ΕU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network

fostering clean energy partnerships

The newsletter at a glance

• Press Release, 26 November 2020: EU and UAE policymakers and experts discuss Hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future during the "EU Hydrogen Forum in the UAE"
• EU Corner: Highlights from the EU
• Highlights November - December 2020
• Network's upcoming events

Press Release, 26 November 2020
EU and UAE policy makers and experts discuss Hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future during the "EU Hydrogen Forum in the UAE

The "EU Hydrogen Online Forum in the UAE: Hydrogen, the Energy Carrier of the Future” took place on Wednesday, 25 November 2020, and was joined by approximately 250 participants. The event was presented by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates and the EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, with the support of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance.

Governments around the globe are realising that hydrogen produced from renewable electricity will play an indispensable role in the effort to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Hydrogen is a versatile and climate-neutral energy carrier that can be used to drive down greenhouse gas emissions in sectors that are otherwise difficult to decarbonize. 

The press release is available here. 

EU Corner: Highlights from the EU

Public Consultation
EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED)

The Commission is preparing a review and a revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive and as part of this process, the Commission shall undertake a two-step approach. As a first step, the evaluation will assess the existing framework of the Directive since its entry into force in 2012, except for those elements already revised in 2018. The findings of the evaluation will then offer the basis for what needs to be streamlined, strengthened, added, or changed in the Directive in order to address the remaining ambition gap to the 2030 EU energy efficiency targets, to deliver the increased EU greenhouse emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030, and to ensure synergies with the other Green Deal initiatives, notably the review of the Renewable Energy Directive, the Renovation Wave and the EU Strategy on Energy System Integration.
The feedback period is set for 17 November 2020 to 09 February 2021. Read more 

Public Consultation
EU Renewable Energy Rules 

The Commission is preparing a review and a revision of the Renewable Energy Directive to ensure that renewable energy contributes to the achievement of the increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target set in the 2030 Climate Target Plan for 2030, as well as to implement the measures proposed in the Energy System Integration and Hydrogen strategies, the Renovation wave initiative, and other initiatives adopted under the European Green Deal. The objective of this consultation is to seek stakeholder views on how the Renewable Energy Directive should be revised. 
The feedback period is set for 17 November 2020 to 09 February 2021. Read more 

Highlights November - December 2020

'The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus in the GCC and EU regions; Challenges and opportunities'

The EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network and the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General (GCC SG) organised the online discussion “The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus in the GCC and EU regions; Challenges and opportunities” which took place on Tuesday 8 December 2020. 

The online workshop aimed to achieve the following objectives:

• Build a common understanding of the WEF nexus as a key driver for sustainable development and economic diversification.
• Exchange information on the initiatives that have been developed in the GCC and EU and inform about the lessons learned and business models.
• Discuss opportunities for strengthening EU-GCC collaboration between national and regional initiatives in supporting the concrete implementation of the WEF nexus concept including capacity building, R&D, and knowledge management initiatives as well as awareness-raising. 

The video and the presentations are now available at the Network's e-training centre, here. 

Note: In order to access the e-training centre, you should be a Network registered member (cost-free procedure). Information on the membership is available at the following link: https://www.eugcc-cleanergy.net/membership

'EU Hydrogen Online Forum in the UAE: Hydrogen, the Energy Carrier of the Future'

The EU Hydrogen Online Forum in the UAE: Hydrogen, the Energy Carrier of the Future was presented by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates and the EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, with the support of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance.

The forum featured a high-level roundtable with the participation of H.E. Andrea Matteo Fontana, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, H.E. Suhail Al Mazroui, Minister for Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Secretary-General of Hydrogen Europe. The high-level roundtable was followed by two technical sessions. 
The video and the presentations are now available at the Network's e-training centre, here. 

Note: In order to access the e-training centre, you should be a Network registered member (cost-free procedure). Information on the membership is available at the following link: https://www.eugcc-cleanergy.net/membership

‘COVID-19 Recovery: Accelerating Energy Transitions in EU & GCC Power Sector’

The EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network iorganised the webinar COVID-19 Recovery: Accelerating Energy Transitions in EU & GCC Power Sector which facilitated dialogue amongst businesses and governments from the EU and the GCC nations on the recommendations of a Policy Brief titled:‘Covid-19 recovery: How the G20 can accelerate sustainable energy transitions in the power sector by supporting the private sector’, issued by T20 Saudi Arabia. The Policy Brief outlines recommendations on how governments can support the private sector to deliver economic growth, create jobs and support climate action. The proposed measures involve i. coordinating on sustainable recovery measures in the G20, ii. expanding renewable energy generation, iii. accurately reflecting environmental externalities and ensuring just transitions in the fossil-fuel sector, and iv. promoting efficient electricity consumption and faster electrification. 
The video and the presentations are now available at the Network's e-training centre, available here. 

Note: In order to access the e-training centre, you should be a Network registered member (cost-free procedure). Information on the membership is available at the following link: https://www.eugcc-cleanergy.net/membership

Other Activities

The Network at the World PtX Summit'

The World PtX Summit, a joint effort between the Moroccan Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), organised its first Summit on 1-3 December 2020. 

Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert joined the Green Hydrogen session on the third day of the Summit, facilitated by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. The detailed agenda and other information for the Summit are available here.

The Network at the 'The Role of Hydrogen in Renewables' webinar

On November 10th, 2020 the EQ Magazine organised the webinar 'The Role of Hydrogen in Renewables'.  Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert was invited to join the line-up of speakers including representatives from POWERTIS, Soladvent, GreenEnco, Finance Energy Institute, Ernst & Young LLP, and more. 

Network's upcoming activities

For the next period, the Network is organising a number of events in the fields of: 

• electricity markets; 
• integration of renewables in the grid;
• artificial intelligence in energy systems;
• recycling renewables components and others.  

Information and dates will be available soon.

We'd love to hear your ideas and proposals for interesting activities that can drive and facilitate know-how transfer and best practices exchange between the two regions. 

Visit the website and register at: www.eugcc-cleanergy.net

Contact us at: contact@eugcc-cleanergy.net