Medgrid Backs the Union for the Mediterranean in the implementation of the MSP

Barcelona – The UfMS has been tasked to implement, with all the stakeholders, a Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP) aiming at developing on a large scale renewable energy and energy efficiency. Medgrid* is a large industrial consortium, whose purpose is to elaborate the Master Plan of the electrical trans-Mediterranean connections, and assess its technical, economical and institutional feasibility.

In this framework, the UfMS and Medgrid signed a Memorandum of Understanding entailing both parties to cooperate in developing the Master Plan of the MSP, in particular on issues such as Trans-Mediterranean interconnection infrastructures and relevant financial instruments and to initiate concrete projects.

The Acting Secretary General of the UfMS, Dr. Lino Cardarelli, signed on behalf of the Secretariat and expressed his satisfaction at this partnership: “The Secretariat is eager to strengthen its cooperation with all its key partners. The MSP is an ambitious project and this agreement will help us to implement it. Medgrid brings in the contribution of the leading industries in the sector and we look forward to working with their experts towards the production and transmission of renewable energy in the Mediterranean”.

On his end Mr. André Merlin, Executive President, said: « Medgrid’s ambition is to make an essential contribution to endow Europe and countries of the South and East of the Mediterranean with a Master Plan of the trans-Mediterranean power network at the horizon of 2020, resulting in concrete projects to open new interconnections. »

Through this MoU, both parties will cooperate and act as partners in the development of the Master Plan of the MSP, in particular on the Trans-Mediterranean interconnection infrastructures for energy. In addition, the two entities will share their experts and analysts and will participate to each other’s working groups, especially concerning finance, infrastructures and projects of common interest.

This bilateral agreement involves the UfM that is formed by the 27 EU member states and 16 Mediterranean nations, and Medgrid that brings together 21 leading companies. This MoU between the Secretariat and the industry is a significant step towards the implementation of the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP).

• * 21 MEDGRID’s associates : Abengoa, Alstom grid, Areva renouvelables, Atos WorldGrid, CDC infrastructures, EDF, Ineo, Nemo, Nexans, TuNur, ONE, Pan Med Energy, Prysmian, Red Electrica, RTE, Siemens, Soitec, Taqa, Terna, Walid Elias Establishment and AFD ( Agence Française pour le Développement )