MED-DESIRE project participated in a workshop entitled "Evaluation and Update of the Lebanese National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP)" jointly organized between the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) and the EU-funded MED-ENEC project on November 18, 2014 in Gefinor Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon.
The workshop was a full-day event hosted by the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC). Experts from different institutions and working in different fields all contributed to the success of the event. The opening session started with welcoming notes and a brief introduction to the NEEAP 2011-2015 background and circumstances from representatives of MED-ENEC, the EU Delegation and LCEC.
During the following sessions of the event, specialists in fields of energy and policy making presented the actual achievements of the NEEAP 2011-2015. Ms.Frauke Roser, the consultant assigned by MED-ENEC for the evaluation and update of the NEEAP, discussed and evaluated the outcomes. She first gave a summary of the evaluation report, then analyzed each project separately, what was achieved and what failed to meet the set targets.
According to Ms. Roser, the most successful initiative was the financing mechanism initiative, with 80% completion score. The reasons behind this success were the availability of funds both nationally by the Central Bank and through grants, specifically the EU fund that covers 15% of eligible projects; adequacy of man-power and public awareness (to some extent). She also highlighted the initiatives with the least scores in an attempt to identify the potential for improvement.
In addition, it was discussed that the current NEEAP will be split into NEAAP 2015-2020 and NREAP or National Renewable Energy Action Plan or Renewable Energy Strategy (RES). The definition of the NREAP or RES needs to be done in a second separate workshop. The new NEEAP will be in compliance with the Arab EE Guidelines (based on the EU directive 2006/32/EC). This point should be discussed in Cairo in the presence of the League of Arab State (LAS).
Another important point discussed in this event is that focus should be on the results rather than the activities carried on by organizations and institutions. Issues and barriers that could alter the results of the upcoming NEEAP include insufficient data gathering, double counting, confusion between actual measures and accompanying measures, lack of ownership of work and involvement of stakeholders, absence of prioritization of goals and lack of public awareness. All these factors should be resolved in order to have a successful NEEAP.
MED-ENEC is a regional project that aims at spreading energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the construction sector in the Mediterranean. It is funded by the European Union and assists the Mediterranean countries in sound policy making and business development. It specifically supports large building programmes to make them environmentally friendly in a cost effective manner.