Project description

Title: Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Egypt
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Electricity and Energy, represented by the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA)
Overall term: 2008 to 2013

Context

Renewable energies and energy efficiency have in recent years become central energy policy issues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In the background are the challenges presented by climate change and the need to sustainably secure the energy supply. Industrial policy matters, especially establishment of relevant local industries, are further considerations. In the past, each country tried to build up its own stock of the skills and resources required. There was no common platform on which to reach accord on renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Objective

The Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) is a platform which guarantees sharing experience and makes coordinated policy possible.

Approach

GIZ supports the construction of the platform Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). In doing so GIZ is acting on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in concert with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the European Union and the Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA).

RCREEE is an independent regional organisation based in Cairo. Other  organisations  participating are ten member countries from the region: Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia. Among RCREEE’s activities are regional policy development, support for research and development as well as private sector participation in renewable energies and energy efficiency.

GIZ supports the establishment of RCREEE by providing consulting services regarding organisational structure and regarding coordination of the member states in the process of setting up the platform. GIZ further advises RCREEE in drawing up a work programme and in shaping energy policy.

In February 2009, representatives of the RCREEE member countries agreed an organisational charter  and selected the executive committee. By the end of 2008 an interim secretariat had already taken up its work.

RCREEE has initiated a policy discussion among its members about renewable energies and energy efficiency:

• How can RCREE member states derive the greatest benefit from the Mediterranean Solar Plan, which envisions the MENA countries exporting green energy into the EU?
• What promotional instruments are suitable to sustainably increasing the production of green energy by member countries?
• What legal structures are needed to facilitate investment by the private sector in renewable energy projects and the corresponding local production plants?
• What  are the barriers to market entry by certain proven technologies such as solar water heaters?

RCREEE investigates these questions in regional studies the results of which will likewise be regionally discussed.

Further information

• Local programme website:
  http://www.rcreee.org