Energy Evolution Conference & Awards 2026: A Powerful Day of Dialogue, Innovation, and Recognition in Dubai

The Energy Evolution Awards, Conference & Expo 2026 brought together global leaders, innovators, policymakers, and sustainability champions in Dubai for a full day dedicated to accelerating the energy transition and turning ideas into measurable impact. Organised by Next Business Media, the event showcased thought leadership, cutting-edge solutions, and cross-sector collaboration at a moment when the future of energy is being actively redefined.​​

Hosted by emcee Wareesha Yaseen, the conference set the tone early with a clear message: this gathering was not just about conversations, but about collaboration and implementation. Delegates experienced a carefully curated agenda featuring high-level panels, deep-dive standalone sessions, structured networking, and a prestigious awards ceremony recognising excellence in the global energy ecosystem.​

Organiser, Leadership, and Strategic Vision

Energy Evolution Conference & Expo 2026 was organised by Next Business Media, a global platform known for convening sector-focused conferences and awards across energy, ESG, plastics, agriculture, and finance. Under the leadership of CEO Anas Jawed, Next Business Media has positioned Energy Evolution as a flagship initiative dedicated to connecting decision-makers and innovators working on the energy transition.​

Commenting on the success of this year’s edition, Anas Jawed, CEO, Next Business Media, said:

“Energy Evolution 2026 has exceeded our expectations in both depth and diversity of dialogue. Bringing policymakers, innovators, industry leaders, and community voices together in Dubai has reinforced our belief that the energy transition is a collaborative journey and we are committed to building platforms where ideas move decisively from discussion to execution.”

Next Business Media continues to expand its portfolio with specialised conferences such as ESGNext and PolyNext creating an integrated ecosystem around sustainability, energy, and circular economy themes.

APSystemsExhibitor and Sponsor

This year’s edition proudly featured APsystems as an exhibitor and sponsor, adding significant value to the technical and commercial conversations around distributed solar and energy storage.

APsystems is a global leader in Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE), offering advanced microinverters, energy storage systems, and monitoring platforms deployed in more than 100 countries. With a strong footprint across residential and commercial solar, the company’s presence at Energy Evolution 2026 highlighted the importance of reliable, intelligent conversion and control technologies in enabling scalable renewable deployments.

• APsystems Global Website: http://www.apsystems.com​

Their participation underscored the conference’s emphasis on not only discussing the energy transition, but also showcasing the technologies that make it possible in real-world projects.​​

A Comprehensive Agenda Covering the Energy Transition

The day-long programme guided attendees through the full spectrum of the energy transition—from decarbonisation and agrivoltaics to storage, digital infrastructure, AI, and global demand trends. Each session was designed to build on the previous one, ensuring a cohesive narrative around technology, policy, finance, and community impact.​

Decarbonisation and Net Zero by 2050

The opening panel, “Decarbonization Strategies: Achieving Net Zero by 2050,” addressed one of the defining global challenges of our time. Moderated by Mr. Amit Grover, the session explored net zero as not merely an environmental target, but as an economic, industrial, and policy imperative.​

Distinguished panelists Dr. Robin Hirschl, Nima Vakili, Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Alsehly, Chris Griffin, and Dr. Santiago Fronda discussed actionable pathways for decarbonisation, emphasising cross-border collaboration, technology deployment, and regulatory support. The discussion highlighted that achieving net zero requires simultaneous progress in infrastructure, finance, and policy alignment.​

Agrivoltaics: Agriculture and Energy Growing Together

The second panel, “The Potential for Agrivoltaics in a Sustainable and Just Future,” explored the intersection of food and energy security. Moderated by Mr. Ismail Tekin, the session featured Ismail Tekin, Mark Nabong, Sheikh Muhammad Noman, and Sameera Fernandes.​

The panel examined how agrivoltaic systems can enable dual land use, support rural livelihoods, and accelerate renewable deployment while ensuring a just transition for communities. Speakers emphasised the importance of careful project design, community engagement, and adaptive policy frameworks to unlock agrivoltaics at scale.​

