Sharm El-Sheikh – 11 November 2022

 COP27|RCREEE Pavilion – Blue Zone

09:00-10:30 AM Eastern European Time | Egypt Time

Objectives of the session: 

The session aimed at showcasing the existing district cooling technologies and experiences in the northern and southern Mediterranean countries. In addition, introduce practical guidance for district cooling to reinforce knowledge and expertise on district cooling technologies, financing mechanisms, optimal operations, performances, and implementation mechanisms. The event was an occasion to review regional and international best practices between North and South Mediterranean Countries focusing on financial mechanisms and policy incentives to promote such a sustainable technology in the buildings sector. 

Over 20 participants from 12 countries attended the event. The meetMED project’s technical experts, Eng. Eman Adel and Eng. Mostafa Hasaneen (RCREEE) introduced two presentations describing the various experiences in the MENA region and Europe and national best practices and lessons learned on district cooling deployment in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, highlighting potential synergies, challenges, priorities and ways forward to enrich the project implementation plan. The presentations clearly showed the benefits of knowledge exchange efforts through the workshops, study tours, and training sessions held under the project’s activities. 

Thereafter, a panel discussion on the national highlights of promoting district cooling technology was held by the following panelists:

Moderator:

• Agathe Lacombe, meetMED Project Manager, ADEME

Panel:

• Maged Mahmoud, Technical Director, Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
  
• Saïd Mouline, CEO, Agence Marocaine pour l’Efficacité Energétique (AMEE)
• Fethi El Hanchi, General Director of the Tunisian National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME)
• Roberta Boniotti, Secretary General of the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER)
• Eslam Mahdy, Sustainable Expert – Guidehouse

Recommendations and Follow up Actions:

• Governance of the implementation of the National determined contributions (NDCs) among the member countries: Consider cooling deployment as a national strategy with high priority and ensure the follow-up of its indicators, evaluation of performance and results
• Periodically organize national consultations involving all stockholders, particularly finance and consumers, on plans and programs to expand district cooling and support decision-making
• Work institutionally and systematically to achieve financial stability in the electricity sector and works to advance district cooling technologies
• Enhancing the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure projects is a significant issue to consider; to set procedures and adopt legislation that encourages investors to engage in the implementation of infrastructure projects