News

Moderating the Blue economy and maritime sovereignty Panel at MEDays2024 in Tanger, Morocco November 28th 2024

Under the Theme ‘Sovereignties and Resiliences’ the 16th MEDays Forum gathered 270 speakers and more than 7,000 participants from 120 countries, showcasing the Forum’s unique ability to bring together diverse voices and inspire actionable outcomes. Acting as bridge-builder between the South and the North, the MEDays Forum’s discussions addressed geopolitics, sustainability and the economic transformations of our world. The MEDays Forum is an open space, where unity and intelligence are key to overcoming the crises of our time in order to chart a new course where the sovereignty of each nation and the resilience of each people are not only respected but nurtured. Sahara Wind has been called-in to moderate several sessions, the MEDays 2024 full program, and recorded videos can be accessed below.

The "MOROCCAN OFFER" among green hydrogen topics presented at the World Power-to-X Summit in Marrakech 8-9 October 2024

The World Power-to-X Summit 2024 brought together over 1700 participants from 40 countries to discuss ongoing efforts toward’s a deep decarbonization of the global economy on the backdrop of growing climate change threats. Heralding a revolutionary era of clean energy, showcasing green hydrogen and clean fuels through the Power-to-X concept, the Summit enabled an updated assessment and thorough review of major initiatives in the realm of sustainable energy. Organized by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energies (MASEN) and the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) in collaboration with the Moroccan Green H2 Cluster and the Mohammed 6 Polytechnic University (UM6P), this event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Morocco.

3^rd Mediterranean Energy Experts Circle meeting in Cadenabbia, Italy, September 18-20 2024

KAS-REMENA, in partnership with the Policy Center for the New South convened its Mediterranean Energy Experts Circle 3rd meeting on the topic of 'The Mediterranean energy landscape amid global and regional geopolitical dynamics'. In-depth discussions on the latest geopolitical developments in the Mediterranean region and beyond took place, to assess energy transition potentials, challenges as well as energy cooperation around the Mediterranean. To foster a better understanding of these complexities, the meeting offered an opportunity to work towards developing pragmatic approaches for the energy transition and a successful regional cooperation in the Mediterranean.

MENA-Europe Future Energy Dialogue 2024 (MEFED24) in Thessaloniki, Greece, September 8th 2024

As a genuine platform for constructive discussions, the MENA-Europe Future Energy Dialogue 2024 (MEFED24) enabled joint efforts and strategies to be assessed and expanded on both sides of the mediterranean in accelerating the world’s energy transition. Co-hosted by H.E. Theodoros Skyklakakis, Minister for Energy and Environment of Greece, and H.E. Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, MEFED24 focused on cross-regional energy infrastructure for green electricity, hydrogen and derivatives to enable increasing energy trade between the MENA region and Europe. High-level representatives of the public and private sector, infrastructure operators and financial institutions presented their initiatives to accelerate cross-regional infrastructure development.

Shaping a Resilient and Cooperative Mediterranean Energy Transition at UM6P Rabat, Morocco 22-24 April 2024

At the invitation of the Policy Center for the New South and KAS-REMENA, the 2nd Meeting of the Mediterranean Energy Experts Circle assessed various aspects of the region’s energy transition. Under the "Shaping a Resilient and Cooperative Mediterranean Energy Transition: Lessons Learned and New Challenges” dedicated session, Sahara Wind opened the discussion over technical and geopolitical implications arising from the ‘Low-carbon hydrogen beyond the hype: Implications of the new energy carrier’. Envisioning the Mediterranean energy transition landscape over the next decade, the region’s experts addressed the scaling up of renewables with their financing and efficient regional integration. Energy transition resilience mechanisms in the current geopolitical context were explored as well. This 2-day event was held at the Policy Center for the New South located within the UM6P campus in Rabat.

