SMILE FC System Corporation to accelerate deployment of fuel cells for next generation of eco cars

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, and the Suzuki Motor Corporation, have today announced the creation of a joint venture company called SMILE FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors. The joint venture also includes a non-exclusive license agreement that gives Suzuki access to Intelligent Energy’s class-leading fuel cell technology for its next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell vehicles.

Under the terms of the contract, both companies will take a 50 percent stake in the joint venture. SMILE FC System Corporation will be led by Mr. Osamu Honda, Executive Vice President and representative director for Suzuki Motor Corporation, who will become President of the JV. SMILE FC System Corporation will be headquartered in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, with operations initially based in Yokohama.

“Suzuki Motor Corporation has been developing fuel cell vehicles with Intelligent Energy since 2006, and this successful relationship has led to the formation of SMILE FC System Corporation,” explained Mr. Honda. “I believe that we can accelerate the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles through this joint venture with Intelligent Energy.”

The agreement represents good value for both parties, enabling Suzuki cost-effective access to Intelligent Energy’s advanced fuel cell technology through partnering and licensing, thereby avoiding the higher costs associated with in-house development. Intelligent Energy will benefit from Suzuki’s production expertise and the emerging Japanese supply chain to jointly develop the next generation of automotive standard air-cooled fuel cell systems.

Phil Caldwell, newly appointed Board Member of SMILE FC System Corporation and Business Development Director at Intelligent Energy commented, “This joint venture is the latest exciting development in the successful relationship between Intelligent Energy and Suzuki, which has previously resulted in the Crosscage motorcycle and the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter. It is a big step towards the mass production of automotive fuel cell systems.” Equipped with Intelligent Energy’s air-cooled fuel cells, the Crosscage and Burgman motorcycles were exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and in 2011, the Fuel Cell Burgman Scooter became the world’s first fuel cell vehicle to achieve European Union Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA).

“Combining Intelligent Energy’s market-leading fuel cell system technology with Suzuki’s mass production capabilities and supply chain excellence will accelerate the deployment, long term scalability and applicability of fuel cells for the next generation of eco cars, and other market segments,” explained Dr Henri Winand, Chief Executive, Intelligent Energy. “This non-exclusive agreement with the Suzuki Motor Corporation also provides further validation of our ‘design once, deploy many times’ proprietary technology and mutually beneficial partnering business model.”

About SMILE FC System Corporation

SMILE FC System Corporation Board:

• Osamu Honda, President and Representative Director (and Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Suzuki Motor Corporation);
• Masataka Yamakawa, Vice President and Representative Director (and Representative Director, IE Japan Ltd);
• Ichizo Aoyama, Board Member (and Managing Director and Executive Director at Suzuki Motor Corporation);
• Phil Caldwell, Board Member (and Business Development Director at Intelligent Energy Ltd);
• Kunio Nakamura, Auditor (and Auditor at Suzuki Motor Corporation).

The ratio of capital contribution to SMILE FC System Corporation is as follows: SMC (50%), IEHP (50%).

The SMILE FC System Corporation HQ is located at 300, Takatsuka-cho, Minami-ku, Hamamatsu-city, Shizuoka. The place of business for the corporation is 2-1, Sakuranamiki, tuduki-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa.

About Intelligent Energy

Intelligent Energy is a leading clean power systems company with a globally scalable business, operating in the motive, stationary power and consumer electronics sectors. Our proprietary fuel cell technologies are designed for the mass market products of some of the world’s leading companies. Intelligent Energy continues to accelerate the commercial introduction of its technologies into very large and growing markets based on sound yet cost effective operations and partnerships. Intelligent Energy’s successes include building the world’s first purpose built fuel cell motorbike, and with partner Suzuki, the first ever fuel cell vehicle to achieve European Union type approval. The company also supplied the system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft.

In addition to visiting Intelligent Energy, more information is available via Twitter, Youtube, Flickrand LinkedIn.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50158527&lang=en

Contacts

AxiCom PR for Intelligent Energy

James Kennedy

james.kennedy@axicom.com

+44 020 8392 4091

OAKLAND, Calif. – Saturday, February 4th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– BrightSource Energy, Inc., a leading solar thermal technology company, today announced that Sasol has selected BrightSource’s power tower solar thermal technology following a worldwide review of solar technologies. Under the agreement, BrightSource and its partner Alstom, global leader in power generation equipment, will conduct a comprehensive front-end engineering and design (FEED) study for the South Africa market.

The FEED study is a critical step in the design and deployment of a solar thermal power plant. Sasol will use the information from the study to determine how best to deploy BrightSource’s technology in the markets it serves.

”Sasol looks forward to the completion of the FEED study by one of the world’s leading concentrated solar power (CSP) technology providers. South Africa is blessed with an abundance of a natural energy source in the form of sunlight. This CSP project has the potential of significantly expanding Sasol’s new energy portfolio and will in turn contribute to the country’s transition to a low carbon economy”, said Henri Loubser, Managing Director of Sasol New Energy.

To meet its growing clean power demand, South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program, run by the country’s Department of Energy, is targeting the addition of an initial 3,725 megawatts of renewable energy by 2016. With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, total energy supplies in South Africa are projected to more than double over the next 20 years to more than 85 gigawatts, including the planned development of 18 gigawatts of new renewable energy, according to the integrated resource plan recently adopted by the government.

“Sasol’s selection of BrightSource’s technology represents a significant milestone as we expand our high-efficiency solar thermal power systems globally,” said John Woolard, President and CEO of BrightSource Energy. “Today, South Africa meets more than 85 percent of its power needs with coal. With great solar resources and a need for firm and reliable power to meet its growing industrial power needs, South Africa represents an ideal market for BrightSource’s solar thermal technology. Sasol is a leader in energy innovation and a natural partner as we help South Africa meet its growing demand for clean, cost-effective and reliable power.”

