As the Middle East ramps up solar installations, ensuring the safety of installers has become a top priority.

In response, the organisers of Solar & Storage Live Middle East 2026 have unveiled a dedicated Installer Safety Zone on the exhibition floor, highlighting the latest solutions designed to protect the workforce driving the region’s energy transition.

The Installer Safety Zone will feature a broad range of protective equipment and tools. Electrical safety gear on display includes arc-rated clothing, insulated gloves, dielectric boots, arc flash protection and insulated tools, aimed at reducing risks during high-voltage operations.

General personal protective equipment (PPE) such as Class E hard hats, high-visibility apparel, cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection and safety eyewear will also be showcased to mitigate everyday hazards.

Fall protection systems will be another focal point, with exhibitors presenting harnesses, lifeline solutions, self-retracting lifelines (SRLs), anchor points and rooftop safety equipment to help installers work securely at height.

Environmental protection products, including UV-protective clothing, hydration systems, respiratory equipment and gear for harsh climate conditions, will also be available, ensuring workers are safeguarded in challenging outdoor environments.

Specialised tools and equipment, such as voltage testers, lockout/tagout (LOTO) kits, thermal imaging cameras, insulated matting and Class C fire extinguishers, will be highlighted to further improve onsite safety.

Compliance and training resources will cover OSHA standards, NFPA 70E electrical safety, working-at-heights certification, first aid and CPR, and local electrical code requirements, supporting installers and contractors in maintaining regulatory adherence.

The new zone aims to provide a platform for industry professionals to explore the latest innovations, meet leading suppliers and share best practices to raise safety standards across the renewable energy sector.

Dubai World Trade Centre will host Solar & Storage Live Middle East on 9–10 June 2026, offering attendees an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge safety solutions and learn how technology and training can minimise risks for frontline solar professionals.

By prioritising safety and compliance, the Installer Safety Zone seeks to reduce incidents on-site, increase installer confidence, and ensure the rapid growth of solar projects continues without compromising workforce wellbeing.

OQ Alternative Energy has reported major progress across three renewable energy projects that are expected to deliver a combined 330 MW of wind and solar power in Oman by the end of 2026.

The developments – the Riyah 1 and Riyah 2 wind farms and the North Oman Solar plant – are being implemented in partnership with TotalEnergies with a total investment exceeding US$230mn. Once operational, the facilities will supply renewable electricity to the grid operated by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

The projects include Oman’s largest wind farm and have already set several logistical and construction milestones, including the transport of the country’s longest inland convoy to move turbine components to site.

The Riyah wind projects are located at PDO’s Amin and West Nimr fields in southern Oman, while the North Oman Solar facility is being developed at Saih Nahaydah in the north of the country.

According to OQAE, the solar project has reached around 95% completion of tracker and photovoltaic module installation. The remaining panels are expected to be installed by mid-March 2026 as the project moves towards mechanical completion.

Meanwhile, construction of the wind farms has also progressed significantly. Seven wind turbines, each reaching a tip height of around 200 metres, have been installed so far, with work continuing to erect the remaining units.

All 36 wind turbine generators required for the projects have already arrived in Oman, with 19 transported from the port to the project sites. In addition, turbine foundations have been fully completed, enabling construction teams to accelerate installation activities in preparation for commissioning.

The developments have also exceeded their in-country value targets, with approximately 30% of total project expenditure retained within Oman’s economy. A number of local companies have been involved in supplying equipment and services, including Voltamp, Oman Cables, Al Kiyumi Switchgear and Al Hassan Switchgear.

Engineering work for substations was carried out by Worley Oman, while specialised logistics for transporting turbine components were managed by Khimji Ramdas.

Workforce localisation has also exceeded expectations, with Omani nationals accounting for around 40% of the workforce during development and construction. The projects have created roughly 150 direct and indirect jobs and include structured training programmes designed to develop local expertise in renewable energy.

Kumail Said, acting chief executive of OQ Alternative Energy, said the developments were designed not only to expand clean energy generation but also to strengthen the country’s industrial capabilities.

He noted that the projects are intended to support long-term economic diversification and build a domestic renewable energy ecosystem aligned with Oman’s national energy transition goals.

Once completed, the wind and solar facilities will contribute significantly to the country’s clean power capacity while helping reduce reliance on natural gas for electricity generation.

Aviation will not decarbonise at the pace required unless Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) projects can reach final investment decision (FID) far more rapidly, industry leaders warned during a recent Sustainable Aviation Futures webinar, hosted in partnership with technology company Johnson Matthey.

The session brought together voices from across the value chain: technology provider Johnson Matthey, airline group IAG, energy major Repsol, lender Santander, and insurer AXA.

