ΕU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network

fostering clean energy partnerships

Wrap up of our #EUatExpo events: 

• EU Energy Day: Hydrogen to drive the EU’s Green Transition, November 14, Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE 
• EU Green Deal: Research & Innovation as a driver towards Climate Neutrality, October 3-4, Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE 

Network activities in various events and initiatives

The European Green Deal: From Vision to Implementation 

EU Energy Day: Hydrogen to drive the EU's green transition

The high-level “EU Energy Day: Hydrogen to drive the EU’s green transition” was organised with success on 14 November 2021 by the European Union (European Commission – Foreign Policy Instrument and Directorate-General for Energy) and was hosted in the Netherlands Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. The event was part of the #EUatExpo series of events. The EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, a project funded by the European Union, facilitated the organisation of the event. 

More than 70 invited guests followed the event in person, while the event was also streamed online. 

The EU Energy Day featured the European Green Deal and the road to becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent. The event presented and discussed the policies and technologies under the Green Deal, focusing on:

• The role of hydrogen for the energy transition pathway in the EU.
• The role of innovation in driving the hydrogen agenda.
• Policies, technological and business models to facilitate the development of renewable hydrogen projects.
• International cooperation initiatives for technology transfer and trade.

The high-level roundtable included addresses from Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, The Netherlands, João Galamba, Deputy Minister and Secretary of State of Energy, Portugal, Yousif Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Water, Electricity & Future Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE, and Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency. The opening session and the panel discussion were moderated by Frank Wouters, Director, EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network. 

The EU Energy Day was honoured by numerous high-level officials and policy makers including Noe van Hulst -Chair of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, Manon Janssen Chair of the Top Sector Energy, as well as senior representatives from the Technical University of Delft, EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, Siemens Energy, Thyssenkrupp, the Port of Rotterdam, NEOM, Shell, SNAM, etc.

The event material is available here.
The recording of the EU Energy Day is available at the Dutch Dubai virtual platform here.

Download the Press Release here. 

EU Green Deal: Research & Innovation as a driver towards Climate Neutrality

The #EUatExpo event “EU Green Deal: Research & Innovation as a driver towards climate neutrality” was held on 3-4 October 2021, organised by the European Union and hosted in the Expo 2020 pavilion of Sweden. The event, taking place conveniently during Expo 2020’s Climate and Sustainability Week and the EU Climate Diplomacy Weeks, was the first #EUatExpo event in the framework of Expo2020. It brought together more than 100 international officials, policy makers and innovators from the EU and the world to:

• present the new EU research and innovation programme (Horizon Europe) and a main multilateral initiative, called Mission Innovation that the EU is presently co-chairing to drive the Climate transition globally.
• Showcase projects and breakthroughs that already help deliver the European Green Deal objectives and climate neutrality, including in partnership with Mission Innovation members.
• discuss the success factors and the expectations from international Innovation cooperation initiatives, such as Mission Innovation.

It featured a high-level workshop and a dedicated EU projects’ Networking village.

The EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, a project funded by the European Union, facilitated the organisation of the event.

During the high-level workshop on October 4, addresses were made among others by  

• Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education & Youth, 
• Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE,
• Ambassador Jan Thesleff, Commissioner General at the Swedish Committee for the participation at Expo 2020, Co-Chair of the MENA-OECD Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum, 
• Jan Budaj, Minister of Environment, Slovak Republic, 
• Natasa Pilides, Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, Republic of Cyprus, and
• Mohamed Al Rashidi, Director of Electricity & Water Department and Acting Director of Energy, Gulf Cooperation Council - General Secretariat (GCC-SG)e. 

Dr Hannah Neumann Member of the European Parliament, Chair of Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula gave an inspiring key note speech.

The workshop included debates with policy makers, representatives of industry, of research, innovation and financial institutions on cooperation opportunities, on innovations for the energy transition and on implementing projects including through Mission Innovation.

The event material is available here. 
The recording of the high-level discussion workshop is available here.

Download the Press Release here.

The Networking Village (3 and 4 October 2021) featured successful EU projects and breakthroughs that already help deliver the European Green Deal objectives and climate neutrality, including in partnership with Mission Innovation members. The EU projects were: 

• Mission Innovation Hydrogen Valley Platform, Green Hysland, and HEAVENN
• DESOLINATION Demonstration of concentrated Solar power coupled wIth advanced desalination system in the Gulf region
• eCOCO2 Direct electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into chemical energy carriers in a co-ionic membrane reactor
• PVSITES Building - Integrated photovoltaic technologies and systems for large-scale market deployment 
• GOLD Bridging the gap between  phytoremediation solutions on Growing energy crOps on contaminated LanDs and clean biofuel production 
• EnFAIT Enabling Future Arrays in Tidal 
• LAURELIN Selective CO2 conversion to renewable methanol through innovative heterogeneous catalyst systems optimized for advanced hydrogenation technologies (microwave, plasma, and magnetic induction)

The ΕU has a strong presence in Expo 2020 Dubai. Find out more about the upcoming events and activities by visiting the European Union @ EXPO 2020 Dubai website here. Follow @EUintheUAE on Twitter to stay up to date regarding #EUatExpo activities.

Network activities in various events and initiatives

During the last quarter of 2021, the EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network team participated in various physical, hybrid, and online events that took place in the EU and the GCC regions. 

• On October 5th, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director moderated a hydrogen session organised by the Danish Embassy to the UAE that took place at the Etihad Museum Dubai. 
• On October 5th, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director presented at the "Green transformation of the construction industry" workshop organised by the Slovenia Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. 
• On October 6th, 2021 Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert moderated the panel "Smart & Sustainable Cities" at the Dubai Renewables & Sustainability Show (part of WETEX) organised by DEWA and  ATA Insights.
• On October 7th, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director spoke at the Morocco Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai.
• On October 11th, 2021, Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert, presented at the webinar on Saudi Arabia RoofTop/ Distributed Solar Market Outlook, organised by the EQ Int'l Magazine.
• On November 3rd, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director moderated the hydrogen event at MENA Hydrogen Forum.
• On November 9th, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director spoke at the World Hydrogen Workshop organised by World Energy Council.
• On November 10-11, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director participated at the Dii Annual Conference, the Dii Advisory Board of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance.
• On November 16th, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director did a breakfast presentation for the Benelux Business Council Abu Dhabi.
• On November 17th, 2021, Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert presented  at the 9th Mediterranean Green & Renewable Energy Summit,  organised by the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), Spain.
• iOn November 22nd, Frank Wouters, Network Director moderated the Panel at Reuters Events: Energy Transition Europe - Green Gigawatts.
• On November 24, 2021, Frank Wouters, Network Director moderated the panel discussion "Creating an Interconnected Ecosystem for the Development of Solar Hydrogen Assets" within the World Hydrogen and Solar Projects events. 
• On November 30th, 2021, Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Network's Energy Technology Expert presented at the Global warming in Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirates: towards a post-oil era, organised by the ESSEC Alumni association, France. 

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

Contact us at: contact@eugcc-cleanergy.net