Marrakech – Within the activities of the meetMED II project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region), funded by the European Union, the second edition of meetMED Weeks 2023 took place in Marrakech between 9 – 11 May. The three-day event brought together more than 250 energy experts representing officials, stakeholders, and policymakers from the Mediterranean region with the aim of promoting energy and climate transition.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali said that the event is an opportunity for the world to reiterate its commitment to sustainability goals as humanity faces successive energy and climate challenges.
Said Moulin, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), echoed Benali’s remarks, highlighting Morocco’s potential in the renewable energy sector. He also recalled King Mohammed VI’s directives to prioritize energy sufficiency.
President of the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), Griorgio Graditi, who joined the event via video conference, stressed his association’s efforts to implement renewable resources and energy efficiency policies and programs, as well as coordinate with various institutions to reach energy and climate transition goals.
Despite these efforts, “the region’s energy potential is largely under-exploited,” said Graditi, calling on stakeholders and policymakers to implement “concrete measures and goals” to fostering decarbonization. He also encouraged the sharing of experience, know-how, and skills between countries of the Mediterranean region.
Likewise, Jauad El Kharraz, Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), called for more cooperation between all concerned parties to reach the region’s energy sufficiency potential.
“We are proud of what has been achieved but we hope Morocco will do more to meet its goals, including increasing renewable energy [generation] and reducing electricity consumption,” he said.
While the world is currently witnessing a “challenging geopolitical and climate context,” the Mediterranean region has a “big opportunity to become a regional hub for hydrogen economy,” according to El Kharraz.
Throughout the second day of the conference, representatives of regional organizations, national agencies, financial institutions, experts, researchers, and private sector actors called on MED SEI Forum, to promote green finance as a key imperative for a successful energy transition in the Mediterranean region.
Welcoming the growing interest of banks and financial institutions in energy transition projects, Cristina Casella, Programme Manager – Climate Action, DG NEAR, European Commission, said “The purpose of this roundtable is to enhance the discussion between public authorities, the financial sector, and other stakeholders to promote the exchange of experience and best practices in order to facilitate access to green finance, which is essential for a successful green energy transformation.”
Maged Mahmoud, Technical Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), indicated that this forum has created synergies between public and private actors to develop green investment that provides several benefits to companies, including lower energy and production costs, reducing the carbon footprint and access to international markets in light of environmental requirements.
From her side, the Secretary General of the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), Roberta Boniotti, stressed the importance of the contribution of the private sector in the financing of energy transition projects, due to the lack of public money to finance energy efficiency interventions and green investments.
The event featured a variety of sessions and conferences, during which speakers representing different countries and institutions shared their insight into the region’s climate and energy-related issues, as well as recommended action plans.
After the conference, participants were invited by the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) of Morocco to a site visit to Ben Guerir Green Energy Park, a unique platform for experimentation, research, and training on renewable energy technologies, batteries, electrolysis, eco-buildings and eVehicles charging technologies.
MeetMED Project
The MEETMED project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region), funded by the European Union aims to promote energy and climate transition in Southern Eastern Mediterranean countries. Implemented by MEDENER and RCREEE, the project is “dedicated to fostering regional cooperation for energy and climate transition” in the region, according to the organizers.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager
Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org