Press Release, 17th May, 2016

May 18, 2016 - 12:30

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Network News

Press Release "The GCC and the European Union to foster clean energy partnership during event in Dubai"

The EU-GCC Clean Energy Network and the Clean Energy Business Council will sign a MoU at the Network’s 1^st Working Groups’ Consultation Workshop

With rapid and fundamental transformation of the energy sector spurring new opportunities for joint actions between European and Gulf countries, the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network – which received a financial boost from the European Commission earlier this year after being established in 2010 - intends to link key European and Gulf stakeholders to foster mutually cost-efficient clean energy partnerships.

At present, solar energy ranks as the most economical source of generating renewable electricity in the Gulf, as shown by the record-breaking bid of three cents (USD0.03) per kilowatt hour (kWh) received by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) for a solar PV plant project.

Other clean energy sources are required to power the next generation of renewable-powered technologies, such as electric vehicles. According to a recent study by Bloomberg, global sales of electric vehicles are expected to grow to 35% of the total number of new light vehicles sales by 2040.

To progress the region’s clean energy agenda, the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network (CENII) will host the 1^st Working Groups’ Consultation Workshop on Tuesday 24 May, 2016. The EU-funded workshop is organised with the support of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and in association with the Clean Energy Business Council (CBEC).

The workshop will gather prominent local, regional and European specialists and energy experts to discuss clean energy topics driving the current transformation of energy markets and develop pathways for increased cooperation on clean energy development between the European Union and the GCC. Representatives from the European Union and GCC stakeholders will collectively discuss actions onRenewable Energy Sources and Electricity Interconnections & Market Integration.

The opening session will be led by high-level EU and GCC representatives and experts including H.E Mr. Ahmad Buti Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE),Mr. Frank Wouters, Director of CENII and H.E. Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chairman of the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC).

At the workshop’s opening ceremony, the CENII and CEBC will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in fostering enhanced reliance on clean energy solutions across the GCC and Europe.

“We are witnessing a fundamental transformation in the energy sector driven by increasing cost competitiveness of renewable energy technologies, real concerns related to climate change and security of our energy supply, and a vast array of new technologies and business models. The Network can build a bridge between EU and GCC stakeholders with benefits for all sides in this highly dynamic field,” saidFrank Wouters, Director of the CENII.

H.E. Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chairman of the CEBC, added: “Global adoption of clean energy best practices and the emergence of affordable, competitively priced technologies is paving the way for the transition to a new climate economy that presents significant opportunities in terms of investment growth, job creation, innovation, productivity growth and entrepreneurship.

“The strategic partnership between the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network and the CEBC will promote the adoption of clean energy, foster constructive dialogue and identify collective action by all stakeholders to guide public policy and private investment across the GCC’s energy sector. Our objective is to jointly develop R&D programs in solar and clean energy that can be deployed in both the MENA region and the EU.”

The first CENII consultation workshop will include contributions and addresses from distinguished public and private sector authorities and experts including representatives from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Clean Energy Business Council, the GCC General Secretariat, Dubai Carbon Centre, Qatar National Research Fund, MESIA, BELECTRIC Gulf Ltd, Petroleum Institute, CENER,Hydrocity Ltd, DWE and DII, Castalia Strategy, TRANSCO, Siemens, GCCIA, Baringa Partners, Energy Charter Secretariat and others.

The workshop will also address current relevant strategies and initiatives in the EU and the GCC, common fields for collaboration between EU and the GCC, as well as actions to be implemented through the Network over the next period. During the workshop, the preliminary results of the consultation carried out over the last months will be presented and further inputs from stakeholders to identify actions and priorities for the Network will be incorporated.

The workshop will be held in Meeting Room Monte Carlo 2 at the Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Marina from 09:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday 24^th May, 2016. For registration and more information on the agenda, experts can visit the website at:

http://eugcc-cleanergy.net/working_groups_consultation_workshop.

ENDS

EU GCC CLEAN ENERGY NETWORK II

About the Network

The EU-GCC Clean Energy Network initiated its activities in 2010, as a response to the common EU GCC interest for strategic clean energy cooperation. The Network aims to catalyse and coordinate cooperation on clean energy, including policy and technology aspects among stakeholders in the EU and GCC countries.

In December 2015, the European Union launched the second phase of the “EU GCC Clean Energy Network II” (CENII) project aiming at further developing the activities of the Network and at supporting its sustainability over the mid-term.

The Network targets stakeholders from both the GCC and the EU including energy authorities and policy makers, utilities and industry, as well as energy associations, research entities and other stakeholders from the energy and climate change sectors.

An important operational element of the Network is the Working Groups (WGs) that are established to foster cooperation and partnerships in the areas of:

WG1 - Renewable Energy Sources;

WG2 - Energy Efficiency & Demand Side Management;

WG3 - Clean Natural Gas & related Clean Technologies;

WG4 - Electricity Interconnections & Market Integration;

WG5 -Carbon Capture & Storage,

considering also climate change as a crosscutting topic.

The Network fosters EU GCC partnerships on clean energy through:

Exchange of experiences and know-how as well as sharing of best practices;
Provision of capacity building on technical, policy and research aspects;
Coordination and promotion of joint actions, including studies, projects, publications, events, e.tc;
Facilitation of joint demonstration and development projects and initiatives, including through joint research projects in the GCC;
Provision of targeted inputs for the policy dialogue between the EU and the GCC in the relevant sectors;
Web- supported services that promote dialogue and collaboration.