Press release Brussels, 24th November 2011
Industrial Initiatives Dii and Medgrid join forces for the development of industrial-scale renewable energy
© European Union, 2011
Today, the industrial initiatives Dii and Medgrid signed an agreement to strengthen their co-operation on the development of industrial-scale renewable energy from the deserts and a suitable transmission infrastructure. The co-operation is supported by the Polish Presidency of the European Union Council, the European Energy Commission, the French Minister in charge of Industry, Energy and Digital Economy, and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
Both international industrial consortiums, founded respectively in Germany and France, complement each other well and will therefore coordinate their works for the long term generation, transmission and marketability of renewable energy in Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In line with the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP) this will be a key contribution towards a new EU-MENA partnership based on renewable energy. Co-ordinated actions defining cost-efficient pathways whilst taking into account, geopolitical and socio-economic aspects have already started.
Dii, with its 56 partners from 15 countries, aims to create the necessary conditions for an accelerated implementation of the Desertec vision. Its activities focus on enabling an industrial-scale market for renewable energy from the North African and Middle Eastern deserts by 2050. These activities also include the development of integrated energy markets and the identification of suitable technologies for power generation and transmission.
Medgrid was created at the end of 2010, within the framework of the MSP, by 20 associate companies from the Mediterranean Basin. Its primary task is to study the technical, economic and institutional feasibility of the Mediterranean transmission system which, by 2020, would enable the export to Europe of up to 5 GW of electricity generated from renewable sources generated in the MENA countries.
Paul van Son, Dii’s CEO stated: “The long term development of renewable energy from the deserts would be neither thinkable without tight co-operation with local authorities and industries in MENA, nor without close collaboration between Medgrid and Dii. I am happy that the European Commission and national governments are looking beyond borders to support our plans.“
About Dii:
Dii is an industrial consortium of over 56 international companies inspired by the Desertec vision. Dii’s mission is to enable the development of large-scale renewable energy power plants, grid infrastructure and an appropriate market environment in the MENA region, addressing local energy and socio-economic needs as well as the export of renewable electricity to the European Union (EU).
Dii Shareholders: ABB | Abengoa Solar | ACWA Power |Cévital | DESERTEC Foundation | Deutsche Bank | Enel Green Power | E.ON | Flagsol | HSH Nordbank | Munich Re | M+W Group | NAREVA Holding | Red Eléctrica de España | RWE Saint-Gobain Solar | SCHOTT Solar | Siemens | TERNA (Italy) | TERNA ENERGY (Greece) | Unicredit
Dii Associated Partners: 3M | AGC | Audi | BASF | BearingPoint | Bilfinger Berger | Bosch Rexroth | Commerzbank | Concentrix Solar Conergy | Deloitte | Dow Corning | Evonik Industries | FCC Energía | First Solar | FLABEG | Fraunhofer Gesellschaft | GL GARRAD HASSAN | HSBC | IBM | ILF Consulting Engineers | Italgen | Intesa Sanpaolo | KAEFER | Lahmeyer International | Maurisolaire | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft | Shell | Morgan Stanley | NUR ENERGIE | OMV | Schoeller Renewables | Schäffler Gruppe| SMA Solar Technology | TÜV SÜD
André MERLIN, Executive President of Medgrid, said: André Merlin, Medgrid Executive President, stressed the role of transmission infrastructures: “The electrical interconnections are vital for the development of renewable energies in the Middle-East and Maghreb countries; they will make possible the export of a share of renewable electricity from the Southern countries of the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and thus contribute to their financing. I am therefore very pleased by the cooperation agreement signed today between Dii and Medgrid, and I sincerely thank the European authorities for their support”.
About Medgrid
Medgrid is an industrial initiative launched by 20 companies from both rims of the Mediterranean, primarily within the frame of the Mediterranean Solar plan (MSP). Its objective is to promote the development of interconnections between the South and East Mediterranean countries (SEMCs) and Europe, and to study their feasibility from the technical, economical and institutional points of view. These activities will be carried out in full cooperation with the SEMCs, highlighting the philosophy of the co-development of the initiative.
Medgrid Shareholders:
Abengoa I Alstom grid I Areva renouvelables I Atos WorldGrid I CDC infrastructures I EDF I Ineo GDF SUEZ I Nemo I Nexans I Nur Energie I ONEI Pan Med trading and investment I Prysmian I Red Electrica I RTE I Siemens I Soitec I Taqa Arabia I Terna I Walid Elias Establishment.
The French Agency of development (AFD) signed a strategic and financial partnership with MEDGRID.
Accord Medgrid Desertec – Speech Commissioner Oettinger (RTF)