BrightSource’s power tower solar thermal technology generates power the same way as traditional power plants – by creating high temperature steam to turn a turbine. However, instead of using fossil fuels or nuclear power to create the steam, BrightSource uses the sun’s energy. BrightSource’s system uses a state-of-the-art field of software-controlled mirrors, called heliostats, to reflect the sun’s energy to a boiler atop a tower to produce the high temperature and high pressure steam. The steam can then be integrated with conventional power plant components to produce predictable, reliable and cost-competitive clean energy. Alstom’s expertise in steam turbine technology and integrated plant solutions, together with BrightSource’s solar technology offer highly efficient solar thermal power plants.

Today, BrightSource’s technology is designed to produce the world’s highest temperature and pressure solar steam in the world. The company recently started operations at its Solar-to-Steam facility built for Chevron in Coalinga California. The company’s technology is being deployed at Ivanpah, the largest solar thermal plant under construction in the world and scheduled for start up in 2013.

BrightSource’s system is also designed to minimize impacts on the natural environment. In addition to being one of the most land-efficient renewable energy technologies, BrightSource’s low impact heliostat layout is flexible, allowing the solar field to be built around the natural contours of the land and avoid areas of sensitive vegetation. And in order to conserve scarce water resources, the technology employs an air-cooling system to convert the steam back into water in a closed-loop cycle. By using air-cooling, BrightSource’s technology uses more than 90 percent less water than older technology parabolic trough plants with wet cooling.

Solar thermal power plants have also shown to be great creators of economic benefits in the regions where they are built. A recent study of the Spanish concentrating solar power market by Deloitte found that compared to other power generation sources, solar thermal plants are a strong generator of local jobs, during construction, and operation and maintenance, due largely to the plant’s high percentage of domestically-sourced componentsi. Another study by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab found that a 100 megawatt solar thermal plant creates more than $600 million in impact to gross state output, ten times that of a combined cycle fossil plantii due to the local content and job creation of a solar thermal plant.

About BrightSource Energy, Inc.

BrightSource is a leader in the design, development and deployment of concentrating solar thermal technology that produces high-value electricity and steam for power, petroleum and industrial-process markets worldwide. To learn more about BrightSource Energy and concentrating solar power, please visit www.brightsourceenergy.com.

About Sasol

Sasol is an energy and chemicals business. Based in South Africa and operating worldwide, Sasol is listed on the NYSE and JSE stock exchanges. Sasol is a leading provider of liquid fuels in South Africa and a major international producer of chemicals. Using proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technologies Sasol produces synthetic fuels and chemicals from low-grade coal and natural gas. The company also manufactures more than 200 fuel and chemical products that are sold worldwide. In South Africa, Sasol also operates coal mines to provide feedstock for the synthetic fuels plants. Sasol operates the only inland crude oil refinery in South Africa. The group produces crude oil in offshore Gabon, supplies Mozambican natural gas to end-user customers and petrochemical plants in South Africa, and with partners involved in gas-to-liquids fuel joint ventures in Qatar and Nigeria. Internet address: http://www.sasol.com

i http://www.estelasolar.eu/fileadmin/ESTELAdocs/documents/Publications/Macroeconomic_impact_of_the_Solar_Thermal_Electricity_Industry_in_Spain_Protermo_Solar_Deloitte_21x21.pdf

iihttp://www.nrel.gov/csp/pdfs/39291.pdf

Contacts

For BrightSource

Kristin Hunter, +1-510-250-8800

KHunter@BrightSourceEnergy.com

For Sasol

Alex Anderson, +27 11 709 6854

alex.anderson@ogilvypr.co.za

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. – Tuesday, January 31st 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today it will provide more than 400,000 gas smart payment meters to SOCAR “Azeri Gas” Production Union (PU), a part of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). The new meter deployment follows a previous project that included installing 250,000 smart payment meters in the capital city of Baku. This marks the start of the second phase of the project, which will cover the remainder of the country. The roll-out plan gives Azerbaijan Republic the opportunity to capitalize on the benefits of smart payment technology throughout the entire country.

Meter deployment is underway and will be completed in February 2013. With Itron’s smart payment meters rolling out across Azerbaijan, consumers will benefit from the convenience of recharging their payment cards at several points of sales located throughout the country, including self-service terminals. With increased availability and simple access, consumers will be better equipped to effectively manage their gas consumption.

“We constantly strive to streamline our operations and offer the best service to our customers; Itron’s technology helps us achieve both goals,” said Mr. Akbar Hajiyev, managing director, SOCAR “Azerigas” PU. “Selecting Itron for our phase-two deployment was based on the success of our phase-one project. After rolling out 250,000 meters in 2010, we know that Itron’s solution can scale up to meet our needs nationwide.”

“We are dedicated to continuing our long-term partnership with SOCAR “Azeri Gas” PU,” said Muness Charara, Itron regional manager, Middle East Energy. “We’ve delivered gas smart payment meters to Azerbaijan since early 2010, and we believe the service and support we’ve provided will now help us build a strong gas smart payment metering platform in the Caspian region of Central Asia.”

About Itron

Itron is the leading provider of energy and water resource management solutions for nearly 8,000 utilities around the world. We offer end-to-end solutions that include electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement and control technology; communications systems; software; and professional services. With nearly 9,000 employees doing business in more than 130 countries, Itron empowers utilities to responsibly and efficiently manage energy and water resources. To realize a sustainable future, start here: www.itron.com.

About SOCAR

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate, marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in domestic and international markets, and supplying natural gas to industry and the public in Azerbaijan. Three production divisions, two oil refineries and one gas processing plant, an oil tanker fleet, a deep water platform fabrication yard, two trusts, one institution, and 22 subdivisions are operating as corporate entities under SOCAR. Joint ventures (including ventures in Georgia and Turkey), consortia, and operating companies established with SOCAR’s participation, are doing business in different parts of the petroleum industry. SOCAR has representative offices in Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Germany and Ukraine and trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore, UAE and other countries.

SOCAR “Azerigaz” Production Uniontransmits, distributes, and markets natural gas in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The syndicate also transports SOCAR gas to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Georgia, and the Russian Federation.

Contacts

Itron, Inc.

