Amman – 17 March 2023

The meetMED project, funded by the European Union, and supported by the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) & the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), in close cooperation with the Royal Scientific Society organized a four-day national consultation mission on appliances scrapping from 14 – 17 March 2023 in Jordan.

The mission’s objective was to obtain more information about the Jordanian scrapping and recycling industry and identify the potential of collecting, recycling, and marketing the materials from scrapped appliances, in addition, to focusing on the types of appliances collected and the existing programs that may support such market.

During the consultation mission, meetMED experts met representatives from the Ministry of Environment (MoE)Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF)UNDP JordanRoyal Scientific SocietyFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and E-Tafkek company.

The first day was centered around making acquaintance with the existing policies and regulations for appliances scrapping in Jordan, learning about types and amounts of appliances covered under these policies, and social and environmental guidelines for health and safety. In a lively panel discussion, participants were able to put all their questions to Jordanian officials from the MoE about future national plans for WEEE sector management. Hereafter, the delegation visited Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) premises, where they learned about the existing market for appliances scrapping and recycling, facilities dealing with appliances, and the main barriers and challenges facing this sector.

On the second day, the delegation was received by the UNDP Jordan office and had the opportunity to foster the potential cooperation between RCREEE,RSS, and UNDP for the enforcement of existing policies and possible awareness campaigns and had the chance to look back on the challenges facing the development partners and the investors in Jordan. The day was closed with a fruitful meeting at the Royal Scientific Society to understand the main types of recycled materials and the opportunity to export in addition to the alignment of efforts in the cross-cutting projects.

On the third and final day, the meetMED delegation visited Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) premises in Jordan and went on a field visit to E-Tafkek company. These field visits revealed that important steps are being made in the private sector to recycle. 

This consultation mission shows that Jordan aspires to creative environmental solutions in all sectors, in particular in the field of household appliances.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa AHMED
meetMED II Communication Manager
Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org

A special edition of the Medadapt Awards has just been launched, on the theme of adaptation of the buildings and the construction sector. Candidates have until April 9, 2023 to submit their applications. The award ceremony will take place on May 11, 2023, during the MeetMED Week in Marrakech.

A competition to encourage territories to adapt to climate change!

The Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards identify and mobilise the key players involved in implementing projects to adapt to climate change from coastal, urban and rural territories across the Mediterranean.

The French Agency for ecological transition (ADEME) is the initiator of this new edition, in partnership with Plan Bleu, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and its working group “Adaptation”, the meetMED project supported by MEDENER and RCREEE, and Resallience.

This special edition will specifically highlight adaptation solutions in the building sector. It will allow to mobilise the actors of adaptation to climate change from all the countries of the Mediterranean basin and to promote their projects. It will also illustrate how Mediterranean stakeholders answer to the Call to action proposed by the GlobalABC.

It will reward actions relating to buildings, equipment, infrastructure and facilities, linked to the building sector, designed or renovated in a resilient manner. This could include, for example, bioclimatic developments (shaded structures, ventilation, etc.), management of rainwater or drinking water resources, thermal comfort in buildings in summer, or actions aimed at reinforcing the robustness of networks and infrastructures to climatic events.

The aim of these awards is to encourage other territories to adapt to climate change by drawing inspiration from the winning projects. Previous editions have identified and highlighted over 100 projects from 18 countries around the Mediterranean.

Adapting to climate change: a priority for the Mediterranean region

The Mediterranean basin, with its 500 million inhabitants, is the second-most impacted area by climate change after the Arctic, as shown in the recent MedECC (Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change) report.

Temperatures in this climate change hotspot are increasing faster than the global average, and major impacts are expected as soon as 2050. These include up to a 10% drop in the availability of freshwater as well as an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Further major impacts are also predicted in the long term. By 2100, it is predicted there will be a temperature increase of 5.6 °C, a 20% drop in rainfall and a potential 90cm rise in sea levels.

Cities and rural communities across the Mediterranean must therefore work to create stable social, economic and environmental conditions so that the region is better able to deal with the impact of extreme weather and events linked to climate change.

This special edition of the Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards is an opportunity to raise awareness of the urgent need to take action, for he building sector, and the importance of working together to create inspiring and innovative solutions that can be used throughout the region.

Key competition dates

Competition start date: March 2023
Competition end date: 9 April 2023
Award Ceremony: 11 May 2023, during the Second Edition of the meetMED Weeks held in Marrakech (Morocco).

