Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a game-changer in the energy sector, with the potential to bring new levels of optimisation and efficiency. On episode 20, we delve into how AI could help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10% by 2030, examining the innovations that could transform energy management worldwide.

From predicting building energy use to improving manufacturing processes and even boosting agricultural yields, AI offers powerful tools for energy efficiency. But, like any powerful tool, AI comes with its own energy needs. The computing power required for AI is growing rapidly, doubling every 100 days, according to some studies. This surge in demand has even led to coal-fired power plants in parts of the U.S. being kept online to support new data centres.

Episode 20 explores the balance needed to ensure AI remains a sustainable solution.

Dr. Morgan Eldred, founder of Digital Energy consultancy services and an expert in AI-driven energy efficiencies, and Hassan Shamma, Chief Technology Officer at UAE-based Enerwhere, specialising in off-grid solar solutions, join Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, to discuss the double-edged sword of AI’s energy-saving potential alongside its growing energy consumption

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

With the current financing gap for climate tech estimated to be as high as US$2 trillion, innovators and entrepreneurs in the space often struggle to secure funding. On episode 19 we discuss exactly what makes a climate tech project attractive to the investment community with key insights that every startup needs to know.

For entrepreneurs and startups in the climate tech space, securing funding can be a major barrier to opportunity and growth.

According to research by Deloitte, the current financing gap for climate tech could be as much as US$2 trillion. Recently released data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance also revealed that global sustainable finance issuance volumes stood at US$1.3 trillion in 2023 - down from US$1.55 trillion the year prior, and from the US$1.8 trillion peak in 2021.

Global economic uncertainty, greenwashing concerns, regulatory opacity and horizon scaling issues are all contributing factors, which means that breakthrough innovators need to up their investability game while investors, in turn, need to be prepared to take a leap of faith.

On episode 19, recorded at the 2024 World Future Energy Summit, we chat with two UAE based experts and examine what it will take to improve entrepreneur access to green finance; discuss exactly what makes a climate tech project attractive to the investment community; and share key insights on how to present your idea or business in the best investable light.

Moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Rabih El Chaar, CEO and co-founder of waste management innovator Nadeera Technologies, and Jana Elkova, Small and Medium Projects Development Expert for the UAE Ministry of Economy.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

From privately owned vehicles to company fleets and mass transit, eMobility investment and strategies are shaping our transportation future. On episode 18 we look at how global cities are adopting and scaling their electric networks and discuss potential economic opportunity in establishing local manufacturing capabilities.

Urban planners, municipalities and policy makers are increasingly shifting focus towards low-carbon mobility solutions as federal governments continue to action net-zero 2050 strategies.

The role of eMobility in supporting sustainable urban development under the scope of the United Nations SDG 11 reflects a global push for electric vehicle adoption by individuals, for company fleets, and as future-proofed mass transit solutions.

Cities around the world are adopting and scaling their electric public transportation networks while the sector also offers fresh economic opportunity in terms of investment into manufacturing technologies at a national level.

On episode 18, recorded at the 2024 World Future Energy Summit, we discuss what needs to be done to drive adoption private and public sector buy-in; examine the state-of-play for critical infrastructure development; and, with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia investing in electric vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), ask what does this mean for the region and the global outlook for eMobility?

Moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Naveen Ahmed, Advisor & Country Transaction Coordinator Pakistan for the Private Financing Advisory Network, and Ali Al Marzooqi, Director of Mobility at Positive Zero.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

Sustainable, resilient, and climate-positive urban environments are not a pipe dream, and regenerative design is a game-changer in transforming the built environment. On episode 17, we discuss how governments, urban planners, and communities can come together to reverse climate change.

By 2050, two out of every three people will be living in cities or major urban centres. With cities generating around 75 percent of global CO2 emissions, the race is on to create sustainable, resilient, and climate-restorative cities.

Regenerative urban design will play a pivotal role in helping transform the built environment to enhance potential for net-positive impact on natural systems. From retrofitting a commercial building with a green skin to creating wetlands that capture and store rainwater, there is ample opportunity for cities and citizens to rebuild a harmonised relationship with nature.

This episode was recorded during the 2024 World Future Energy Summit. Our invited experts identify the global cities setting benchmarks for regenerative design, discuss what it takes for a city to become a carbon sink, and ask whether major gateways like London, New York and Dubai can go beyond carbon neutrality and into the realm of carbon negativity?

Moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Dr Hala Omar, Sustainability Manager at turnkey consultancy Dar Al-Handasah, and Vice President of the Egypt Green Building Council; and Laurence Kemball-Cook, founder and CEO of clean-tech company, Pavegen.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

Imagine a world where treated wastewater not only protects our environment but also drives innovation and creates jobs. This vision remains largely untapped, yet it's within our reach!

