Charting the future of global energy

As global energy demand continues to rise, particularly across fast-growing Asian economies, the challenge of balancing security, affordability, and sustainability has never been greater. CNPC, one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies, plays a pivotal role in meeting this challenge, both as the backbone of China’s energy system and as a trusted international partner.

In this Energy Talk, the Chairman of CNPC will outline how the company is advancing energy security through resilient upstream investment, enhanced LNG capacity, and diversified international partnerships. Mr. Dai Houliang will share insights into CNPC’s technology-driven approach to efficiency and digital transformation, from advanced exploration techniques to AI-enabled operations that drive greater value from existing resources.

Making the case for FID in hydrogen projects

As companies strategically reassess their capital allocation - largely driven by factors such as economic conditions, technological advancements and shifting market dynamics - major energy players are narrowing their focus to hydrogen ventures with the strongest commercial potential. This includes projects likely to advance to final investment decisions and secure reliable offtake agreements from industries most viable for uptake such as refineries, chemicals, and steel. Energy companies seeking to reach FID in hydrogen projects must navigate the nexus of policy frameworks, demand certainty, cost structures, and evolving technologies. Delivering energy in the most cost- and carbon-efficient way possible requires meticulous permitting, robust contract negotiations, and proactive demand creation, particularly in regions offering the best production economics. Despite challenges, the emerging hydrogen market offers substantial opportunities for growth and decarbonisation.     

Attendee insights:

Gain a comprehensive overview of commercially viable hydrogen projects, and learn how strategic investment, regulatory rigor, and targeted demand creation are shaping hydrogen’s role in the global energy system.  

Increasing collaboration between the Global North and South for a successful transition

Solving climate change challenges and ensuring a successful energy transition will require increased collaboration between the Global North and the developing economies of the Global South, inclusive of financing, technology and clean energy skills. The energy transition will reshape the global industrial and competitive landscape. New centers of low-cost, low-carbon energy will emerge, and industries in which energy accounts for a sizable share of overall costs—for example, ammonia production, data centers, aluminum, pulp and paper, and steel manufacturing—could be leading candidates to relocate. Enhanced collaboration across these new value chains is essential, and governments and private sector across the North and South need to work together to ensure effective and sustainable integration. The Global North must take action to enable substantial de-risked investment across several critical fronts to ensure energy access and affordability in the Global South. How can governments and businesses catalyse socio-economic development, including integration of value chains, ensure access to technology and a skilled workforce, provide supportive international partnerships, create viable carbon markets and incentivise energy transition policies?

Attendee insights:

Gain insights into supporting mechanisms to increase collaboration between the Global North and the Global South to further tackle climate change challenges and what’s required for a just, orderly and equitable transition in the Global South.

Priorities for the energy sector: AI, climate technology and new energy sources

The direction of travel for the global energy sector is clear, delivering affordable, secure, sustainable energy supply which in turn will require the energy ecosystem to evolve and incorporate new energy sources and new business models. Existing technologies, skills and operating processes will need to be transformed to ensure the market position of energy companies in a transformed energy system. Energy businesses are uniquely tasked with both implementing their own AI agendas and responding to the sharp increase in power demand created by AI and data centre development. A focus on investment in R&D, project development, scalability, and infrastructure build-out will be needed to keep pace. What strategies should energy producers and suppliers adopt to build bespoke energy mixes creating flexibility for nations and regions aligned with the priorities and pathways to net-zero?

Attendee insights:

Hear from industry leaders on the strategies being put in place to modernise companies and lead in a time of constant change and new economic environments.

The imperative for methane action

The energy world is at a crossroads. As fossil fuel demand increases, the resulting rise in global temperatures is contributing to more frequent and severe storms, droughts, floods, and wildfires. Without drastic emission cuts the UNEP 2023 Emissions Gap Report warns the remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5°C will likely be depleted by 2030, highlighting the urgency of tackling pollutants like methane. At last year’s Climate Talks in Dubai a major methane deal led by the UAE brought 50 oil producers together and put them on a pathway for achieving meaningful reductions. The oil and gas industry has a pivotal role to play in getting the world back on track and accelerating progress toward an abundant, affordable, sustainable, and equitable energy future.

This Energy Talk will focus on the industry’s climate agenda following COP 28, expectations for outcomes and what producers need to do on the road to COP29 and 30.