APPLICATIONS CLOSING DATE: 9 April 2023

FIND OUT MORE

PRESS CONTACT

Elodie LOCH-BÉATRIX — Langevin & Associés
presse@medadapt-awards.com / +33 7 66 07 00 47

WEBSITE / SOCIAL NETWORKS

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Cairo – February 2023

The Egyptian round table held within the Mediterranean Sustainable Energy Investment Forum called for the need to strengthen the financing mechanisms of renewable energy projects and reduce the risk perception of banks in this important sector.

The launching of the Egyptian network for sustainable energy investments came during the national round table held in Cairo under the meetMED project – funded by the European Union and implemented by the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) and the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER).

During the opening remarks, Cristina Casella, Programme Manager – Climate Action, DG NEAR, European Commission said “The EU has been a long-term partner to the southern Mediterranean region promoting and supporting the shift towards a more resource efficient, low carbon and sustainable economy. The EU also supports various bilateral and regional cooperation programmes as well as blending facilities which combine grant funding with loans. Through these mechanisms, the EU supports partner countries in implementing concrete energy efficiency measures in key sectors buildings but also others such as industry and transport.

Roberta Boniotti the Secretary General of MEDENER added “Engagement and integration between international, regional, national and local stakeholders is necessary to harmonize, align, synergize and multiply the respective impact. By launching the meetMED SEI Forums initiative with regional and national roundtables, we expect to engage the stakeholders in a permanent dialogue, which is really very important to stimulate the exchange of information, to improve the harmonization and monitoring regulations and standards in the sectors of buildings and appliances and mainly to facilitate and enhance access to finance”.      

From his part, Dr. Jauad El Kharraz, the Executive Director of the RCREEE underlined “The Center’s support for all possible aspects to enhance all Arab countries, including Egypt, for the transformation of sustainable energy systems and energy efficiency applications.

Dr. Maged Mahmoud, the Technical Director of RCREEE also highlighted “The Center aims to establish a banking finance network for renewable energy projects by assisting banks to obtain all the information and terminology that enables them to deal with renewable energy projects so that we can reduce the number of risks banks place to finance such projects. Noting that there are over 35 banks in Egypt, but a limited number of banks that finance energy projects”. 

Representing the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Ahmed Mohina, the First Undersecretary (MoERE) mentioned that “Egypt has a clear strategic plan to shift towards renewable energy and increase its contribution to the national electricity grid. Furthermore, energy efficiency funding mechanisms, including the Energy Efficiency Fund, are being activated in addition to specialized committees to operationalize the energy efficiency code in the building sector.

Dr. Mohamed Mousa Omran, the Executive Director of EgyptERA emphasized on the importance of having an institutional setup of the energy efficiency unit among the country. In addition to fostering international cooperation and capacity building programs and the role of Energy Service Companies (ESCO’s) in implementing national energy efficiency plans.

Presenting the concept of Sustainable Energy Investment Forums, Dr. Edoardo Pandolfi, Task Leader at ENEA stated that “This national round table taking place today in Cairo is part of a series of 5 national roundtables organised within the MED SEI Forums. These events aiming at facilitating dialogue between financial sectors, public authorities and all other stockholders that are involved in delivering investments in sustainable energy. In addition to setting up an example to be replicated by the other countries”.

Addressing the gap between the building sector sustainable strategies and the available financing mechanisms, Dr. Hend Farouh, the Project Manager of Egypt PV, funded by UNDP-Egypt showcased the key insights of solar plant piolet projects in buildings sector implemented under the Egypt PV highlighting the total CO2 emission reduction and the long-term return on investments. Farouh added “There is a marked rise in the turnout of citizens and owners of small and medium enterprises on solar energy. Many training programmes have been offered to young people and some have been observed setting up private solar power plant companies. They have been assisted in the formal accreditation of their companies to the competent authorities”.

Given the importance to the role of sustainable finance in advancing sustainable energy investments, Dr. Walaa Elshafee, the Head of Sustainability and E&S systems at CIB Egypt, presented the key pillars of the CIB’s sustainable finance policy addressing the Bank’s economic, environmental, social, and governance (EESG) impact.

Dr. Yosra Assaker, Sustainable Energy Expert at the World Bank mentioned that “There is a significant funding gap to sustain the green shift in energy uses as government plans require $113 billion in investment to reduce emissions by 67%”.

