News

HFI was delighted to attend the World Utilities Congress 2025, taking place May 27–29 in Abu Dhabi. The event brings together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to address critical challenges in energy transition, water security, and digital transformation with a strong emphasis on integrating renewable energy, enhancing grid resilience, and optimising water management systems.

A standout moment was the keynote by Myrtle Dawes, CEO of the Net Zero Technology Centre, who delivered a compelling call to action: “The utilities sector must embrace radical innovation to meet the demands of a net-zero future.”

To support the region’s net zero energy ambitions, NZTC has established a permanent foothold in the UAE and has an exclusive partnership agreement with Emirati-owned Euro Mechanical. NZTC provides advisory solutions to businesses globally and the UAE is making significant strides in hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies through major investments, innovative projects and strategic partnerships.

Myrtle emphasised the transformative shift in the utilities sector driven by consumer demand for sustainability, resilience, and personalisation. In her address, Myrtle highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration in achieving net-zero goals, stating that the sector must embrace radical change to meet future demands and the importance of collaborative ecosystems that bring together governments, startups, and legacy utilities to co-create scalable net-zero technologies. Myrtle's call to action was for utilities to embrace digital transformation, including AI, IoT, and blockchain, to optimise operations and reduce emissions.

HFI is keen to play its part in supporting its clients’ energy transition ventures in the Middle East with our HFI Net Zero Legal Solutions team. The region continues to be dominated by petroleum sector ventures which are anticipated to provide the necessary sales, profits and cash flow to allow diversification into clean energy ventures. Nuclear, solar, green hydrogen and CCS are now substantial and growing parts of the energy mix of the region, with the total energy market to 2030 valued at almost US$776 billion.

Looking ahead, HFI will be in Aberdeen for the Energy Exports Conference 2025, 3 – 4 June where on 3 June Hugh Fraser will be looking forward to taking part in a panel session looking at Opportunities in the KSA.