MED-DESIRE project participated as partner in the 5th edition of the Beirut Energy Forum that took place on the 17th, 18th and 19th of September, 2014. It is the leading energy event in Lebanon and the Arab world dedicated to energy efficiency, renewable energy and green buildings. The event did not solely focus on the technical aspect of clean energy, but also discussed the advantages and drawbacks of each technology on the socio-economic and environmental setting, hence a wide range of experts be it engineers, technicians, consultants, academics and bankers – a total of 850 registered delegates from 30 countries – participated and benefitted from the event.
The event included a session on "Support Schemes to Promote Renewable Energy: Transferring Know-How" that was in partnership with the MED-DESIRE project and included speakers from the project partnership.
On the 3rd and final day, a press conference on the MED-DESIRE project was held. Representatives of the five partner countries presented the project and the role and expectations of their respective organizations within the project.
Additionally, the 4th meetings of the MED-DESIRE project’s Technical and Scientific Committee and Steering Committee were held in parallel to the Beirut Energy Forum on the 16th and 18th of September, 2014. During the meetings, the MED-DESIRE team evaluated and tracked the work done till mid-2014 and planned the activities to be performed within the project.
MED-DESIRE, a joint project funded by the European Union (EU) ENPI CBC MED programme, was launched in 2013. MED-DESIRE stands for MEDiterranean DEvolopment of Support schemes for solar Initiatives and Renewable Energies and aims at spreading energy efficiency all over the Mediterranean area through the use of innovative financial schemes and market stimulation tools. MED-DESIRE’s main objectives are to support energy sustainability, raise public awareness on energy efficiency, and implement best practices in legal, regulatory, economic and organizational issues including the promotion of new financing mechanisms in order to remove the barriers of solar technology and enhance its development.
The project joins the efforts of 9 institutions from 5 different countries: Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, and Lebanon.