Lynn Collins, +33 5 49 62 70 46

Marketing & Communications, EMEA

lynn.collins@itron.com

Sharelynn Moore, 509-891-3524

Vice President, Corporate Communications

sharelynn.moore@itron.com

Barbara Doyle, +1 509-891-3443

Vice President, Investor Relations

barbara.doyle@itron.com

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Thursday, January 26th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) has been selected by contractor SEG(Société d’Entreprise & de Gestion) Qatar to supply a state-of-the-art water treatment solution for Qatar Petroleum’s (QP) premier Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College (RLESC). The complete Pall Aria™ AP-Seriespackaged membrane system will filter the facility’s treated sewage effluent and remove bacteria, viruses, turbidity and suspended matter. Pall is a global leader in filtration, separation and purification.

“Pall was selected for this project because it offers advanced membrane technology in a very small footprint,” says Steve Connor, technical project director at SEG. “Equally important was Pall’s ability to provide a complete custom water management solution and dedicated engineering support from a local office.”

The use of membrane filtration systems for removing contaminants from water sources across the globe continues to gain momentum. An alternative to practices such as coagulation and flocculation and sand filtration, membrane-based systems offer enhanced performance and operational efficiencies. Additionally, membrane systems typically require 50 – 70 percent less space than conventional technologies.

The fully-automated Pall Aria packaged system for QP features hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes. It is designed to filter 3,500 m3/day of treated sewage effluent that will be used for make-up water for firefighting training exercises.

“Pall is thrilled to be involved in this high-profile project,” said Hussein Barazi, director, Pall Middle East. “Our ability to effectively address the multi-faceted fluid management needs of organizations in the region with advanced solutions is one of the reasons Pall’s presence in the Middle East continues to grow.”

Pall provides fluid management solutions and high-quality products for the most demanding applications, from oil and gas and power generation to pharmaceuticals and water treatment. Pall Aria systems are used for a range of desalination and municipal and industrial water applications. The high-efficiency, low-waste systems are easy to install and operator-friendly, resulting in lower labor and operational costs.

RLESC, which is situated on approximately 250 acres, was created to serve emergency responders throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Managed by the Texas Engineering Extension Services (TEEX) under an agreement with state-owned Qatar Petroleum, the high-profile facility offers training equipment for industrial, HazMat, municipal, rescue and emergency medical services.

Pall is a leader in permanent and mobile membrane technology solutions for municipal and industrial water and emergency relief applications. The company provides water treatment systems for large and small municipalities and industrial customers around the world. In addition to serving the $13 billion municipal water market, Pall’s filtration technology is increasingly becoming a critical component in intake and process water for food, beverage, chemical, oil, gas, power, and semiconductor production, among others. Pall’s technology helps ensure a greener future by enabling businesses to conserve and reuse water, and to restore wastewater to environmentally safe levels before discharge. For more information, visit http://www.pall.com/water.asp.

About Pall Corporation

Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical fluid management needs of customers across the broad spectrum of life sciences and industry. Pall works with customers to advance health, safety and environmentally responsible technologies. The company’s engineered products enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste. Pall Corporation, with total revenues of $2.7 billion for fiscal year 2011, is an S&P 500 company with almost 11,000 employees serving customers worldwide. Pall has been named a “top green company” by Newsweek magazine. To see how Pall is helping enable a greener, safer, more sustainable future, follow us on Twitter @PallCorporationor visit www.pall.com/green.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50145769&lang=en

Contacts

Doug Novarro

Pall Corporation

Corporate Public Relations

+15168019944

doug_novarro@pall.com

Follow us on Twitter @pallcorporation

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Wednesday, January 18th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

 Torresol Energy, a joint venture between Masdar – Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company and SENER – the Spanish engineering and construction firm, announced today at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi that the Valle 1 and Valle 2 plants – two identical 50 MW parabolic trough plants, located in Cádiz, in the South of Spain, had commenced commissioning in January 2012. The plants are equipped with thermal storage which will allow them to continue to produce power, even when there is no solar radiation, for up to 7.5 hours.

In October 2011, under the patronage of His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I and His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Torresol Energy officially inaugurated Gemasolar in Fuentes Andalucia, Spain.

The Gemasolar facility represented a significant breakthrough in the global solar industry and an important new field of cooperation between Spain and the UAE.

The announcement was made during a press conference held by the President of Torresol Energy, Enrique Sendagorta; the COO of Masdar,Trevor Nash; the General Manager of Torresol Energy, Alvaro Lorente; the Director of Masdar Power, Frank Wouters; and the President and CEO of SENER, Jorge Sendagorta.

Construction on Valle 1 and Valle 2 began in December 2009, and was completed in December 2011. In January 2012 the plants were connected to Spanish national grid for commercial operations. Roughly 4,500 workers worked over 2,700,000 hours to build and launch the twin projects during the two construction years.

SENER led the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the two projects, as project manager, and has provided 100% of the technology and engineering for both plants. From the outset, the two plants were built sequentially, including processing various types of supplies, overseeing multiple contractors, providing quality control of the execution and, above all, planning and supervising construction as it progresses.

Each of the plants will produce 160 GWh of power per year, equivalent to the amount of power consumed by 40,000 households. Together, the two plants will cut CO2 emissions by approximately 90,000 tons/year. The thermal storage of the plants allows them to continue producing energy for 7.5 hours at full power capacity without sunlight. Solar power thus becomes a source of manageable energy capable of supplying to the grid based on power demand, regardless of whether it is day or night or if the weather is cloudy.

During the press conference, Enrique Sendagorta, President of Torresol Energy, said: “With these twin plants in Spain, Torresol Energy completes the first stage of our Strategic Plan. We now have three plants up and running, Valle 1 & Valle 2 and Gemasolar, in the South of Spain, and a proven track record that we can operate and carry out the maintenance of CSP plants both in power tower technology and parabolic trough technology. We expect to start soon on other CSP projects in different countries located in what is referred to as the sun-belt region.”

Speaking on the project, Masdar’s CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “With the UAE’s visionary leadership and support, in just five years Masdar has become a prominent player in the renewable energy with several projects under its belt locally in the UAE and globally. Valle 1 & 2 are two additional milestones in Masdar’s portfolio of Concentrated Solar Power plants as a result of the joint venture with SENER. We are proud of this partnership with SENER and will continue making investments in utility scale projects in renewable energy, especially in solar and wind energy as they are the most relevant to the UAE.”