Highlighting the potential of carbon markets in Egypt, Dr. Hesham Eisa, the General Manager of D-Carbon Egypt said that “Egypt can play a major role in the global carbon market and can encourage the private sector to implement plans to reduce carbon emissions”.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager

Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org

Join the South-North MED dialogue and knowledge exchange to promote local cooperation on energy efficiency in buildings, as well as to enhance the sharing of information and experience
Deadline: February 28th 2023

The idea behind the twinning agreements

Due to a rapid demographic growth and urbanization of the meetMED target countries, the building sector is one of the largest energy-consuming sectors, responsible from 20% up to 35% of the total energy consumption. To reduce this consumption the countries have been implementing measures to improve their regulatory and institutional frameworks. However, energy consumption levels in the building sector depends not only on the implementation of measures at national level, but also on the actions carried out at local level. The role of local authorities in the energy transition is extremely important, from their contribution to increase energy efficiency and sustainable energy production to their important connection to the citizen.

Through six energy-focused city twinnings, involving 12 cities, local players from the Southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea will have the opportunity to connect with peers from both Northern and Southern shores. Focusing on the buildings sector, these partnerships will tackle matters such as self- consumption projects, district/urban rehabilitation, buildings renovation, water-energy nexus innovative projects, passive measures to mitigate climate change, public engagement and awareness-raising initiatives.

This initiative is part of meetMED II project, which will last until mid-2024, and can also be a facilitator for cities to promote and accelerate the activities of already existing plans such as the SEACAPs, enhance their participation to the Covenant of Mayors for the Mediterranean initiative or implement some of the local solutions described in “Initiatives and programmes in support of local authorities for energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings in Mediterranean area, Panorama” report, (French version is also available) released in September 2022.The initiative aims also at showcasing feasible and impactful solutions and contributing to capacity buildings of local stakeholders on these topics.

The city partnerships implementation

Within the meetMED II project, six city twinning agreements will be established and promoted through regular online meetings, capacity building webinars, joint reports and bilateral study tours to encourage know-how exchange and discuss solutions to common problems, as well as the dissemination of information and twinning results in the Mediterranean energy and climate networks. The activities described below will be implemented from the date of signature of the twinning agreement and will go until 31st May2024:

  • Twinning agreement: signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (per twinning agreement) describing the goal of the activity and the commitment undertaken by the cities. A total of 6 MoU will be signed in March 2023.
  • Action plan: establishment of an action plan (per twinning agreement) with a timeline for the implementation of the activities. A total of 6 action plans will be presented by April 2023 and implemented until 31st May 2024.
  • Regular online meetings: organization of conference calls to discuss and evaluate the ongoing activities and/or achieved results. Expected frequency of the meetings: each 3 months.
  • Capacity building webinars: organization of training actions in the field of energy efficiency in buildings, addressed to topics such as solar energy initiatives, buildings renovation, water- energy nexus, public engagement, and awareness-raising initiatives. Number of expected webinars per twinning agreement: 2
  • Bilateral study tours: organization of technical meetings in each city to promote know-how exchange and discuss solutions to common problems, with the participation of 1-2 persons per country. Number of expected study tours per twinning agreement: 2
  • Communication materials: development of at least one joint communication material that promotes the partnership and the work being done by each city (e.g., flyers, manuals)
  • Reports: elaboration of joint reports highlighting main goals achieved, as well as the main problems/constraints faced by the partnership to implement the activities. Expected number of reports: 2 reports (mid-term and final).

Eligible countries
Within the city twinning agreement, a city from the north shore will be twinned with a city from the south shore. The eligible countries are listed below:

Southern MED countries:
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia

Northern MED countries:
France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain

 

 What are the benefits for participating cities?

  • Create favourable conditions to promote local cooperation on energy efficiency in buildings.
  • Enhance and structure the sharing of information and experience and promote good practices.
  • Fasten the convergence on energy efficient solutions implementation on energy efficiency in buildings related matters.
  • Access to dedicated training activities
  • Increased knowledge and know-how through participation
  • Be part of a network of Mediterranean peers and experts
  • Possibility to further develop and stimulate an existing partnership with a twin city
  • Reduction of CO2 emissions and energy consumption in your city

Selection process and criteria
The Core Team of meetMED II project (experts from ADENE, as task coordinator, and ADEME as WP leader) will ensure the selection process of the applications, which will be carried out tacking in consideration the following criteria:

