Sahara Wind at the Renewable Energies for the Mediterranean conference (Valencia, Spain 11th-12th May 2010).
The Mediterranean Solar Plan, born under the scope of the “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)”, and launched in July 2008, is one of the strategic processes for sustainable development facing the foreseeable increase of energy demand in the Euro-Mediterranean region, and the need to cut back greenhouse effect gas emissions.
Its main objective is to develop of 20 GW of renewable electricity capacity on the South Shore of the Mediterranean, as well as the necessary infrastructures for the electricity interconnection with Europe. The Plan also envisages Saving and Energy Efficiency, as well as Technology Transfer.
A key element for the development of this Plan is the establishment of a suitable, new regulatory framework to promote the establishment of renewable energies, and facilitating the exchange of electricity.
The Mediterranean Solar Plan must be a huge step ahead in the development of the Euro-Mediterranean co-operation policy in the field of energy, started with the Barcelona process in 1995, integrated in the European Neighbourhood Policy since 2007 and reinforced with the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean since 2008.
A programme was presented on the occasion of this Conference, organised by the Spanish Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, with the collaboration of the European Union, which means to assemble the ministers of both sides of the Mediterranean shores, authorities of the EU institutions, relevant members of the major industry fabric in the energy sector as well as of the financial sector.
Energy cooperation in the Mediterranean region, the infrastructure policy within the framework of the Mediterranean Solar Plan, energy technologies, the regulatory framework and associated investment financing are the broad lines to a programme devised with a view to enhancing and easing the implementation of this Plan as well as its facilitating economic and social role in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