The webinar host noted that while around 50 SAF plants are operational globally and roughly 40 more have secured financing, over 150 projects remain stuck in planning, with at least 50 abandoned or paused in recent years. “SAF is essential to decarbonise aviation, but getting projects from paper to FID is by no means guaranteed,” she said.

Defining FID readiness

For Paul Ticehurst of Johnson Matthey, being “FID ready” means a project is “fully defined” with clear capital and operating costs, timelines, production volumes, revenues and, crucially, a deep understanding of its risk portfolio. That includes off‑taker risk, feedstock risk, policy risk, construction risk, operational risk and technology risk. Early engagement with all stakeholders – investors, EPC contractors, insurers and off‑takers – is, he argued, essential to build confidence.

Sponsor strength, technology choice and regulation

From a developer’s perspective, Alfonso García of Repsol stressed that overall project risk hinges on three pillars: the sponsor’s financial strength and operating track record, the maturity and flexibility of the chosen technology, and the regulatory environment. In Europe, he described the policy framework as both “more material” and “more complex”, driven by multiple overlapping mandates. He underlined the importance of policy‑agnostic designs and product flexibility, allowing plants to switch output – for example, between SAF and renewable diesel – when market conditions shift.

Finance and insurance: putting risks on the right balance sheet

Urbano Pérez of Santander highlighted that most SAF plants to date have *not* been project‑financed, and that moving to true non‑recourse finance dramatically raises the bar for risk assessment. Lenders, he said, are “buying into the predictability of cash flows”, which in turn depends on robust off‑take agreements, secure and affordable feedstock, proven technology performance and disciplined construction.

Katie Lennon of AXA described SAF as a “relatively immature” industry that is unusually open about risk. She urged developers to bring insurers in “at the pre‑conception stage” so that technical risk consultants can help engineer out problems before construction. Insurance, she added, can absorb technology performance, credit, political and even weather risks – so long as the “right risk sits on the right balance sheet”.

Airlines’ long‑term role

Representing demand, Jonathan Counsell of IAG said SAF is “absolutely critical” to the group’s net‑zero plans, with up to 70% of its fuel potentially coming from SAF by 2050. IAG has already signed 10‑ to 14‑year off‑take agreements with power‑to‑liquid producers, but only after extensive due diligence on technology, pricing and policy exposure. Counsell backed SAF mandates in the EU and UK, but warned that sub‑targets – particularly for emerging e‑fuel technologies – must be realistic to avoid large‑scale buy‑outs that would signal “policy failure”.

Across the panel, one message was consistent: only early, coordinated engagement between developers, airlines, financiers, insurers, technology providers and policymakers will unlock the scale of investment needed to take SAF from niche to norm.

Electric mobility firm Ampere has signed a joint development agreement with Spanish battery technology company Basquevolt to accelerate the development of lithium metal-based batteries for future electric vehicles.

The collaboration will focus on advancing and validating a new generation of battery technology designed to improve energy density, charging performance and overall efficiency in electric cars. The project will be carried out in Spain and forms part of wider efforts to support innovation within Europe’s rapidly evolving electric mobility sector.

Basquevolt’s lithium metal-based batteries are based on polymer electrolyte technology, which differs from the liquid electrolyte systems used in most current lithium-ion batteries. According to the company, this design could significantly increase the amount of energy stored in each battery while also enabling lighter and more compact battery packs.

Industry specialists say such improvements are essential for the next generation of electric vehicles, where manufacturers are seeking longer driving ranges, faster charging times and improved thermal safety.

By combining Basquevolt’s advanced battery research with Ampere’s engineering and vehicle integration expertise, the two companies aim to accelerate the path towards commercial deployment of the technology in passenger vehicles.

Pablo Fernández, Chief Executive Officer of Basquevolt, said the agreement represents an important step in bringing polymer electrolyte battery technology closer to large-scale production. He noted that working with Ampere will help validate the performance of the batteries under real-world automotive conditions.

Nicolas Racquet, Vice President for Vehicle and Powertrain Engineering at Ampere, added that the partnership highlights the growing role of collaboration in the development of next-generation energy storage systems.

“Together we aim to accelerate the development of advanced EV batteries capable of meeting the evolving expectations of customers,” Racquet said.

The two companies have already worked together for more than a year to refine the technology. Early tests indicate that the batteries could achieve high energy density while also reducing the cost of battery packs compared with traditional lithium-ion solutions.

Basquevolt says its polymer electrolyte approach simplifies the battery cell manufacturing process, potentially lowering production costs and energy consumption at gigafactories. The company estimates that facilities producing the cells could require around 30% less capital investment per gigawatt-hour of capacity, while energy use per kilowatt-hour of battery output could fall by a similar margin.

If successfully commercialised, the technology could help manufacturers produce more efficient and affordable electric vehicles, supporting the broader transition to low-emission transport across global markets.