Paddy Padmanathan

Paddy Padmanathan led ACWA Power from a start-up 18 years ago and transformed it into a globally recognized company at the forefront of the energy transition. It is listed on the Saudi stock exchange with a market capitalization of over US$30 billion. Under his leadership, ACWA Power has today become a leading developer, investor, and operator of power generation, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants, valued at US$75 billion. The company has a significant track record in large scale solar and wind energy development, and is a leader in water desalination, serving millions of people around the world. It is now making strides in the production of green hydrogen with the first plant at scale currently under construction. After serving as President & CEO, Padmanathan stepped down from his executive position in March 2023 to pursue his own business ventures but continues to serve ACWA Power as a member of its Board.

Padmanathan’s unwavering commitment to renewable energy and addressing the impending potable water crisis are enabling significant changes in the industry, creating opportunities for sustainable growth and progress towards a greener future. His new ventures include:

• Zhero BV, a new company established to develop renewable energy and green hydrogen at scale; and infrastructure and solutions to convey green electrons and molecules from optimum location of production to demand centres.

• Xlinks Ltd, to develop interconnectors across lands and oceans to link grids and nodes of optimal generation with demand centers, now developing the first project; to generate 10GW of renewable energy (solar + wind + Battery) in Morocco and transfer 3.6 GW of dispatchable 20+ hour renewable electricity 7 days a week (8% of UK’s current electricity need) via a direct 3800 KM long submarine HVDC powerline to the United Kingdom at way less than the cost of nuclear power.

• Desolenator BV, a technology company to deliver potable water supply solutions at small scale (25l/day module to 1000 cum/day plants) “fuelled” with entirely renewable energy and utilizing no chemicals or consumables at a cost of less than USD 1 per cum to serve the 800 + million people who today walk to collect dirty water and boil it by burning sticks and to remote sites spanning from leisure and industrial facilities to community health and education facilities all of which use bottled water often supplied through plastic bottles.

He holds an engineering degree from the University of Manchester,  UK and a postgraduate qualification in civil engineering from the University of Lancaster, UK.