The General Manager of Torresol Energy, Alvaro Lorente, declared: “It is worth mentioning that, due to the financial strength of Torresol Energy’s partners, SENER and Masdar, the Valle 1 and Valle 2 projects were financed through seven Spanish commercial banks in 2009 for a total financing of EUR 540 million, despite the global financial crisis. This operation was awarded the Project Finance Deal of the Year 2009 in the Clean Energy Sector by EuroMoney.”

“Now that the two plants have started commissioning, we have a complete team of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) personnel that has been trained during 2011 to be able to operate and carry out the maintenance of these plants from day one,”added Lorente.

Frank Wouters, Director of Masdar Power, said: “Getting Valle 1 & 2 into commercial operations has been a significant achievement for us. Getting Gemasolar, Valle 1 & 2 and (later this year) Shams One into operation means we already have over 200MW of CSP plants in operation globally. In addition, Masdar and Torresol Energy are exploring further business development opportunities to grow our CSP presence worldwide, including the MENA region where we also see a terrific opportunity in the solar space.”

Lastly, Jorge Sendagorta, President and CEO of SENER, added: “SENER is leading the solar thermal power sector worldwide, with 24 plants in Spain, US and India that represent 1,500 MWe installed or under construction and 1,000,000 CO2 tons saved per year. We develop new innovations in every new project with the aim of improving our technology in order to reduce the investments cost of these plants. Besides, SENER has been in charge of the sequential construction of Valle 1 and Valle 2, a challenge for our project management team, and this has allowed us to improve the schedule and budget of the works.”

Along with the Gemasolar plant, the two Valle plants will help Spain contribute to Europe’s 2020 climate and energy targets which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, increase the use of renewables as a primary source of energy by 20% and reduce primary energy consumption by 20% through improved efficiency.

Torresol Energy is a company that promotes the technological development, construction, operation and maintenance of large concentrated solar power plants throughout the world. With the commissioning of Valle 1 and 2, the company has already developed three projects, including the innovative Gemasolar plant that started commercial operations in May 2011.

Torresol Energy’s projects have already won a number of awards including, Euromoney 2009 Project Finance Deal of the Year for Valle 1 and Valle 2 plants, the US CSP Today 2011 award ‘Commercialized Technology Innovation of the Year’ for Gemasolar, and the European CSP Today 2011 awards ‘Commercialized Technology Innovation 2011’ and ‘Most Effective Project Development 2011’ for Gemasolar.

In turn, SENER has also been awarded thanks to its solar solutions. At the end of 2011, SENER was awarded, mainly due to Gemasolar, the top European Business Award for Innovation. It won against nine other finalists in an extensive selection process that began in May 2011 and saw over 15,000 European companies competing for the honor. SENER was also awarded “Engineering Firm 2011″ and “Increased Dispatchability Solution 2011” at the CSP Today awards, in recognition of its achievements in the CSP sector, specially the Gemasolar project development.

About Torresol Energy

Torresol Energy, an alliance between the companies SENER and MASDAR, was created with the purpose of becoming a leader in the concentrated solar power (CSP) sector, with the goal of promoting technological development and operating large concentrated solar power plants around the world, especially in the so-called “solar belt”: Southern Europe, including Spain, Northern Africa, the Middle East and the Southwestern USA.

Every new Torresol Energy project will introduce and test new technologies with SENER’s support in order to make Concentrated Solar Power an economically competitive option and thus make it a real, viable, ecological and sustainable alternative to traditional energy. In this regard, the protection of the environment for future generations is one of Torresol Energy’s core commitments.

The company currently has three solar plant in operation in Spain: the 19.9 MW Gemasolar plant with central tower and heliostat field technology located in Fuentes de Andalucía, Seville, and Valle 1 and Valle 2, twin 50 MW installations with parabolic trough technology located in San José del Valle, Cádiz.

About SENER

SENER is a private engineering and technology group founded in 1956 in Bilbao, which seeks to offer its clients the most advanced technological solutions and which enjoys international recognition, thanks to its independence and its commitment to innovation and quality. SENER has a workforce of more than 5,000 professionals and a turnover of 1,066 million Euros (2010 figures).

SENER engages in the specific activities of Engineering and Construction, and also has industrial holdings in companies involved in Energy and Environment, as well as in Aeronautics. The Engineering and Construction Division, SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. has become one of the leading Spanish engineering firms, with a turnover of more than 624 million Euros (2010 figures), around 2,000 employees and offices in Abu Dhabi, Algiers, Barcelona, Bilbao, Buenos Aires, Busan, Lisbon, Madrid, Mexico City, Okayama, San Francisco, Seville, Valencia and Warsaw.

SENER has become a technology leader worldwide in the concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, both in terms of technology and number of plants in progress. To date, SENER has participated in twenty four solar thermal projects in Spain, most of them already in operation, US and India, representing 1,500 MWe installed and under construction and 1,000,000 CO2 tons saved per year.

About Masdar

Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future – developing the “greenprint” for how we will live and work tomorrow. Backed by the stability and reputation of the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy.

For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit: www.masdar.ae

Stay connected:facebook.com/masdar.ae

twitter.com/masdar

About Masdar Power:

Masdar Power is one of the five integrated units of Abu Dhabi’s clean energy initiative – Masdar. Mandated to build and operate a portfolio of large-scale renewable energy power projects, it is implementing major projects such as the Shams One solar power plant in the UAE, as well as international projects including the London Array offshore wind farm, Torresol Energy’s Gemasolar, Valle 1& 2 solar power plants in Spain.

Through its partnerships and investments in technology-relevant to utility-scale renewable energy operating assets, Masdar Power aims to spearhead breakthroughs in the field of solar PV, concentrated solar power, onshore  and offshore wind.

Links:

www.torresolenergy.com; www.sener.es ; www.masdar.ae

Contacts

SENER & TORRESOL ENERGY: Oihana Casas.

