Dr. Puzant Baliozian is the VDMA PV Equipment Group's project manager since September of this year. He is involved in techno-economic studies for manufacturing capacity of PV along the value chain and represents the interests of European PV equipment manufacturers internationally. The PV Sector Group at VDMA also publishes the yearly international technology roadmap for photovoltaics (ITRPV) showing highly relevant technology projections and trends. Dr. Baliozian studied physics at the American University of Beirut (BSc., 2014) and has a specialization in renewable energy (MSc. 2016) from the university of Freiburg. From 2016 until recently, he worked at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg in the field of photovoltaic production technologies where he also did his PhD. He is best known for developing the passivated edge technology for separated industrial solar cell concepts, to boost cell and module efficiencies.

Dr. Nabih Cherradi is Desert Technologies' Chief Technology Officer. Has spent over 34 years building on a long track record of equipment's/production lines as well as business development in the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. Prior to joining Desert Technologies, Nabih is also the CEO of EmpowerSun, a Swiss based photovoltaic energy consultancy, which he founded in 2009. In the meantime, he also co-founded ISWT a French solar developer company. From 2007-2009, as a Vice President/CTO, he accompanied Yingli Green Energy in its fast expansion with responsibility for the technology and manufacturing. He also participated in its IPO in New York (NYSE). As operations & process director at Applied Materials from 1997 to 2007 Nabih was responsible for installing turn-key semiconductor and photovoltaic production lines throughout the world, installing multiple GWs of production capacity across a ten year period. As a scientist, he focused on advance materials for different applications working with different industries (Semiconductor, Photovoltaic and Hard tools) He holds a PhD on materials sciences from the University Henri Poincaré, Nancy as well as an MBA, from the Business School of Nancy, (France).

Dr Mauro Pravettoni is Sr Director at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Center of TII, a national research institute in Abu Dhabi. He got his PhD at the Imperial College. He is member for UAE of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC TC82), where in the past he also represented Switzerland and Singapore. He is member of the British Society for the Philosophy of Science, Technical Assessor for NATA, the Australian National Agency of Testing Authorities and Referee for EMPIR, the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research. From 2017 to 2023 he was Director of PV Modules at SERIS, Singapore's national research institute for solar energy. Since 2018 he is member of the International Scientific Committee of SNEC, in Shanghai, one of the world largest solar exhibitions. He wrote a number of peer-reviewed papers, books, and conference proceedings, with over 1000 citations. In 2008 he co-developed the world record efficiency luminescent solar concentrator.

Hydrogen technology and supply have been gaining strategic importance globally. In a context of climate change, supply chain crisis and war, the yet young technology has been put on top of the agenda of all the big economic zones. Europe's first move has been answered by actions of China and lead to reaction by the USA. The session discusses what policy makers should do and effectively do, how industry adapts and adopts, and how this translates into industrial action.

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is undoubtedly a key enabler for achieving net-zero. However, despite a wide range of technology providers claiming cost competitiveness and other advantages over lithium-ion batteries, the latter continue to dominate new deployments. So what's holding LDES back? What is needed to enable more widespread adoption? And when will the age of LDES finally arrive?

Solar installations are on the rise. The deployment is expected to continue over the next four years, reaching 617 GW in 2027. The energy transition towards renewables is well under way in the Middle East and North Africa. The region has advanced and ambitious energy investment and diversification plans in place, driven by the need to meet growing energy demand, promote economic growth, maximize socioeconomic benefits and meet decarbonisation objectives. Analysis for IRENA's World Energy Transitions Outlook (WETO) reveals that the region could obtain almost 26% of its total primary energy supply from renewables by 2050, while the renewable share could reach 53% in the power sector.