Oettinger promotes Mediterranean renewable energy network

Nov. 24, 2011 - neurope.eu

On 24 November, Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Desertec Industry Initiative (Dii) and Medgrid, which establishes closer co-operation between the two private industry initiatives that are crucial to the promotion of a renewable energy partnership between the EU and countries in the Southern Mediterranean.

Areas of co-operation between the two companies will include information exchanges, an update on progress, joint evaluation of potential synergies, and joint efforts on the regional level of the EU, Middle East and North Africa to obtain a more favourable regulatory framework for renewable energy markets.

Oettinger underlined that the two initiatives had a truly European dimension. “There is now a concrete perspective of solar and wind energy being produced for the joint benefit of European and Northern African and Middle Eastern citizens, as well for the benefit of both markets," he said.

Dii is a private company from Germany which aims to produce power from the sun and wind in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East for local and European consumption with the long-term goal of about 15% of Europe's electricity demand by 2050.

Medgrid is promoting new high capacity electricity links around the Mediterranean, which would link the Southern, Eastern and Northern shores of the Mediterranean and transport electricity generated primarily from renewable resources.