According to current UN Environment Programme data, only 11% of the world’s treated wastewater is reused. Shockingly, around 50% of untreated wastewater pollutes our rivers, lakes, and oceans.

In Episode 16, recorded at the 2024 World Future Energy Summit, we explore the future of wastewater treatment with two leading experts in the field.

Beyond irrigation and industrial cooling, treated wastewater can recharge groundwater aquifers, be used as a concrete additive in construction, and even produce biogas through waste-to-energy technology.

Treated wastewater reuse is a valuable yet underutilised resource. It offers a circular economy opportunity, creates new revenue streams and jobs, fosters innovation, and advances wastewater management practices.

Our host, Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Alicia Dauth, Senior Associate Consultant – Environment at AESG,
and Dr Chakravarthy Gudipati, Executive Director - Water Technologies at the Technology Innovation Institute, a leading global research centre under the remit of the Abu Dhabi Government’s Advanced Technology Research Council.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the latest technologies transforming wastewater treatment and optimising its usage.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

Anticipated rampant growth in global demand for green hydrogen presents a major economic opportunity for many countries and is also a progressive zero-carbon journey solution for heavy industry high emitters. On episode 15, we examine both opportunities, looking at which countries are already keen on clean hydrogen and what’s driving strategic decision-making.

Green hydrogen, a clean and scalable energy storage solution, is more than just a zero-emission industrial feedstock. It's a transformative energy source with incredible potential, positioning itself as a beacon of sustainability.

The clean hydrogen market is expected to see exponential future demand growth. McKinsey reports that by 2050, green hydrogen could dominate the global supply mix, with a share of between 50 and 65 percent across scenarios.

While this is contingent upon a significant decline in production costs between 2030 and 2050, it represents a major economic opportunity for GCC nations and other global players.

But for heavy industry high emitters, abundant green hydrogen resources can’t be ignored as a zero-carbon solution and could be one of the most straightforward ways to cut emissions.

In episode 15, recorded at the 2024 World Future Energy Summit, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion with two climate change innovators. We explore the crucial decision of whether to localize or commercialize, delve into the factors driving strategic decision-making for governments, and ponder over what it means for countries in the region and their ambitious regional net-zero goals.

Moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Frank Wouters, Chairman of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance and Dii Desert Energy Advisory Board; and Wietse ter Veld, Clean Hydrogen Expert - Middle East for AtkinsRéalis.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

Women are playing an increasingly prominent role in addressing climate change mitigation and stand at the forefront of efforts to conserve, advocate and innovate. On episode 14 we talk to two high-profile women representing different aspects of the future energy industry to learn more about their inspiration and focus.

Climate change is a global issue that impacts – and involves - all of us, however there is a distinct disparity when it comes to the impact on gender with women especially vulnerable, due to historical roles, responsibilities and cultural norms.

The UN estimates that women represent a staggering 80% of those displaced by climate change yet, globally, they are instrumental in promoting sustainable practices in their households and communities.

While women currently account for just over one-third of the renewable energy workforce, according to IRENA data, global research suggests that female leaders are more likely to support climate action and sustainability. Interestingly, private sector companies with more women on the board more likely to improve overall energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and invest in renewable energy.

On episode 14, recorded on location at the 2024 World Future Energy Summit, we chat with two climate change innovators on the frontline of change for key insights into their respective career journeys and the importance of female leadership in this planet-critical sector.

Moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, is joined by Nada Abubakr, Middle East Lead at global water practice, Ricardo; and Susan Payne, Chief Operations Officer of agri-food tech company, Sustainable Planet.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES

Considering the diverse challenges cities face, what innovative strategies can they implement to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near future?

Future Energy Insights seeks to address the most significant challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world.

Responsible for generating 70% of global emissions, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has called the world’s cities ‘critical climate battlegrounds’.

This issue was formally recognised at COP28 with the final agreement highlighting the role of cities and relevant subnational players as partners for action.

From urban planning, sustainable architecture and green building standards to biodiversity preservation, renewable energy adoption and public transportation infrastructure, cities have myriad opportunities to implement climate-positive change.

In episode 13, our moderator Jeffrey Beyer, Founder, and Managing Director of Zest Associates, explores and discusses the initiatives, opportunities – and challenges – facing cities across the region with Jamila El Mir, senior advisor to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28; Benjamin Schroeder, Group Chief Communications Officer for UAE-headquartered Al-Futtaim Group; and Ghaith Tibi, Middle East Sustainability Lead for Arup. They discuss and identify key priorities for greenhouse gas emissions reduction as we count down to 2030 and 2050.

Powered by World Future Energy Summit, the Future Energy Insights show seeks to address the biggest challenges shaping the future of energy today, both in the Middle East and around the world. Find us on social media at @WFES