Communication

Tel.: +34 918077318

Email:oihana.casas@sener.es

SENER & TORRESOL ENERGY: Pilar Garcia

Communication

Tel.: +34 609450209

Email:pilar.garcia@sener.es

MASDAR:Serene Serhan

Corporate Communications

Telephone:+971 2 653 3333 / 800 – MASDAR (800-627327)

Email:press@masdar.ae

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Wednesday, January 18th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today presented the prestigious 2012 Zayed Future Energy Prize to 3 winners and 2 runners up at the awards ceremony held in Emirates Palace.

His Highness said: “The Zayed Future Energy Prize has become a beacon of light, stimulating thinkers and creators while encouraging the world to accelerate innovation in renewable energy and sustainability. This Prize is a clear manifestation of the vision of the late founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – who placed a priority on investing in human capital and the preservation of our natural resources for generations to come.”

His Highness added: “Encouraging these innovators allows us keep them motivated, and as such, ensures that our communities keep benefiting from their inventions. In light of the challenges facing the world today – be it energy security or safeguarding our natural resources – These innovators offer their concerted efforts. The United Arab Emirates, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Nation – May God protect him, is committed to exerting every effort towards encouraging such ambitious initiatives aimed at improving our collective quality of life.”

He added: We congratulate the winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and encourage them all to continue in their efforts towards the creation of innovative solutions – impacting communities around the world. These are the ambassadors of innovation, the ambassadors of our Prize – these are the people who spread hope and aspiration and encourage the next generation of innovators.

We would also like to thank the members of the evaluation committees and the members of the Jury who have vastly contributed towards identifying tonight’s winners and towards helping the Prize become a hub for innovations and innovators from around the world.”

The Prize total of US$3.5 million was awarded in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) & Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) category to the UK’s Carbon Disclosure Project whilst India’s Orb Energy and Environmental Defence Fund of the US were first and second runners-up respectively in the same category. Dr Ashok Gadgil from the US won the Lifetime Achievement award while French company Schneider Electric received a Recognition Award in the Large Corporations category.

President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson of Iceland, Chairman of the Prize’s Jury, said: “I am privileged to be a part of this platform and pay tribute to the leadership of Abu Dhabi for not only establishing the Prize but also for its profound message. It is extraordinary that a country such as the United Arab Emirates can come forward in this way; the people of Abu Dhabi should be very proud of this prize.”

The ceremony which marks the fourth year of the Prize commenced with an inspirational video tribute to the late founding father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan.

The video tribute was followed by a segment on the global ripple effect generated by the winners of the Prize who exemplify the wide-reaching and influential nature of the Prize itself.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said: “It is our founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who 40 years ago, began his journey of instilling in us the importance of building bridges, instigating dialogue and forging friendships around the world and it is our leadership today that continues this vision.”

Dr Al Jaber attributed the increasing growth of the prize to its agility and ability to adapt to the fast moving dynamic sector, adding “It is the directives given to us by General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of further enhancing the prize to expand our reach that has enabled us to reach innovators from around the globe.”

He commended the finalists for 2012, adding: “These are people that had the foresight to recognize that investing in the future is based on long term vision and the ability to innovate the technologies that the world so urgently needs.”

In the SME & NGO category, Carbon Disclosure Project was awarded US$1.5 million, while Orb Energy was named first runner-up with a cash prize of US$1 million and Environmental Defense Fund took away US$500,000 as the second runner-up.

All three finalists excelled in demonstrating clear impact through their work in disseminating solutions to further knowledge, creating awareness, as well as developing policies and technologies in renewable energy and sustainability.

Dr Ashok Gadgil, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, received US$500,000 for his pioneering efforts as one of the leading modern inventors in the US for the Darfur stove.

Recipient of the Large Corporations award, Schneider Electric, received a recognition award from the Prize.

Paul Dickinson, Executive Chairman, Carbon Disclosure Project,awarded for its pioneering use of market-based tools to solve environmental issues, from cap and trade approach to acid rain pollutionsaid: “We are delighted and honored to be recognized by the Zayed Future Energy Prize for the work we have done at the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Like the prize itself, CDP is committed to accelerating solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and water scarcity. Winning this prize is a huge achievement and will help CDP to more rapidly catalyze change across the global economic system to prevent dangerous climate change, protect our natural resources and create long-term prosperity.”

Winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr Gadgil, who received the prize for his sustainable humanitarian work in Darfur – providing energy efficient cooking stoves known as Berkeley-Darfur stoves, cutting the need for firewood by 55%,said: “Being selected the winner for the Zayed Future Energy Prize is a great honor and tremendous validation of my lifelong passion and efforts for energy innovation and sustainability.

“Looking at the list of past prize winners and runners up – some of whose work I know well – I am impressed with the energy and ingenuity of this group, and I hope that we can work together, and inspire many others, to advance the aim of the Zayed Future Energy Prize – energy sustainability for the planet.”

Dr Gadgil further added: “Winning the Zayed Future Energy Prize deepens my commitment to energy innovation for sustainability. Together with my colleagues and co-workers, I will continue to advance the research, design, testing, and scale-up of fuel-efficient low-emission stoves for about three billion people (mostly women) that use biomass for cooking.”

On receiving the award, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric,who won for their work towards making energy safe, reliable and efficientsaid: “The world is in urgent need of innovative solutions to create a new, sustainable energy future. The UAE’s commitment towards sustainable development, which takes inspiration from the vision of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi’s efforts in this domain are a decisive first step towards meeting and solving the global energy challenge.”

Members of the Jury of the Zayed Future Energy Prize present at the ceremony included His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland and Chairman of the Jury; His Excellency Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar; Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation, and Timothy Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund.

Jury member, actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, who could not attend, sent a video message to the audience:

“Greetings, I wish I could be with all of you tonight to honor this year’s exceptional winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, but unfortunately my schedule won’t allow me.

“It has been an honor this year to join the esteemed group of jury members, who together represent some of the world’s leading thinkers on the environment and on breakthrough energy technologies.

“The Prize serves two key purposes, First it encourages and acknowledges cutting edge innovators in our society, driving them to further breakthroughs. And at the same time the Prize raises much-needed public awareness about the clean energy solutions available to us and how they hold the key to preserving and protecting our planet for generations to come.

