, share best practices, and identify pathways to scale geothermal solutions for a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
Other Pavilions and Director-General speaking engagements
GULF STANDARD TIME (GST)
12:30 – 12:45
Location: Conference Room A

Energy Talk – Midway in the decade for action: are 2030 goals within reach?
IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera, will speak on the global progress toward decarbonisation targets, examining whether the momentum from COP28 and COP29 is sufficient to overcome barriers to meeting critical 2030 milestones for accelerating electrification and transforming power systems.
12:35 – 13:30
Location: Strategic Conference

Global power outlook: are we on track for 2030?
Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA) leaders will share insights on tackling the structural, regulatory, and financial barriers hindering the energy transition, focusing on scaling renewables and expanding energy storage. They will also explore strategies to accelerate progress and help deliver on the pledge to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. This panel will feature IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera as a speaker.
14:00 – 15:15
Location: Utilities Club

High-level UNEZA CEO roundtable: Shaping the age of electricity. A CEO – regulators dialogue
Hosted by UNEZA, this roundtable will bring together CEOs and regulators to find common ground to tackle challenges that hinder progress towards ambitious power sector goals. This high‑level dialogue will examine the role of regulators in steering the power‑sector transition towards net‑zero while safeguarding affordability and reliability.
IRENA Pavillion
GULF STANDARD TIME (GST)
11:30 – 13:00
Alliance for Industry Decarbonization: Challenges and solutions to electrify hard to abate industries – in focus Aluminium Industry
The session will explore practical pathways to electrify aluminium production, with speakers drawing on the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization’s upcoming report, Aluminium Circularity: Industry Insights and Future Directions, to outline strategies that enhance circularity and accelerate the sector’s electrification. Panellists will examine policy measures, regulatory reforms and opportunities for collaboration that unlock investment in zero‑carbon heat and recycled feedstocks with aims to set clear targets and a blueprint to accelerate aluminium’s transition to a net‑zero, circular future.
15:00 – 16:00

Shifting Gears: Accelerating Delivery Through Collaborative Action in Power | Breakthrough Agenda

Facilitated by IRENA, this session showcases the Power Breakthrough Agenda as a catalyst for international collaboration to transform the global power sector. Participants will explore technical, regulatory, and financial strategies crucial for accelerating progress. The discussion will outline actionable pathways to enhance public-private cooperation, unlock rapid delivery, and achieve system-wide transformation aligned with global decarbonisation and sustainable energy objectives.
IRENA Pavillion
GULF STANDARD TIME (GST)
11:30 – 12:45
Key Enablers for the Energy Transition: Grids and Storage
This expert roundtable will examine how grids and energy storage can unlock the COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge which aims to increase global energy storage capacity to 1,500 gigawatts by 2030, bringing stakeholders together to identify barriers and craft solutions. Discussion will target scaling investment in modern grids, storage growth, and innovative market designs that integrate renewables reliably. Expected results include concrete recommendations, new public‑private collaborations, and momentum towards tripling renewable capacity while ensuring an equitable, secure energy transition.
13:30 – 14:30
Strengthening Supply Chains of Utilities
This panel examines how standardised supply chains can accelerate global utility infrastructure, which is vital for flexibility, energy storage and grids. Speakers will discuss how international standards and conformity assessments can clear supply chain bottlenecks, and facilitate the energy transition, outlining steps for utilities and regulators to align procurement and grid planning with common standards. The sessions will also promote the uptake UNEZA’s high‑level statement on Building a resilient and diverse clean energy technology supply chain and launch an upcoming brief, Encourage the use of standards and certifications.

Other Pavilions
GULF STANDARD TIME (GST)
15:00 – 16:00
Energiesalon: Unlocking Flexibility in the Energy
From integrating renewables and balancing fluctuating demand to enabling real-time coordination of distributed assets, the need for flexibility is reshaping the energy landscape. The Energiesalon aims to fosters discussions by convening thought leaders and decision-makers to explore innovative technologies, policy frameworks, and business models to support a more agile, robust and decarbonised energy system.