The 20th edition of Saudi Power, which has grown to become the epicenter of Saudi Arabia’s power industry, used its platform at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre to highlight the kingdom’s electricity sector and through a series of interactive seminar sessions, discussed current potential solutions and future strategic projects.

Held from May 9 to 11, the event was officially inaugurated by Dr Saleh Bin Hussein Al Awaji, Deputy Minister for Electricity, Ministry of Water and Electricity (MOWE), Saudi Arabia, and was organised by Riyadh Exhibitions Company in collaboration with Informa Exhibitions. 

The show brought together more than 157 exhibitors from 22 countries around the world including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon, India, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, South Africa, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Turkey among others. The show witnessed 5,051 trade visitors from the kingdom, an increase of 43 per cent over last year’s event.

Humoud Al Ghubaini, senior vice president – communications and public relations, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), said: “Sponsoring Saudi Power 2016 fell in line with SEC’s efforts to nationalise the electrical industries in the kingdom. This show was the ideal platform to showcase the development of the local energy sector, explore the latest related techniques, study the projects within the power sector, and support the growth of local companies by reducing the consumption and waste of energy.”
 

Saudi Power attracts professionals from the kingdom

Held alongside Saudi Power 2016 was a joint event, Saudi Aircon. As one of the Middle East’s leading exhibitions for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry, the event showcases the latest equipment, technology and innovative solutions. This was poised to help to provide solutions and services for the kingdom’s air conditioning market, believed to be the largest in the world and expected to surpass $$2.5 billion by 2019. 

A surge of mega projects in Saudi Arabia (including educational institutions, hotels, office spaces, residential areas and expansions of developed cities) has resulted in a massive increase in demand for air conditioning solutions. Increasing affluence, a developing tourism industry and high population growth have also contributed to increased demand for HVACR investment.

While sales of conventional air conditioning units remain strong, new technologies are being more widely adopted, particularly large purpose-built projects such as; variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, centrifugal chillers and district cooling.

Air conditioning is responsible for 70 per cent of electricity consumption in Saudi Arabia. Demand for HVAC solutions is predicted to double by 2030 as 1.5 million new homes needed for growing population will double the current demand for HVAC solutions.

Abdullah Alkhorayef, CEO of Alkhorayef Commercial Company, an exhibitor at Saudi Aircon said: “We participated in this exhibition to announce that a medium-voltage Gulfpower diesel generator set has been assembled locally for the first time in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with Cummins. We also showcased our most prominent services offered in the field of energy solutions for an audience of specialised professionals.”

Meanwhile, Prince Saud Al Abdullah Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz, chairman of Riyadh Exhibitions Co, said: “The Saudi Power exhibition is a dedicated platform for all specialised companies operating in this sector. We attract hundreds of local and international companies seeking to further position themselves in the Saudi Arabian market and showcase their latest products, services and technologies. The exhibition also provides an opportunity to close business deals, thus supporting the development of the power and HVAC sector in the kingdom.”