Grid Integration and Data Infrastructure

The conference also delved into the technical backbone of the energy transition through two high-impact standalone sessions:​

• “Prisma: Bridging Energy Sources and Loads” – Speaker: Sylvain Bertacco
  This session focused on how evolving energy systems demand tighter integration between generation, storage, and loads. Bertacco discussed how smart control, real-time data, and robust architectures can create more resilient grids capable of handling variable renewables and decentralised assets.​
• “Data Architecture for the Energy Transition: Building the Backbone for Renewable Grids” – Speaker: Kashif M
  Kashif M highlighted that as renewable penetration grows, data architecture becomes mission-critical for forecasting, optimisation, and stability. The talk examined how well-designed data systems can support everything from grid operations and asset management to market participation and regulatory compliance.​

Energy Storage, BESS, and System Resilience

Several sessions underscored the pivotal role of energy storage in enabling high-renewable grids:​

• “Innovations in Energy Storage Solutions” – Moderated by Ms. Sameera Fernandes with panelists Mitchell Samuelian and Stéphane Lajus-Debat, this discussion presented storage as a foundation rather than an add-on. The panel examined the latest technological advancements, deployment models, and investment trends shaping storage markets.​
• “Beyond the Battery: Building Resilient BESS Systems in a Changing World” – Featuring Jeffrey Beyer, Jeremy Erndt, Faysal Pirmohamed, and Sylvain Bertacco, this panel went deeper into how to design Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for resilience, safety, and long-term performance. Speakers discussed system architecture, grid integration, and risk management in an era of climate and market volatility.​

AI, Digital Transformation, and the Future of Renewable Tech

Digitalisation and future-readiness formed another strong thread throughout the day:​

• In “How to Future-Proof Your Company: AI-Driven Digital Transformation in the Energy Sector,” Sameera Fernandes explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping operations, forecasting, asset performance management, and decision-making in energy organisations. The session provided a roadmap for companies looking to build resilience and competitive advantage through data and AI.​
• The panel “The Future of Renewable Technology and the Energy Transition” brought together Ismail Tekin, Lindsay Nagle, Phil Teague, Jeffrey Beyer, Vaishakh Nair, and Paul Louis Kiesow, moderated by Mr. Ismail Tekin. The speakers discussed emerging technologies, investment flows, and regulatory trends shaping the next decade of renewables.​

Global Demand, Communities, and Just Transitions

Recognising that technology alone cannot deliver the energy transition, the conference also addressed demand, equity, and community dimensions:​

• “Global Electricity Demand Trends and Challenges” – With Sameera Fernandes, Pepsi Baiocco, and Foivos Maniatis, this panel assessed how rising electricity demand creates both opportunity and stress for global systems. The conversation covered system planning, investment needs, and the importance of balancing growth with sustainability and resilience.​
• “Community Engagement in Renewable Projects” – Moderated by Mr. Amit Grover and featuring Pamela Fann, Andrew Murray, Anita Nouri, and Sven Van Elst, this session reinforced that energy transitions succeed when communities are co-creators, not just beneficiaries. Panelists shared examples of participatory models, community solar, and inclusive project design.​
• “From Energy Innovation to Impact: Turning Big Ideas into Executable Transformation” – Speaker: Suzanne Knight
  In the closing standalone session, Suzanne Knight focused on how innovation becomes meaningful only when translated into on-the-ground execution. The talk emphasised strategy, governance, and change management as critical levers for moving from pilots to scaled impact.​

Throughout the day, coffee breaks, lunch, and an evening snack break were intentionally structured to foster networking, partnerships, and informal knowledge exchange among delegates and exhibitors.​

Recognising Excellence: Energy Evolution Awards 2026

The conference culminated in a formal Energy Evolution Awards Ceremony honouring individuals and organisations driving meaningful impact in the energy space. The awards highlighted leadership, innovation, data excellence, and community engagement across the value chain.​