  • Application is complete and comprehensible.
  • Motivation behind application.
  • Planned and/or implemented commitments in the areas of energy efficiency in buildings, renewable energy, awareness-raising initiatives, etc. (e.g., City/Municipality Climate Action Plan).
  • No of existing technical, awareness raising and capacity building projects/initiatives and demonstration of results.
  • Existing active dialogue between stakeholders, advocating partnership, inclusion and collaboration.
  • Existing partnership with a city from the other shore of the Mediterranean Sea is an advantage, as well as strong and active involvement in city networks.
  • Designate, for the project duration, an English-speaking contact person or team of contact persons in your city staff working on energy efficiency in buildings or appliances issues.
  • Letter of support signed by an elected representative of the municipality.
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Deadline for applications: 28th February 2023
Participants in the call will be informed of the outcome of the selection process in March 2023

For more information in French please click here

For questions, please contact:

Inês Mendes, ines.mendes@adene.pt (ADENE)

Alicia Tsitsikalis, alicia.tsitsikalis@ademe.fr (ADEME)

Please apply by filling out this online form.

About meetMED:

Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region (meetMED) is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by MEDENER, an international association of energy management agencies from the North and South of the Mediterranean region, and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), an intergovernmental organisation aiming to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. Following the success of its first phase (2018-2020), meetMED project kicked-off its second phase in 2021 aiming to enhance the energy security of beneficiary countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to a low-carbon economy. meetMED II activities aim at strengthening the implementation of energy efficiency measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multiparter and inclusive approach at both local and regional level, thereby fostering regional cooperation.

15th November 2022 – Sharm El-Sheikh

 The meetMED project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region), an EU-funded project, developed by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) was fortunate to co-organize and participate in seven side-event sessions at the 27th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) hosted in the green city of Sharm El-Sheikh this year. 

COP27 is the world’s most important conference about climate change, bringing together partners from the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and to strengthen climate action.

Kicking off meetMED’s presence on November 7, 2022, where the Mediterranean pavilion hosted a high-level dialogue on Boosting Energy Efficient Buildings in the Mediterranean Region, Cristina Casella, Programme Manager – Climate Action, DG NEAR, European Commission said “I am very honored to be part of the discussions today that are dedicated to a very important issue about energy efficiency in buildings. Shifting towards more energy efficient buildings is an absolutely a priority. Renovating both public and private buildings has actually been singled out in the European Green Deal as a key initiative to drive energy efficiency in the sectors and to deliver in the goal of climate due triality. Through our various bilateral and regional cooperation programmes as well as through our blending facilities which combine grant funding with loans, the EU is supporting partner countries in implementing concrete energy efficiency measures in the buildings and other sectors. The meetMED programme funded by the European Union, supports the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in the buildings and appliances sectors and also aims to raise public awareness of the energy transition and it also tries to harmonize policies and strategies – as well as accelerate public and private sectors involvement in the sector.”

In his opening remarks, Dr. Jauad El Kharraz, the Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), shared the sense of urgency regarding climate action “Welcome to the RCREEE pavilion, the first of its kind in the history of the COP. RCREEE and its member states are unwavering commitments to supporting swift decarbonization that has now become a prerequisite not only for saving the planet from climate disasters but also for adjusting and inclusive energy transition at a global level. We are very pleased to host meetMED side events highlighting the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the project’s beneficiary countries, focusing on the Building and the Appliances sectors”.

From his side, Giorgio Graditi,  the President of the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), focused on the importance of meetMED participation at COP27 as a global platform for communication between regional and international partners about climate crisis “ It’s a unique opportunity to highlight the commitment of the meetMED project to support energy efficiency in buildings and appliances, as well as to strengthening the cooperation with our partners to raise awareness and increase climate actions in the Mediterranean region with the support of the European Commission”.

“In the meetMED project, MEDENER and RCREEE are working to enable the energy transition in the Mediterranean Region. The launch event of the new PEEB Med programme at the COP27, organised by the AFD and supported by the Union for the Mediterranean, opened a very fruitful dialogue between our organisations, fostering the future of our partnership in the Mediterranean Region” declared Roberta Boniotti, the Secretary General of MEDENER.

Throughout the conference, meetMED organized seven side events at the RCREEE and Mediterranean pavilions at the conference blue zone in Sharm el-Sheikh. These events addressed a broad range of climate-related issues, such as resilience, adaptation and mitigation actions for the building sector, energy efficiency sustainable finance and business models, awareness raising, district cooling and monitoring and evaluation of energy efficiency public policies.

 About meetMED:

 The Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region (meetMED) project is an EU-funded project, developed by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE).