Decarbonising operations across upstream, midstream and downstream

Oil and gas operations account for 15% of total energy-related Scope 1 and 2 emissions globally. To meet the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario, Scope 1 and 2 emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2030. Producers have the means to achieve this target, including reducing methane emissions, the elimination of non-emergency flaring, the clean electrification of upstream facilities and equipping oil and gas processes with CCUS technologies. However, an estimated US $600 billion in investment will be needed to deliver the 50% reduction in the timeframe required. In addition, collaboration between sectors will be critical when optimising supply chain operations, allowing for greater efficiencies and increased profitability.

Attendee insights:

Understand what is needed to decarbonise upstream, midstream and downstream operations, addressing the necessary requirements related to Scope 1 and 2 emissions and identifying the effective levers for decarbonisation.

Guaranteeing energy security through the energy transition

In recent years, geopolitical events have disrupted energy supplies, threatening energy security and underscoring the urgency of accelerating the transition to a multifaceted new energy system. Policy plays a pivotal role in establishing the mechanisms for meeting energy transition targets, ensuring a reliable and resilient energy future. Consequently, diverse energy supply mixes will be built to suit a country or region’s unique energy assets and needs. However, it is crucial to explore to what extent policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the EU Green Deal, can ensure energy security and industrial competitiveness and drive progress in scaling new clean energy solutions and the required infrastructure. How can we foster a holistic approach between governments, the private sector, and international organisations to bolster energy security while transitioning to cleaner energy sources?

Attendee insights:

Gain insights into energy security strategies as well as the role of policy in shaping the energy transition and supporting access to a diversified clean energy mix.

Traders and the energy transition

The energy transition is transforming global energy production and consumption by integrating traditional sources like oil and gas with the growing presence of renewables. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities, as industries adapt and consumers access energy in different ways. The trading industry plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable energy access while balancing sustainability and efficiency.

Attendee insights:

Understand the significant trading opportunities that are emerging in the energy industry and the rapid evolution of markets.

Accelerating decarbonisation through mutually beneficial cross-sector partnerships

Against the backdrop of reducing global emissions and transitioning to the new energy system, a siloed approach to problem solving is not an option. Businesses, sectors and governments must develop collaborative and transparent partnerships to bring together complementary expertise and the needed finance in pursuit of mutually beneficial, tangible energy transition results. How can such partnerships accelerate progress and innovation by unlocking new resources and revenue streams, enabling organisations to access new markets and enhance their businesses? What is required to forge integrated collaboration across sectors and governments, to unlock solutions faster at scalable, replicable, sustainable and effective levels to meet decabonisation targets?

Attendee insights:

Hear from different sectors collaborating to accelerate the energy transition on their successful cross-sector partnerships.

U.S. elections: reflections and impacts on the energy transition

According to industry experts, the U.S. election could lead to the energy transition slowing. Policies such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 placed the U.S. at the center of the world’s decarbonisation journey, but what will happen in November 2024? How will the U.S. elections impact the new world order and the energy industry?

Attendee insights:

This Energy Talk will focus on the elections, its repercussions and what energy companies need to watch out for in the years ahead.

Pioneering growth: how to supercharge the global growth of renewables

With the world committing to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 as part of the historic UAE Consensus achieved at COP28, renewable energy is being adopted at a record rate. However, while achieving this goal remains within reach, it will require a global effort to help reach it.

This Energy Talk will explore how major renewable energy players like Masdar are supercharging the global growth of renewables to achieve net-zero, and what more needs to be done to get there.

Increasing collaboration between the Global North and South for a successful transition

Solving climate change challenges and ensuring a successful energy transition will require increased collaboration between the Global North and the developing economies of the Global South, inclusive of financing, technology and clean energy skills. The energy transition will reshape the global industrial and competitive landscape. New centers of low-cost, low-carbon energy will emerge, and industries in which energy accounts for a sizable share of overall costs—for example, ammonia production, data centers, aluminum, pulp and paper, and steel manufacturing—could be leading candidates to relocate. Enhanced collaboration across these new value chains is essential, and governments and private sector across the North and South need to work together to ensure effective and sustainable integration. The Global North must take action to enable substantial de-risked investment across several critical fronts to ensure energy access and affordability in the Global South. How can governments and businesses catalyse socio-economic development, including integration of value chains, ensure access to technology and a skilled workforce, provide supportive international partnerships, create viable carbon markets and incentivise energy transition policies?

Attendee insights:

Gain insights into supporting mechanisms to increase collaboration between the Global North and the Global South to further tackle climate change challenges and what’s required for a just, orderly and equitable transition in the Global South.