Core recognitions included:​

• Mark Nabong – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Sustainable Energy Leadership & Global Impact
• Mitchell Samuelian – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Renewable Infrastructure Optimization
• NuConsult Services, LLC – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Renewable Energy Consulting & Advisory Services
• NeOn Energy (Pty) Ltd – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) Innovation
• Kashif M – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Energy Data Architecture Leader of the Year
• Rafael Velez – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Multinational Renewable Energy Outreach
• Hover Energy – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Distributed Renewable Power Solutions
• Elysium Energy – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Distributed Energy Solutions
• Phil Teague – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Distributed Energy & Microgrid Innovation
• Andrew Murray – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year
• Veljko Milković – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Innovation in Sustainable Technologies
• Rectify Solar – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Innovative DC Energy Technology Company of the Year
• Sven Van Elst – Excellence in Energy Industry – Community Solar Champion Award​

Additional honours presented at the Energy Evolution Awards 2026 included:

• Alix Steel – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Communications and Media Leadership
• Blake Simmons – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Bioenergy & Bioeconomy Leadership
• Naphtal Haya – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering
• Gravity Fellow – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Breakthrough Clean Energy Infrastructure
• DrivePath Advisors – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Energy Transition Advisory & Consulting
• Aslan Renewables – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Tidal & Modular Water Energy Systems
• David Zarco González – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leadership & Global Renewable Development
• SOLAR MATERIALS – Excellence in Energy Industry – Companies – Sustainable Solar Technology
• Eugenio Giovannelli – Excellence in Energy Industry – Leaders – Renewable Energy Engineering Excellence

The ceremony reinforced the event’s core message: the global energy transition is being advanced by people and organisations who combine vision with execution, and their work deserves to be recognised and amplified.​

Upcoming Conferences and Official Websites

Building on the success of Energy Evolution Conference & Awards 2026, Next Business Media announced the next wave of sector-focused conferences that will continue to advance the sustainability and energy agenda.

• Second Edition: ESGNext Conference – Dubai, 18 September 2026
  
  ESGNext is dedicated to advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance excellence in business and investment, bringing together CEOs, policymakers, and innovators to shape sustainable futures.
  Official Website: https://esgnextconference.com​
• Second Edition: Plastic Recycling Conference (PolyNext) – 21 October 2026
  The PolyNext / Plastic Recycling Conference is owned by Next Business Media and focuses on plastic innovation, circular economy solutions, and sustainable packaging, positioning itself as a global platform for the plastics and sustainability sectors.
  Official Website: https://polynextconf.com​
• Third Edition: Energy Evolution Conference – 16 March 2027
  The next edition of Energy Evolution will continue to showcase pioneering innovations in energy transition, renewable technologies, and sustainability, while honouring influential contributors driving the sector forward.​
  Event Page (organiser): https://www.energyevolutionconference.com

These upcoming events will further strengthen the ecosystem connecting energy, ESG, and circularity, creating continuity for delegates and partners who wish to engage across multiple themes.

Looking Ahead

Energy Evolution Conference & Awards 2026 in Dubai demonstrated that the global energy transition is no longer a distant ambition but an active, evolving reality built on collaboration, technology, policy, and community engagement. From agrivoltaics and AI to BESS resilience and community solar, the event covered the crucial building blocks of a cleaner, more resilient energy future.​​

With partners like APsystems China, a strong line-up of speakers and awardees, and a growing family of related conferences such as ESGNext and the Plastic Recycling Conference, Next Business Media has firmly positioned Energy Evolution as a must-attend platform for stakeholders who are serious about turning energy innovation into real-world impact.

Stakeholders, organisations, and professionals interested in speaking, partnering, exhibiting, or attending future editions are encouraged to visit the official event websites and connect with the organisers and leaders on LinkedIn to stay engaged in this ongoing journey.