King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has demonstrated decoupling, decentralisation of energy, has digitalisation at the very heart of the design, it is innovative, and there is clearly a desire to achieve this beautiful case study, said an industry expert.
Benoit Lebot, a senior policy adviser in the French Government’s Ministry for the Energy Transition, was speaking during a panel discussion on day one of Middle East Energy’s (MEE) Energy Consumption & Management sector focus week.
Lebot was joined by Amr Salah, Senior Director - Head of Utilities, Emaar - The Economic City; and Ahmed Samer Elbermbali, Managing Director, Mena Clean Energy Business Council in the panel discussion, which underscored the importance of green buildings and smart cities in reducing energy consumption.
They were participating in the opening session Reducing consumption through green buildings and smart cities, by addressing hot topics within the industry, including managing energy demand and carbon emissions, developing renewables in buildings and infrastructure, and integrating sustainable planning and technology to deliver smart cities.
According to Lebot, challenges within the energy sector can be overcome by adopting a series of initiatives related to decoupling, decarbonising, decentralising, digitalisation, disruption through innovation and desirability to achieve the end goal.
Lebot also highlighted the four steps of a decarbonised economy, including energy efficiency, net-zero energy solution, lifestyle and behavioural changes, motivation and education, while underscoring governments' role in the process.