“Participating in the selection process and seeing just how many companies, individuals and organizations are making significant contributions towards a clean energy future gives me real hope that the transformation has begun. And all of us are part of it.

“Thank you and congratulations again,” DiCaprio concluded.

Tennis Grand Slam champion and education advocate Andre Agassi, and Dr Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), also members of the ZFEP jury panel, were also unable to attend.

The awards ceremony culminated a stringent year-long, four-stage process. Nominations for the Zayed Future Energy Prize were launched in May 2011 through a globally targeted campaign. In August, at the close of nominations, the Prize had received a record 1,103 submissions of which 425 were submitted by September, 2011.

In the first stage of the evaluation process, an independent research and analysis firm conducted a diligent examination of each candidate’s application. During the second stage, a Review Committee met on 23-24 October to evaluate each candidate and culled the numbers to a select 33 candidates across all categories using a scoring matrix based on the Prize’s four criteria.

In the third stage of the judging process from 13-14 November, a Selection Committee comprising leading experts in the field of renewable energy and sustainability evaluated the shortlisted entries. Submissions scoring the highest made it to the fourth and final round. The finalists included three candidates for the Large Corporations category, three candidates for the Lifetime Achievement Award and seven candidates who could win first, second and third prize for the SME & NGO category.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize is awarded annually to large corporations, individuals and SMEs and NGOs that have made significant contributions to the future of energy, climate change and sustainability. The 2013 edition of the awards will feature the newly instituted Global High School Prize to inspire a new generation of leaders and innovators.

For more information on the prize, please visitwww.ZayedFutureEnergyPrize.com

- end –

About the Zayed Future Energy Prize

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was created in honour of the legacy of the late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The prize aims to inspire the next generation of global energy innovators to create solutions for the future. The Prize is awarded annually to individuals, companies or organisations that have made significant contributions in the global response to the future of energy, clim

and sustainable global energy resources.

More information can be foundon ZFEP through the Facebook Page: facebook.com/TZFEPor Twitter: http://twitter.com/zfep

Photo Caption:

Image 1: (center) HH General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and (right) HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber CEO of Masdar, stand with 2012 Zayed Future Energy Prize winners. (left to right) Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and CEO of Schneider Electric, Dr Ashok Gadgil, Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Carbon Disclosure Project, HH General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Damian Miller, CEO of Orb Energy, Eric Pooley, Senior Vice President, Stategy and Communications, Environmental Defense Fund

Contacts

APCO Worldwide

(JiWiN Public Relations)

Sam Elie Bassile

sbassile@apcoworldwide.com

+971 50 3965474

Masdar – Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company, and Reed Exhibitions today announced their plans to hold the ‘Asia Future Energy Forum & Exhibition’ (AFEF), as part of the annual Singapore’s International Energy Week (SIEW), which will be held from 22-25 October 2012, organized by the Energy Market Authority of Singapore.

AFEF 2012,“Powering Sustainable Innovation in Asia”, will discuss energy related issues, challenges and opportunities in Asia. AFEF will be the marketplace for the clean, alternative energy suppliers to meet buyers from Asia. It will also be an opportunity to showcase Masdar’s multi-faceted approach towards the acceleration, development and deployment of renewable energy and clean technologies.

With its exemplary track record in hosting global platforms such as the World Future Energy Summit, Masdar will support and participate in AFEF to drive debate, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen collaborations.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Asia has emerged as a major player in the renewable energy sector. This is also signified by the strong Asian presence at the ongoing World Future Energy Summit this year. Over the past three years, Masdar has been organizing the European Future Energy Forum in Spain, UK and Switzerland. Now, with the emergence of Asia as a key partner in the renewable energy and clean technology industry moving forward, it only made sense that we place a targeted focus on Asia in 2012. This move is a testament to Masdar’s agility in meeting the fast changing market needs in addition to Abu Dhabi’s capability of exporting knowledge and expertise in the strategic energy sector. The decision to hold the event in Singapore, one of the UAE’s most valued partners in Asia, is a great source of pride.

“We are honored with these partnerships and will always continue looking for opportunities acrossAsia, as part of the UAE’s initiative to build bridges and find the energy solutions of tomorrow,” added Dr. Al Jaber.

Mr Chee Hong Tat, Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority, said: “Asia’s energy demand is expected to double over the next 20 years, and renewable energy sources will play a bigger role in the overall energy mix of many Asian countries. The Energy Market Authority is very happy to have the Asian Future Energy Forum & Exhibition (AFEF) as one of the anchor events of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). AFEF will complement the other SIEW events in shaping Asia’s energy future.”

According to the International Energy Outlook 2011 report, renewable energy use will rise from 10% in 2008 to 15% in 2035. Asia is expected to play a major role in achieving these targets.

Singapore has demonstrated a strong commitment to the renewable energy sector. The Singapore Economic Development Board reported that by 2015, the clean energy industry is expected to contribute US$1.3 billion to Singapore’s gross domestic product and create 7,000 jobs across a broad range of areas, including solar power, fuel cells, wind power, energy efficiency and carbon services. Back in 2007, the Singapore government announced a total package of US$271 million for the clean energy industry, designed to intensify innovative research and development, and capability development for this industry. In addition, the UAE and Singapore have strong partnerships and are already members of the Green Group, a Ministerial level group which focuses on water and energy security along with other like-minded nations such as Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Slovenia.

Masdar’s partnerships in Asia extend beyond Singapore. A transformational player in Asia’s clean energy space is China, which recently became the world’s top energy producer, and is expected to use 68 per cent more energy than the US by 2035. While renewable energy is projected to be the fastest growing source of primary energy over the next 25 years, fossil fuels are expected to maintain their grip as the dominant source of energy.

China will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by 17% by 2015 (per unit GDP). Under its 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, China will generate 11.4% of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2015, and 15% by 2020, up from 8.3% in 2010. To reach this ambitious goal, China has introduced a range of regulatory and financial incentives, including feed-in tariffs, subsidies, China Development Bank loans, and US$200 billion in stimulus funding for cleantech, carbon emission reductions and energy pricing reserves. China is poised to spend US$473.1 billion on clean energy investments in the next five years and will add 370 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2020.

