Mediterranean efforts for renewable energy united – The UfM Secretariat and Dii join forces
Marrakech, 16th May 2012. The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and Industrial Initiative Dii have signed today in Marrakech a Memorandum of Understanding for future collaboration, as both institutions strive for the same long-term objective in fostering the use of renewable energy in the Mediterranean region. The UfM and the Dii will work on enhancing and intensifying their cooperation in order to utilize existing synergies. UfM and Dii will develop their long-term strategies “Mediterranean Solar Plan” and “Desert Power 2050” for one common cause. In particular, both organisations will cooperate in the fields of policy and regulatory frameworks, assessment of transmission and storage infrastructures, EUMENA interconnections, financing tools and support schemes. A further crucial issue apparent in the Mediterranean region will also be addressed, that being the socio-economic and industrial development and employment promotion.
On this occasion the UfM Secretary General, Fathallah Sijilmassi said: “I believe that the cooperation between the UfM and Dii, a large industrial consortium gathering major partners from the two rims of the Mediterranean, is a key step for the implementation of the Mediterranean Solar Plan, and for the development of economically and technically sound pilot projects .”
In words of Paul van Son, CEO of Dii:”UfM and Di augment each other perfectly. The Union for the Mediterranean is a fascinating network of countries that will be pivotal for creating a large interconnected energy supply system for MENA and Europe. Dii will work together with UfM and its members to establish a stable market place in which investments in desert energy projects will take place for the benefit of many countries and industries in MENA and Europe.”
The Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP)
The Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP) is a major UfM initiative that aims to develop renewable energies and improve the energy efficiency in the UfM member states through building 20GW of extra production capacities of renewable energy between now and 2020.
The Paris Declaration has given the Secretariat of the UfM the mandate “to explore the feasibility, creation and development of the Mediterranean Sola Plan”. As such the UfM is actively working with all relevant partners, to develop a master plan of the MSP that will be a joint and concise political reference paper that will be submitted to political approval by the Member States.
Dii, the industrial initiative bringing the Desertec Vision into reality
Together with its 56 industrial partners across 15 countries, Dii aims to bring the Desertec Vision into reality. The Initiative is focused on creating a market for renewable energy from North Africa and the Middle East on an industrial scale by the year 2050. This also includes the development of integrated energy markets and the identification of suitable technologies for producing and transmitting energy.
Dii´s long-term strategy “Desert Power 2050” points out which technological and geographical mix of renewable energy is best suited to provide the EUMENA region with a sustainable, reliable and affordable power system.
