16th Dii Desert Energy
Leadership Summit
29 Sept – 1 Oct 2026 | Istanbul, Türkiye
Country Host:
29 – 30 September 2026
Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus
1 October 2026
REAP Battery Factory
Clean Energy:
Bridging Continents, Connecting Markets
Country Host:
Yeo Technology
Yeo.com.tr
Since 2010, the Annual Summits have paved the way for climate neutral, lowest cost and secure energy from the MENA deserts and we are thrilled to join our Country Host, YEO Technology, in Istanbul for the 16th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit.
The theme ‘Clean Energy: Bridging Continents, Connecting Markets’ is at the very heart of Dii Desert Energy’s mission and underscores Türkiye’s strategic position as a unique crossroads of cultures, innovation, and both traditional and emerging energy systems, reinforcing its importance for energy security at the intersection of continents.
The summit will build on a tradition of quality content, high-level speakers and attendees, as well as a format that supports lively debate and interaction.
The Summit will address EU-MENA interconnected energy systems, with insights into energy trading, secure information flows, and the socio-economic benefits of the transformation – anchored in the Clean Energy Pyramid.
Clean Energy Pyramid
The Summit program explores what should drive clean energy systems and markets. It delves into the evolving business case for climate-neutral energy, examining the right mix of carrots and sticks needed to shape viable markets – from public sector push to market pull, and the critical role of price signals.
As part of Dii Desert Energy vision and mission, in collaboration with ZETA Global, is giving impartial guidance to the development MENA as a clean energy ‘Power House’ for local benefits and for exporting into the global energy markets.
The Clean Energy Pyramid (image below) highlights four fundamental building blocks:
The summit is part of Dii’s wider roadmap to accelerate the energy transition in the Arab world, connecting regions, people, and continents that share Dii’s mission: ‘No Emissions!’
Register your interest below to hear when more information is announced!
Mark your calendars and plan on joining us to accelerate the energy transformation!
29 September - 1 October | Istanbul, Türkiye
Together, we aim to drive action, and we look forward to bold discussions to shape the future of energy in MENA and beyond.
Add to your calendar:
Session Highlights
The Summit program explores what should drive clean energy systems and markets. It delves into the evolving business case for climate-neutral energy, examining the right mix of carrots and sticks needed to shape viable markets – from public sector push to market pull, and the critical role of price signals.
Two full days of high-level content, including:
The Green Bridge: Türkiye’s Strategic Role in the EU-MENA Energy Corridor
International Cooperation for Energy Security
Hydrogen Reality Check in the Energy Transformation
Trusted Information: Data Centers, AI and Blockchain
Renewable Energy Development: Scaling solar and wind integration
Energy Storage & Grid Resilience: The evolution of battery technologies and energy storage systems
Low-Emission Hydrogen: Scaling up the hydrogen economy and natural hydrogen
Complementary Technologies: Harnessing the power of hydropower and geothermal energy
Geopolitics and the Future of Global Energy Trading
The impact of Geopolitical Development in the Energy Transformation
The Battery Boom: Why Energy Storage Is the Fastest-Growing Sector
Exclusive visit to YEO Technology’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, featuring an impressive 5 GWh annual production capacity for battery energy storage systems
Among our Speakers
Paddy Padmanathan
Chairman
XLinks
Tolunay Yıldız
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
YEO Technology
İhsan Erbil Bayçöl
Strategic Investments & Operations President, Sabancı Group, and Chief Executive Officer
Enerjisa Üretim
Elif Yener
CEO
Zorlu Energy
Harry Boyd-Carpenter
Managing Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Group
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Dr Faye Alhersh
Associate Director, Development UAE Green Hydrogen
Masdar
Çağrı Güven
Vice President
KfW IPEX-Bank
Ebubekir Koyuncu
CEO of Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases (BHIG) and CEO
Air Products Qudra
Dr. İbrahim ERDEN
Chairman
Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB)
Eiichiro Miyazoe
Managing Director
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Middle East
2025 edition:
15th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit
6-7 November 2025, Dubai, UAE
250+
participants
50+
CEOs
80+
C-suite speakers
35%
participants C-suite level and
above
40
countries
represented
30
sessions, panels and
presentations
The Dii Leadership Summit is a fantastic format to connect with industry leaders from MENA and Europe across all parts of the value ecosystem. The can-do attitude with a strong focus on implementation is a clear value-add.
Sebastian Budischin, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Origination, Hydrogen and Clean Energy Business, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE)
The Dii Leadership Summit, focusing on net-zero energy transition, is one of the best cross-industry platforms for policy makers, investors, and renewables/hydrogen industry players to gather together, and co-op towards a sustainable future
Frank Yu, Senior Vice President, Envision Energy and President of Hydrogen Marketing and Sales Product Line
Strong leadership and strategic climate partnerships are the driving forces of a just energy transition and sustainable development. We were excited to support the 14th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit in Vienna, UNIDO’s home city, and to collaborate with Dii Desert Energy and other esteemed partners in building a sustainable future powered by clean energy and clean hydrogen.
Petra Schwager, Chief of the Climate and Technology Partnership Division, Global Programme for Hydrogen in Industry, UNIDO
The Dii-Summit in Vienna was a phantasmic opportunity to meet the right people – business partners and friends – to discuss and agree on the relevant next steps to make the hydrogen and the hydrogen derivatives economy reality.
Thorsten Herdan, CEO, HIF EMEA
Our participation in the Dii Desert Energy platform strengthens our network within the hydrogen industry across the Middle East and Europe. Events like the annual summit in Vienna promote cross-sector collaboration and efficient decision-making.
Olaf Berlien, President and CEO, INNIO Group
The Dii Leadership Summit has the right number and kind of participants and the right set-up to network and re-meet with Power-to-X Industry leaders. Great to see that it is also growing to have participants from the entire P2X ecosystem.
Florian Merz, Associate Director, Business Development (Europe), Masdar
