The EU-GCC Clean Energy Network (CENII) has hosted the 1^st Working Groups’ Consultation Workshop, with experts from the two regions’ discussing cooperation potential in the fields of Renewable Energy Sources, Electricity Interconnections and Market Integration.

The EU-funded workshop was organised with the support of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and in association with the Clean Energy Business Council.

“The energy sector is undergoing a massive change as competitive clean energy technologies come to the forefront of business models both in the EU and across the GCC. Numerous factors including climate change and a need for secure energy supply are propelling the securing of funding for research and development of renewable energy technologies,” said Frank Wouters, Director of the CENII. “We believe joint actions and sharing of information between EU and GCC stakeholders will benefit all sides in this highly dynamic field.”

H.E. Ahmad Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of DSCE said: “Dubai is committed to ambitious energy efficiency targets for the coming years via our guiding principles, reaching up to 30% of consumption savings for electricity and water by 2030, as is defined in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030”.

Jean-Bernard Bolvin, the representative of the EU Delegation to the UAE, stated that clean energy is a key element in EU-GCC cooperation, with clear win-win prospects emerging for both regions in terms of exchange of practices, knowledge transfer, energy research and innovation, development of joint projects, as well as concrete policy dialogue towards a sustainable energy future.

H.E. Robert J.H. de Leeuw, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dubai, during his address, highlighted the potential for concrete energy partnerships at a bilateral and at a regional level, especially in the light of the GCC’s strong commitment to combatting climate change and developing renewable energy.

The first CENII consultation workshop gathered more than 100 senior energy professionals from across the region and included addresses from distinguished public and private sector authorities and experts including representatives from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Clean Energy Business Council, Dubai Carbon Centre, Qatar National Research Fund, MESIA, BELECTRIC Gulf Ltd, Petroleum Institute, CENER, Hydrocity Ltd, DWE and DII, Castalia Strategy, TRANSCO, Siemens, GCC Interconnection Authority, Baringa Partners, Energy Charter Secretariat and others.

The workshop included panel discussions and brainstorming sessions, a review of current clean energy strategies and initiatives in the EU and the GCC, identified common fields for collaboration between the two regions, and developed proposals for the Network’s immediate and long-term action plan.