2026 TECHNICAL CATEGORIES
1. CLEAN POWER GENERATION FOR A NET ZERO FUTURE
- Utility-scale solar & hybrids
- Wind (onshore & offshore)
- Geothermal, hydro & marine
- Waste-to-energy & biomass
- Nuclear & SMRs
- Distributed generation & microgrids
- Off-grid & rural power
- Industrial clean energy & critical minerals
- Decarbonising power & flexible gas
- District cooling & heating
2. SMARTER TRANSMISSION AND GRID INNOVATION
- HVAC & HVDC systems
- Cross-border links & power pools
- Substation automation & digital upgrades
- Voltage/reactive power control
- Advanced conductors & line ratings
- Grid congestion & flexibility
- DER integration
- Forecasting & outage prediction
- Climate-resilient grid planning
- District energy integration
3. FLEXIBLE ENERGY SYSTEMS WITH HYDROGEN AND STORAGE
- Green hydrogen
- Blue hydrogen, CCUS & gas transition
- Hydrogen blending & ammonia
- Battery tech (Li-ion, LFP, etc.)
- Long-duration energy storage (LDES)
- Thermal & mechanical storage
- V2G & EV battery reuse
- Industrial electrification
- Peak shaving & resilience
- Hybrid fuel & storage systems
4. ENERGY MARKETS AND INVESTMENT INNOVATION
- Market reforms & liberalisation
- Carbon pricing & trading
- Capacity & flexibility markets
- Renewable PPAs & auctions
- Investment & risk frameworks
- Digital trading & real-time pricing
- Cross-border power trade
- Green bonds & finance
- PPP & project finance
- Regulatory enablers
5. AI-POWERED UTILITIES AND PREDICTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
- Predictive maintenance & monitoring
- AI forecasting & optimisation
- Digital twins & simulation
- Analytics & automation
- Customer insights & smart billing
- Control room automation
- Energy management platforms
- ML-based fault detection
- AI-driven sustainability tracking
- Virtual assistants & chatbots
6. SMART GRIDS AND GRID EDGE INNOVATION
- Smart meters & IoT
- Demand response & flexibility
- Virtual Power Plants & aggregators
- Rooftop solar, batteries & EVs
- Blockchain P2P trading
- Intelligent inverter tech
- Consumer engagement & prosumers
- Microgrids & local energy communities
- DERMS platforms
- DER regulations
7. URBAN ELECTRIFICATION AND CLEAN MOBILITY
- EV charging & planning
- Public transit & fleet electrification
- Smart mobility hubs & MaaS
- Load management & smart charging
- Battery swapping & V2G
- Urban energy planning
- Energy-as-a-service for transport
- Decarbonising last-mile logistics
- Renewables integration in cities
- Clean mobility policy & incentives
8. CYBERSECURITY AND DIGITAL TRUST
- OT & IT cybersecurity
- Data privacy & compliance
- Incident detection & response
- Cloud & edge security
- AI ethics & transparency
- Blockchain security
- Infrastructure resilience
- Cyber workforce training
- Interoperability security
- Digital risk management
9. FUTURE-READY WATER SYSTEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
- Renewable desalination
- Wastewater treatment & reuse
- Smart metering & leak detection
- Energy efficiency in water utilities
- Agricultural water & irrigation
- Industrial water reuse & zero-liquid discharge
- Water-energy nexus planning
- Pipelines, storage & drainage
- Rural & off-grid water solutions
- Water quality monitoring & compliance
10. CIRCULAR WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY
- Municipal solid waste management
- Waste-to-energy & thermal treatment
- Sludge & biosolids management
- Industrial & hazardous waste reuse
- Organic waste composting & biogas
- Materials recovery & recycling
- E-waste management
- Construction & demolition recycling
- Circular economy models
- Landfill diversion & zero-waste strategies
11. ESG AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCE LEADERSHIP
- ESG reporting & benchmarking
- Climate risk & resilience
- Green bonds & sustainable finance
- Governance & board accountability
- Social impact & stakeholder engagement
- Diversity, equity & inclusion
- Carbon neutrality roadmaps
- Nature-based solutions & biodiversity
- Investor transparency
- Just transition & community benefits
12. TALENT POWERING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
- Reskilling & upskilling
- Leadership & talent development
- HSE management
- Just transition workforce planning
- Diversity & inclusion in hiring
- Vocational training partnerships
- Operational excellence frameworks
- Workforce well-being & engagement
- Talent retention & attraction
- Project management excellence
President
FREYTECH INC.