Following the success of its first phase (MEETMED I, from 2018-2020), meetMED project commences its second phase aiming at strengthening the decarbonisation of national energy mixes and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in buildings and appliances through a multiscale, multi-partner and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation among 8 Southern Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia).

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager

Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – 6 to 18 November 2022

The Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region (meetMED) project is an EU-funded project, developed by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) will participate at the 27th edition of the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP27) hosted in the green city of Sharm El-Sheikh this year at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Convention Center (SHICC).

Located in the COP27 Blue zone, the RCREEE Pavilion will host relevant meetMED’s side events and working meetings that shall provide an exceptional opportunity to highlight and strengthen the implementation of energy efficiency measures in beneficiary countries focusing on the Building and the Appliances sectors. In addition to raising public awareness of the challenges and opportunities associated with this topic and increasing investments in these fields.

The first “meetMED Week” was organised, from March 28th 31st, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt. The event brought together many experts from the South and North Shore of the Mediterranean and resulted in the formulation of Key Messages, paving the way for COP27. Indeed, as the conference will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh a unique occasion to meet again in Egypt and re-insist on these Key Messages as well as to organise thematic side-events and Concerted Actions destined to decision-makers in order to keep on discussing how to accelerate the implementation of harmonised EE and RE measures. 

What is COP27?

A decisive moment in addressing climate change. Science has proven beyond any doubt that the window of action is closing rapidly. In November 2022, Egypt will host the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, with a view to building on previous successes and paving the way for future ambition.

A golden opportunity for all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and tackle effectively the global challenge of climate change facilitated by Egypt on the African continent.

It is the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Journalists interested in receiving further upcoming information on the meetMED’s activities, announcements, press releases or booking interviews with meetMED representatives at RCREEE Pavilion please contact: communication@meetmed.org

Media accreditation for COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh is open

Online Registration System: https://onlinereg.unfccc.int/.

Further information on media accreditation and a list of our frequently asked questions (FAQs) is available online.

Kindly note: all in-person participants will have to secure their badges to enter the Blue Zone by being part of their national delegation or any other official delegation.

Recognize meetMED Side Events at COP27

Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region (meetMED II project), Agence de la Transition Ecologique (ADEME), MEDENER (Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management), and EUROMED Cities Network will organize an online session entitled “Greening Buildings (and Cities) in the Mediterranean Region” on September 21, at 16h30 (CET) as part of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) extended programme.

Territories surrounding the “Mediterranean lake” face similar specific issues with the adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change, specifically regarding the EE and RE measures on public buildings. Buildings codes promoting EE have therefore been developed, but mostly at national levels, and are facing enforcement challenges.

Key players for action are local governments in promoting EE at local level, and energy management agencies have different levels of engagement in supporting municipalities on improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort in public buildings.

As part of the European Sustainable Energy Week Extended Program, this session will discuss how to foster the implementation of energy efficiency measures at the local level and reinforce energy security in the Mediterranean Region thanks to local replicable tools and methodologies through perspective and converging views from cities.

EUSEW2022 Extended Programme

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) extended programme comprises sessions that take place virtually or physically in the week of 19-23 September 2022 before the European Sustainable Energy Week’s Policy Conference. From workshops to panels, talks and other activities, the extended programme offers further opportunities to engage with issues surrounding sustainable energy and Europe’s Green Deal objectives.

About EUSEW 2022
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the biggest event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe and is organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

This year, EUSEW will take place in a hybrid format, online and onsite in Brussels, on 26-30 September 2022 under the theme “Going green and digital for Europe’s energy transition”. The European Sustainable Energy Week consists of a 4-day Policy Conference, the European Sustainable Energy Awards Ceremony, the Energy Fair, Energy Talks and the third European Youth Energy Day.

Paris – 7 September 2022

In the context of meetMED’s Regional Capacity Development Program on District Cooling, the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) in cooperation with the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) & Ademe, the French Ecological Transition Agency organized a regional consultation workshop on 7th September 2022 in Paris.

As the world shifts toward Sustainability and a Greener Future, it is essential to stay relevant and competitive in the market, as well as stay up to date on the Emerging Cooling Technologies and Evolving District Cooling Trends. District Cooling is a significant energy efficient technology to provide air conditioning and cooling for buildings in entire communities, cities and developments and it is used in large scale throughout the world since more than 20 years.

The workshop – held under meetMED, a Euro-Mediterranean project funded by the European Union – aimed to introduce the existing technologies and experiences in the northern and southern Mediterranean countries, reinforcing knowledge and expertise on district cooling technologies and financing, optimal operations, performances, and implementation mechanisms.