Masdar Capital is involved in the Chinese clean tech market and has already invested $15 million into UPCC, a major Chinese wind developer. In addition, 50% of the panels in Masdar City’s 10MW solar plant are provided by Chinese manufacturer Suntech.

Another significant player in Asia is Japan, which has recently passed a bill to promote investment in solar and other renewable energy sources and is already discussing easing rules on building geothermal, wind and hydraulic power plants to renewable energy use, as reported by the Nikkei Business Daily. Japan has the potential to generate nearly 40% of its electricity requirements from solar, wind and geothermal energy, according to estimates prepared for the government’s Energy and Environment Council.

Masdar has forged strong partnerships with Japan, another major player in the renewable energy market. Masdar Institute partnered with Japan’s Cosmo Oil Company and the Tokyo Institute of Technology on the Beam Down Project – a joint pilot project in Masdar City to test the conventional Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) design.

Mr. Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, commented: “As one of the leading lights of clean and sustainable development in the Middle East, Masdar has played a significant role in transforming the World Future Energy Summit into one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to the global renewable energy community in less than five years. Having successfully secured attendance and commitments from world leaders driving innovation, trade and investment opportunities in the renewable energy universe, Reed Exhibitions believes we are well placed to develop AFEF into a similar platform alongside SIEW to support the growing demand from Asia. We are pleased to share our knowledge and experiences with our team in Singapore in partnership with the Energy Market Authority to deliver a successful event.”

Ms Michelle Lim, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions in Singapore, remarked, “Asia’s growing economies will continue to face increasing demands for energy. It is widely regarded that only relying on traditional fossil energy to fuel economic development is highly unsustainable. There is therefore a compelling need for an event like AFEF as a marketplace for alternative, clean energy solutions. By modeling after the successful WFES through close partnership with EMA, and its highly successful SIEW, AFEF aims not only to enable the trading and sourcing of renewable energy products and services, AFEF will also serve as platform for networking and knowledge-sharing for the Asian community.”

Reed Exhibitions currently organizes some 19 events in energy, oil & gas sector and another nine in the environment & urban planning sector. The new addition will further boost Reed Exhibitions’ presence in Asia.

Ends

About Masdar

Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future – developing the “greenprint” for how we will live and work tomorrow. Backed by the stability and reputation of the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy.

For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit: www.masdar.ae

Stay connected:

facebook.com/masdar.ae

twitter.com/masdar

About WFES:

Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to promoting advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the water and waste sectors.

The annual summit engages political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy.

On the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services.

Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions, are expected to participate in the summit.

To be held under the patronage of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and hosted by Masdar, the World Future Energy Summit 2012 runs from January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. www.adnec.ae.

Contacts

Name: Serene Serhan

Email: press@masdar.ae

Phone: +971 2 653 6017 / 800-MASDAR (800-627327)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates & TEMPE, Ariz. – Tuesday, January 17th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

World Future Energy Summit 2012

(BUSINESS WIRE)– First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) today announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4 percent total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent, which also was set by First Solar.

The record performance, announced today at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi by First Solar Chief Technology Officer Dave Eaglesham, comes just six months after First Solar leapfrogged the world record for CdTe solar cell efficiency with a mark of 17.3 percent. Both the cell and module record-setters were constructed using commercial-scale manufacturing equipment and materials at the Company’s Perrysburg, Ohio factory. Cell efficiency measures the proportion of light converted to energy in a single solar cell, whereas total area module efficiency measures light conversion across a production-size, multi-cell solar module, providing a more realistic assessment of real-world performance than cell or aperture-area efficiency.

“This considerable achievement supports our module efficiency roadmap and demonstrates our ability to convert our record-cell technology into ongoing module-level improvements,” said Dave Eaglesham, First Solar’s Chief Technology Officer. “These records also underscore the tremendous ongoing potential of CdTe compared to silicon-based technologies.”

First Solar updated its module efficiency roadmap in December 2011 to the increased goal of 14.5-15 percent average efficiency for its production modules by the end of 2015, and the process improvements developed for the record-setting cell and module continue to be implemented as part of that roadmap. The average efficiency of First Solar modules increased from 11.4 percent in 2010 to 11.7 percent in 2011 and is expected to reach 12.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

“Our continuous investment in R&D has enabled the steady progress of our technology, punctuated by landmark achievements such as this,” said Mike Ahearn, Chairman and interim CEO of First Solar. “Our consistent progress gives us confidence in our ability to achieve our roadmap goals, drive down costs and develop sustainable markets.”

First Solar, which has manufactured more than 5 GW of its advanced thin-film modules, utilizes a continuous manufacturing process which transforms a sheet of glass into a complete solar module in less than 2.5 hours, which contributes to the company’s industry-leading energy payback time and the low carbon footprint of systems using First Solar PV modules. First Solar also implemented the industry’s first comprehensive, prefunded solar module collection and recycling program. Anyone wishing to dispose of First Solar modules can request collection at any time, at no additional cost, and First Solar will pick up the modules and recycle up to 90% (by mass) of the material for use in new products, including new solar modules and new glass products.

About First Solar, Inc.

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology, and is a premier provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company is delivering an economically viable alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling, First Solar is focused on creating value-driven renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.

For First Solar Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with the company’s business involving the company’s products, their development and distribution, economic and competitive factors and the company’s key strategic relationships and other risks detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. First Solar assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50133833&lang=en

Contacts

First Solar, Inc.

Media

Sebastian Fasbender

+49 (0) 6131 1443-399

media-emea@firstsolar.com

Brandon Mitchener

+32 (2) 233-1113

media-emea@firstsolar.com

Ted Meyer

+1 (602) 427-3318

ted.meyer@firstsolar.com

Investors

David Brady

dbrady@firstsolar.com

· UN Secretary General launches UN Year of Sustainable Energy for All

· United Nations, China and South Korea deliver keynotes during WFES 2012

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates affirmed that – led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates – God protect him – The United Arab Emirates is committed to retaining its leading role as a global energy provider through energy diversification including the adoption of renewable energy technologies.