Founder and CEO
Medisun Energy
Founder
Samotics
Chairwoman
Kuwait Water Association
Founder and CEO
ForeSee
CEO
AC Rädler Umwelttechnik GmbH
CEO
SWPC
CEO
Midsun IKM
CEO
AL Usul
Co-Founder and CEO
K.M. Williams and Associates LLC
MD
PSM Thomassen Gulf L.L.C.
Chief Sustainability Officer
ENGIE
Chief Operating Officer
Tabreed
Chief Operating Officer
PWT Wasser- und Abwassertechnik GmbH
Chief Operating Officer
PTR Inc
Chief Technology Officer
Onunda
Chief Technology Officer
Danway
Chief AI Officer
Fulcrum Digital Inc
Executive Affairs Director
Tadweer
VP - Government & Institutional Relations, MEA
Hitachi Energy
VP - Engineering and Technical Project Management
ENGIE
Vice President
DAR Engineering
VP - Global Clean Energy Solutions
PSM – a Hanwha Company
Middle East Director – Global Water Practice
Ricardo plc
Senior Director, Clean Energy
Dynapower
Senior Director - EPCM
Ohmium
Director of Digital Operations
SUEZ, United Arab Emirates
Director
AFRY
Director
MCC Economics FZ LLC
Technical Director - Wastewater Service Line
AtkinsRéalis
Deputy Director
Emirates Nuclear Technology Center
Chief Engineer
AtkinsRéalis
Advisor - Environment Quality
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
Senior Advisor
Sullivan & Stanley
ME Energy Advisory Lead
Jacobs
Infrastructure Asset Management & Performance Lead
GHD
Head of Project Delivery – Middle East
EDF Renewables Middle East DMCC
Head of Supply Chain Strategy
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
Head of Marketing and Communications
KROHNE
Head of Energy & Smart Solutions
Dalkia Middle East
Head of Project Finance ME
EDF
Principal Consultant
Infosys
Projects & Technical Consulting Manager
ENPPI
Strategic Marketing
Ansaldo Energia
International Development Manager
CSFN, EDF
Sustainability Manager
TAQA Water Solutions
Head of Research & Development
GI Aqua Tech
Head of Business Development - UAE
Siemens Energy
Regional Technical Sales Manager - Telecom
Hitachi Energy
Project Manager
ENEDIS
Project Manager - Energy Business
Wärtsilä
Senior Principal Manager (Advanced Reactors Engineering)
EPRI
Independent Digital Business Advisor
Senior Manager
dss+
HEAR FROM OUR TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
"The World Utilities Congress offers a clear view into how the energy sector is evolving. It’s a valuable space for exchanging ideas and exploring practical solutions. Participating in the WUC provided me with a timely and valuable perspective on the transformation underway across the global utilities sector. For companies and professionals navigating this transition, the Congress offers a unique opportunity to engage with forward-thinking peers, gain actionable insights, and contribute to the evolution of resilient, efficient, and low-carbon utility systems."
Marco Cioffi
Strategic Marketing
Ansaldo Energia
"While my passion and expertise are deeply rooted in water, what makes the World Utilities Congress 2026 truly unique is its broad, cross-disciplinary platform. By bringing together thought leaders from across the entire utilities spectrum, we foster the kind of cross-fertilisation of ideas that drives real innovation. I’m excited to see how the diverse perspectives at this year’s Congress will inspire new solutions—not just for water, but for a more sustainable and resilient future for all utilities and the communities we serve."
Ghislan Juvanon
Chief Operating Officer
PWT Wasser- und Abwassertechnik GmbH
"As a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, I’ve seen the World Utilities Congress evolve into a pivotal platform for advancing the utilities landscape. Despite its modest scale, it convenes key decision-makers and stakeholders, enabling focused, outcome-driven dialogue.
The Technical Conference stands out for its strong focus and depth, curated through a rigorous multi-stage review process to showcase only the most insightful, high-impact presentations addressing real-world power sector challenges. "
Hassan Zaheer
Chief Operating Officer
PTR
Test Forn
The World Utilities Congress, taking place from 19 - 21 May 2026 in Abu Dhabi, is the premier global platform driving the transformation of the utilities sector. As the world shifts towards a sustainable energy future, the World Utilities Congress will be pivotal in addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding energy transition, water security, and digitalisation.
Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, the event offers a unique opportunity to showcase groundbreaking technologies, forge strategic partnerships, and explore investment prospects. With a focus on integrating renewable energy sources, enhancing grid resilience, and optimising water management, the exhibition and conference is at the forefront of shaping a sustainable, reliable, and inclusive future for utilities worldwide.
