Dr. Afif Saif Al Yafei

Dr. Afif Saif Al Yafei serves as the Chief Executive Officer of TAQA Transmission, a key company within the TAQA Group, entrusted with the planning, construction, and operation of high voltage power and bulk water transmission networks in Abu Dhabi and beyond.

With over two decades of industry experience, Dr. Afif is a seasoned executive who has held leadership positions in the energy and utilities sectors. His comprehensive expertise encompasses asset management, operations and maintenance, technical services, projects delivery, governance and business development. Dr. Afif has demonstrated his commitment to industry advancement by serving on boards of directors and management committees for various regional and international entities in the UAE, GCC, and UK.

Dr. Afif holds a Doctor of Business Degree from Abu Dhabi University, in addition to Bachelors and Masters Engineering Degrees from UAE University. Complementing his academic achievements, Dr. Afif has completed the International Director Program from INSEAD and the Senior Executive Program from the London Business School.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 5 November

10:00

10:00 - 11:00

Investing in reliable grid infrastructure to deliver renewable capacity and energy efficiency commitments

Tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 is seen as critical to achieving a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. However, this initiative faces a unique set of challenges for each goal, including the lack of investment in the grid infrastructure needed to deliver renewable energy from generation sources to end-users, as well as driving operational excellence through the adoption of efficient electric technologies like heat pumps, EVs, etc. While long-term operational costs are lower compared to traditional fuels, the initial investment can be a barrier for investors as can long ROI windows. Collaboration across all stakeholder groups including utilities, grid technology vendors, investors and others will be needed to de-risk investment and deliver a reliable grid infrastructure that will enable increased renewable capacity and energy efficiency.

Attendee insights:

Understand the significant role of investment in establishing a modernised, reliable grid infrastructure to enable renewable energy capacity.