At the opening ceremony of the fifth annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES), today, His Highness stressed the importance of the open discussions taking place at the Summit – and their role in shaping the policies that foster cooperation in international communities in order to ensure energy security, sustainable development and to help mitigate climate change. His Highness emphasized that improving the quality of life is one of the topmost goals of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates.

His Highness said: “Energy is a vital vein that nurtures all aspects of modern day civilization. In addressing the several challenges facing the world today, it is our responsibility to guarantee energy security and to exert every effort in developing clean technologies. It is our responsibility to take advantage of the various renewable natural sources of energy to achieve sustainable development.”

His Highness added: “Over five years ago, we began our work in building capacity in the renewable energy sector. Today, we realize that this approach has gained increasing regional and global attention – We are continuously hearing of new solar or other renewable energy projects being launched – This is exactly what is required – a collaborative effort and the multiplying of efforts to achieve energy security. We are staying the course in our objective and we are working in parallel streams towards developing local and international projects – and as such transferring knowledge and building bridges with the international community.”

His Highness commended Masdar for hosting the World Future Energy Summit and for its role in enhancing the United Arab Emirates image in the international arena –specifically in the renewable energy and sustainable development sectors. His Highness explained that Masdar is a strategic, long term national investment with economic, political, scientific and social implications.

His Highness greeted the guests of the Summit which included Presidents, Ministers, dignitaries, academics and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that the UAE has and will always have faith in the power of collaborative efforts in facing global challenges and achieving collective goals.

The opening ceremony of the Summit received Wen Jiabao, Premier of People’s Republic of China, Kim Hwang-sik, the South Korean Prime Minister, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United National, and His Excellency Nassir Abdul Aziz Al-Nassir, President of the UN 66th General Assembly.

In his address, Chinese Premier HE Wen Jiabao congratulated and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the success of the Summit and commended the high-level participation that includes politicians and industry experts. The Premier stressed the importance of working to develop future energy and achieving sustainable development to push forward the economic momentum.

The Premier highlighted that he had heard a lot about Abu Dhabi and Masdar’s efforts in accelerating, developing and deploying renewable energy technologies and as such was looking forward to his first visit to the United Arab Emirates. He spoke of the evolution of the energy sector and its effects on the economy and how the human race has been through different phases starting from wood, to coal, hydrocarbons and nuclear to renewable energy. He emphasized that with each change of energy source, the world witnessed great development in its production capacity. He added that if the world committed to developing renewable energy it would be able to heed more opportunities for economic growth.

Furthermore, this year’s WFES opening ceremony served as a platform for the launch of the UN Secretary General’s Year of Sustainability for All.

In his keynote address, the Secretary General said: “I thank Masdar and the Government of Abu Dhabi for organizing this important summit and hosting the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Energy is central to everything we do – from powering our economies to achieving the Millennium Development Goals… from combating climate change to underpinning global security. It is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and preserving the environment.”

Urging nations and individuals to actively participate in the Year he added: We need innovation that can spread throughout the developing world -where energy demand is growing fastest. We need partnerships with the private sector, which is the global engine of growth and the primary source of new investments. And we need visionary leadership from you – from governments, from the private sector, from investors and from civil society.”

In delivering his keynote speech, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar said: “This esteemed audience of dignitaries reflects the success of the UAE’s vision under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE – God Protect him, and the unyielding support of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Through this collaborative effort, and mandated to build bridges of partnerships with countries to address the challenge of climate change – we have started reaping the results of the vision of our leadership.”

The day culminated with two consecutive Panels of Ministers’ from across the world, discussing a wide range of themes including energy policy, investment and funding, green buildings, clean transport, solar, wind and biofuels.

For more information please visit: www.masdar.ae

Contacts

Masdar

Serene Serhan

press@masdar.ae

+971-2-653-6017 / 800-MASDAR (800-627327)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Monday, January 16th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed a partnership agreement today which will strengthen co-operation between the two organisations. Although the agencies have collaborated since IRENA’s inception in 2009 – including developing a joint approach on renewable energy statistics – this agreement will launch a number of new initiatives, such as development of a joint Global Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database.

IRENA’s Director-General, Adnan Z. Amin, added: “IRENA and the IEA are natural partners in the global quest to increase the deployment of renewable energy. This agreement will allow us to maximise output by drawing on each others’ respective strengths and complementary areas, while avoiding duplication of efforts.”

The IEA’s Executive Director, Maria van der Hoeven, emphasised the importance of close co-operation. “The Joint Database will eventually allow the coverage of renewable energy policies in 150 countries, which I consider a crucial milestone to foster best policy practices – and consequently cost-effective large-scale deployment of renewables,” she said.

The proposed new areas of work are outlined in a Letter of Intent, which was signed by the Executive Director of the IEA and the Director General of IRENA, during the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi on 14 January 2012. IRENA, which was established in January 2009, aims at acting as a global voice for renewable energy, promoting its widespread and increased adoption.

The existing IEA database will now be known as the IEA/IRENA Global Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database and will be improved with additional datasets from IRENA Members and Signatory countries. Both parties will collect and verify information for the database, which will be open to free public access and be updated at least twice a year.

Other points covered in the Letter of Intent include the regular exchange of information, the organisation of joint conferences and workshops and reciprocal participation in technical committee meetings.

There will also be increased collaboration between the two agencies at the Secretariat level, and in energy technology networks, including the IEA’s Multilateral Technology Initiatives. (These initiatives, also known as Implementing Agreements, are well-established programmes for pre-commercial international technology co-operation between countries, many of which focus on renewable energy technologies).

Note to editors:

IRENA — the International Renewable Energy Agency, founded in 2009, held its first Assembly in Abu Dhabi in April 2011, where the Agency is headquartered. With the participation of 155 States, 86 ratifying Members, and the European Union, IRENA has become a nexus of international efforts to accelerate the worldwide deployment of renewable energy technologies.

Contacts

(Ms) Mahenau Agha

Tel: +971 (50) 441-4829

Email: irenapress@irena.org

Website: www.irena.org