Solar power projects worth approximately US$155 billion are in the pipeline with capabilities to generate more than 84 GW of power. The Middle East is fast becoming a global solar power hub. At the centre of these developments is a UAE-based trade group dedicated to promoting the solar power cause.
Since its inception in 2009, the Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) has been instrumental in fostering the development of a regional solar market by providing a strong and unified voice to industry and empowering children, women and the wider community across the whole of the Middle East. The trade group has since emerged as a leading solar industry body both in the UAE and in the wider Middle Eastern region.
Last week, ESIA's board of directors unanimously voted to rebrand the association in order to keep pace with industry developments and to recognise the body's ever-increasing role and impact throughout the whole of the Middle Eastern region.
"When we initially started our operations we were only active in the Emirates. But as the solar sector has developed into a regional phenomenon, so have our operations. This is why the natural step for us was to rebrand at the Middle East Solar Industry Association, or MESIA. The feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive," says Vahid Fotuhi, the President of MESIA.
Last week, London-based CWC, a global energy event management firm, announced that the association had won its prestigious annual Sustainability Award. The award will be officially presented to ESIA on Monday 23 September at the AWPF Cocktail Reception at the Address Hotel in Dubai Marina.
ESIA has won this recognition on the back of its pioneering work in promoting solar energy across the Middle East over the past five years. This is the association's third award for 2013, following earlier accolades by CPI in June 2013 and DEWA in January 2013.
With over 120 member companies from across the Middle East and throughout the world, MESIA is the largest clean energy-focused association in the region.
"Over the past two years, a tremendous amount of solar players have flocked into the UAE avid to gain a foothold in the regional solar power market.", says Marc Norman, MESIA's Director of Marketing and Communication. "Our role is to provide an all-inclusive platform to empower all those that wish to contribute towards the development of a viable solar power market across the whole of the Middle East.", he adds.
