Dr Chaden DIYAB :The development and exploitation of technological innovations in energy efficiency and using alternative energy sources for industry, SMES, research centers around the Mediterranean, represent real opportunities to advance more step further towards acknowledge economy in the Mediterranean. This process, however, faces the challenges of construction a successful energy policy.

Does Mediterranean basin present a real market for green energy?

Dr Chaden DIYAB : From my point of view, technical and strategic actor, who works with industry, communities and countries of southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and North innovative  SMES, research of new energy solutions represents an inescapable challenge for the all countries in the area.

To achieve these goals, these countries first need  the establishment of a an  effective energy policy framework, should have reassure  for investors and protection for producers and consumers of energy at the same time.

We have to face the challenges of a rational management of energy, population growth, urban and industrial, with aging infrastructure existing energy and the challenges posed by climate change throughout the Mediterranean basin. 

The consequence of these developments, according to studies by the blue plane and the World Bank will be to the South and East of the Mediterranean an increasing rate of energy demand, the rate is four times higher than that of Northern countries. It is also to change the paradigms, the finding of fossil fuels that currently cover 87% of energy consumption (40%oil) and renewable energy marginally exploited.

This highlights the importance of innovative technological solutions rely up by our industries, research centers and SMES, and develop partnerships to: identify sources of energy savings, develop and exploit alternative sources (solar in particular), and increase energy efficiency by the introduction of intelligent management systems.

You mention the need to accelerate the development of alternative energy sources. How the initiative of Moroccan solar plan, why do you think this is original?

Dr Chaden DIYAB :In fact this example is particularly relevant . This is one of the flagship projects of the Union for the Mediterranean, offering a renewable energy source abundant and ubiquitous, while meeting the requirements of the energy market for the area (abundant source, decentralization, autonomy…). It aims to produce 20 GW (Giga watts) of "green" electricity by 2020. The Moroccan Solar Plan is an example of application of local project that is based primarily on the establishment of an extensive network of power generation using solar energy up to 2 GW between 2015 and 2019.

The Morocco also provides that in  2020,  by sharing  of electric power from renewable energy(solar, wind, hydro) which  represent 42% of the total stock. These projects are expected to annually save fuel 1 million tons of oil equivalent and avoid the emission of 3.7 million tones ofCO2.

At this stage of development the energy market in the Mediterranean represents a wealth of potential opportunities for technological innovation for European SMES, industries, innovations and research centers capable of providing relevant solutions in terms of production sources alternative energy (photovoltaic, wind, waste ...) and more efficient use of energy. Moroccan solar plan is in this sense emblematic of partnerships formed.

The challenge is also to provide expertise that can adapt to the growing needs of these markets to better control energy consumption (increase energy efficiency, smart grid, smart buildings insulation, reducing network losses housing insulation, household appliances, industrial technologies efficient, transport etc..) combined with a more intensive use of Mediterranean potential of renewable energy (solar, wind, ...).

The remaining difficulties are related to the position of strategy and adaptation of SMES which carries the technology (cultural, economic, business, media and communication) to have a structured view of prospects and be able to adapt to the demands of innovative projects.

It is necessary to identify proper position in this market, to initiate, continue or decline "adventure" in a prospective approach to allow optimized return over investment and avoid the pitfalls of exporting.

In this context the aim of IES, as a private consulting firm that I lead is to provide additional support to the actions of existing incentives and support. Our role is to provide an expert eye in the environment and the Mediterranean filed to accelerate the strategic position of SMES in a  given  market. Our action can take into account the various parameters of the integration of these technologies with end users and makers.

Experience European energy  has to  accelerate to define   an energy policy in the South and East Mediterranean. It can be  a new movement for  energy using the lever and the return of experience in these markets, to create a sustainable model that can "survive" and allow these countries to initiate a new phase of development.

Our field experience and exchange with industry in developing countries in various fields of industry (textile, Oil & Gas, Metallurgy, Chemical industry ...) and with local officials, confirm the expectations of technologies and efficient services. Capacity of construction  and partnership development in the long term, with a system of safeguards put in place a management system energy efficient, requires the expertise of strategic partners involved, as IES, for their development in these countries.