25-26 February 2003, – IRIB International Conference Center, Tehran
This is the second Conference which World Renewable Energy Network (WREN) has organized with Iran Fuel Conservation Organization. The two – day meeting was attended by about 1300 participants mostly from Iran. WREN invited several prominent speakers, namely: Professor Marco Sala – Florence University, Italy; Professor Nasir ElBassam – Director, International Centre for Renewable Energy (IFEED), Dedelstorf, Germany;
Professor Mohd. Yusof Othman – Director of Centre for Applied Physics Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia; Professor Kamaruzzaman Sopian – Dept. of Mechanical Eng., Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia and Mr. Mohammad Sani – Director of Saving our Planet, Tjaereborg, Denmark. Professor Ali Sayigh gave an opening lecture on the first day about the progress of renewable
energy worldwide.

WREN members and some of the Organizing Committee at the Conference.

The Conference included several eminent speakers, Professor Mahdi Bahadori, Mr Egil Ofverholm, Expert: Swedish Energy Agency, Dr. Manochehr Riahi, Swedish Ecological Centre, Goteborg, Sweden and Chairman of Iran Engineering Society. The Conference was opened by Mr Hashimi who spoke of the need to reduce
energy consumption in buildings, and the great savings which result not only in saving money but also in improving health and conserving the environment.

Conference opening session in IRAN with the Minister of Oil.

The Conference included an exhibition of renewable energy manufacturers and building materials. There were 80 exhibitors and it was very well received by all the participants.

Professor Sayigh and members of WREN: Prof. Othman, Prof. ElBassam, Prof. Sopian, Prof. Sala, Mr Sani and Mr Kaabi Nejadian had a meeting at the Iran Ministry of Energy with a delegation headed by His Excellency Dr. Reza Amrollahi, Senior Vice Minister and His Excellency H Chitchian , Deputy Minister for Energy Affairs. The meeting was to discuss the forthcoming South/South Conference about best practice in renewable energy for 30 countries. Both Ministers expressed their support. WREN will organize this meeting jointly with IFCO, 15-20 February, 2004.

Prof. Sayigh and on the right next to him Senior Vice Minister Dr. Amrollahi and Deputy Minister Mr Chitchian on the occasion of planning South/South cooperation conference Feb. 2004.

One of the outstanding establishments visited by Professor Sayigh during his visit to Iran was the Islamic Azad University (IAU). The University has 130 campuses with more than 650,000 students enrolled. Professor Sayigh visited Professor Majid Abbaspour, adviser to the Iranian President. WREN is very delighted to
cooperate with Prof. Abbaspour and work together for the promotion of renewable energy in IRAN.

Professor Sayigh stopped at Dubai where he had a meeting with the president of Arab Science and Technology Foundation – ASTF, Dr Abdullah Al-Najjar. Professor Sayigh is one of the founding members of this organization which aims to help and support Arab scientists and engineers to carry out research of importance and relevance to their own region.

Dr Abdullah Al-Najjar and Prof. Sayigh in Dubai.

It is WREN’s mission to help and cooperate with many countries. Since the establishment of WREN, we have cooperated with more than 40 countries through meetings, WREN Newsletter, books, and the well known technical journal published by Elsevier – Renewable Energy, an international journal. More recently in 2000
WREN teamed with Sovereign Publishing Company to produce annually one of the outstanding magazines in renewable energy, third issue is coming out next month, encompassing manufacturing company profiles and original articles by well-known scientists and scholars. WREN is a unique network, and gathers together
every two years the largest number of experts, technicians, academics and policy makers in the WREN Congresses.