Bringing together key stakeholders representing our beneficiary countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Palestine), and development partners from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

During the meeting, UNEP’s experts showcased the District Energy in Cities Initiative, which works under the (UNEP) umbrella and aims to bring together stakeholder groups with diverse capabilities and expertise to deliver market transformation and accelerated uptake of district energy.

The experts also pointed to the potential of district cooling to increase energy efficiency in the Mediterranean region, including district energy systems for heating & cooling and multiple benefits for cities. The event was an opportunity to present the  best practices applied in Tunisia and the feasibility assessment of the El Alamein plant in Egypt.

Aiming to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts, the EBRD expert stated business models in district cooling systems and financing approaches. With an- annual savings of 40,450 MWh of electricity, the key insights of Jordan’s first District Heating and Cooling plant, “Abdali,” financed by the EBRD, were reviewed.

One day earlier, the workshop participants had a chance to visit Fraîcheur de Paris, one of the giant district cooling plants in Europe that recently undertook upgrading measures and can serve as inspiration for other DC systems striving to become more efficient.

These examples of knowledge exchange are needed and will lead to a stepwise improvement of district cooling technologies implementation in the Mediterranean region, thereby contributing significantly to facing the climate change crisis.

Finally, the cooperation with UNEP and EBRD will continue in the first semester of 2023 with additional knowledge sharing sessions and webinars.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa AHMED
meetMED II Communication Manager
Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org

Cairo, 28th, March, 2022

Within the activities of the 2nd phase of the Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region (meetMED II) project, funded by the European Union, the first edition of MEETMED Week takes place on March 28th to 31st, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.

More than 14 organizations and 100 energy experts representing several countries from the Euro-Mediterranean region are attending it.

MEETMED Week 2022—the first in a series of annual regional energy conferences is organized by MEDENER and RCREEE under the European Union support —is marking this year’s edition with the theme ” Together Towards Efficient Buildings and Appliances in the Mediterranean.”

Through its four sub-themes: Sustainable Energy Investment, Concerted Actions on Buildings, Concerted Actions on Appliances, and Monitoring Energy Efficiency, MMW 2022 will tackle fostering the regional cooperation for energy and climate transition in Southern Eastern Mediterranean Countries.

MMW 2022 is a hybrid of virtual conversations and in-person events in Cairo. Among the unique plenary sessions and high-level dialogues offered throughout the week, policymakers, academia, diplomats, UN agencies, financial institutions, representatives of regional organizations, energy experts from the public and private institutions, and the media are gathered to exchange experiences, share best practices and identify areas for potential partnerships and cooperation.

MeetMED II activities aims at strengthening the implementation of EE measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multi- partner, and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation.

Notably, the design and implementation of the MEETMED second phase are entrusted to MEDENER, which is an international no-profit organization gathering agencies from North and South of the Mediterranean region in charge of implementing public policies on energy efficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources; and to the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), which is an intergovernmental organization aiming to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. The project is funded by the European Commission.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa AHMED
meetMED II Communication Manager
Email: asmaa.ahmed@rcreee.org

Aiming to implement a common regional energy observatory database on energy efficiency (EE) indicators, ADEME in cooperation with RCREEE organized “Regional consultation workshop Monitoring Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Appliances in Mediterranean” on December 14, 2021.

The event brings together experts from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Libya to gather feedbacks on monitoring EE strategies and policies and the state of play in their countries. Additionally, the workshop will set the basis of launching 4 technical working groups on Energy efficiency indicators implementation, Energy demand modelling and prospective tools, NEEAPs and national strategies implementation, and Specific Energy Efficiency indicators in buildings and appliances. The workshop outcomes is one of the main cornerstone of meetMED II target set to support policy/decision makers on monitoring and evaluation (with a focus on buildings and appliances).

Following the success of its first phase (MEETMED I, from 2018-2020), EU-Funded project meetMED commences its second phase aiming to enhance the energy security of beneficiary countries (namely Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to low carbon economy. Accordingly, meetMED II will be contributing to the creation of more stable, efficient, competitive, and climate-resilient socioeconomic contexts in the targeted countries.

Notably, the design and implementation of the MEETMED second phase are entrusted to MEDENER, which is an international no-profit organization gathering agencies from North and South of the Mediterranean region in charge of implementing public policies on energy efficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources; and to the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), which is an intergovernmental organization aiming to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. The project is funded by the European Commission.