Moderating the United States of America vs China Panel Session at MEDays2023 in Tanger, Morocco November 18th 2023

Under the Theme ‘Polycrisis, Polyworld’ the 15th MEDays Forum gathered over 230 speakers and 6,000 participants from 108 countries, to underline the event's role as a prime platform for South-North dialogue. Amidst global challenges, this year's Forum underscored the urgent need for collective deliberation and problem-solving. Sahara Wind was called upon to moderate ‘Investing in Water: Shaping Water Security and Sovereignty’ as well as the ‘United States of America vs China: A Trade War or a Battle for the Global Influence?’ Panel Sessions. The MEDays 2023 full program, recorded videos and Sahara Wind's TV interviews can be accessed below.

Sahara Wind at the International Congress on Climate Change in Essaouira, October 23-26 2023

At the invitation of the International Centre for Research and Capacity Building (CI2RC), CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF A JUST TRANSITION were discussed in five round-table sessions of the 4th International Congress on Climate Change in Essaouira. Supported by the city of Essaouira, Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) of Marrakech and the Friedrich Nauman Foundation for Freedom, 200 participants, policy makers, international organizations, research experts and academic institutions, doctoral students, public and private stakeholders, and representatives of civil society examined extensive energy transition related matters. Speaking at ‘The Industrial Model in the Face of Just Transition’ round table, Sahara Wind also moderated the 'Climate Change & Security Issues' session.

Sahara Wind at the Mediterranean Energy Expert Circle Kick-Off Meeting in Cadenabbia, Italy 11-13 October 2023

Against the backdrop of the energy crisis, changing geopolitical dynamics, supply chains disruptions and political tensions triggering wars, the Mediterranean region's energy landscape has been decisively reshaped. Under the overarching theme of ‘Reconciling Mediterranean Energy Transitions with Energy Security and Regional Stability’ the Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change Middle East and North Africa of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS-REMENA) in cooperation with the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) invited a group of selected experts from the wider Mediterranean region to the Kick-Off Meeting for a “Mediterranean Energy Experts Circle”. Held at the historic Villa La Collina of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, the Expert Circle will meet regularly to assess these global challenges.

World Power-to-X Summit in Marrakech, Morocco, September 19 2023

Over 1,000 Policy-makers, industry leaders, research experts and innovators from 34 countries gathered to discuss global energy transition challenges. 170 expert panelists in over 35 specialized sessions and multiple side events debated green hydrogen opportunities. Supported by IRESEN the "Green Industrialization in North Africa: Driving Regional Decarbonization and Attracting Energy-Intensive Industries" official Side Event organized by the KAS Energy Security and Climate Change Middle East and North Africa explored added-value of green hydrogen policies and the creation of an enabling regulatory framework for Power-to-X. At the core of Morocco’s green hydrogen road map the “Strategies for Driving Green Industrialization in North Africa” panel moderated by Sahara Wind enabled UM6P, RCREEE and ECDPM to address a range of opportunities provided by outstanding wind and solar resources to expand the successful roll-out of the region’s global manufacturing industries.

Khalid Benhamou of Sahara Wind with Kadri Simson European Commissioner for Energy at #EUSEW2023, June 20th 2023

Held under the theme “Accelerating the clean energy transition – towards lower bills and greater skills” Sahara Wind attended the European Sustainable Energy Week 2023 in Brussels on 20-22 June 2023. The role of renewables regional integration, inclusion, storage and green hydrogen deep decarbonization were among the topics hotly debated during the conference’s policy sessions. Leveraging Sahara Wind’s pioneering capacity building work co-funded by NATO since 2007 to support North Africa’s regional HVDC transmission and green Hydrogen synergies, this event brought together key stakeholders shaping today’s energy transition.

1st regional roundtable on the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Rabat, Morocco, June 06 2023

Based on its Energy, Water and Food security synergies developed since 2002, Sahara Wind attended the 1st regional roundtable on #WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean: "promoting innovations, investments and upscaling of solutions". Combined with the 13th meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean Water Expert Group, this round table gathered key actors to address multiple climate-related challenges and leverage unique opportunities provided by integrating the Water, Energy, Food Ecosystems nexus. 

Morocco’s Energy Transition Ministry official speaking at #betd23 in Berlin, March 28 2023

At the invitation of the German Federal Foreign Office, Khalid Benhamou (CEO of Sahara Wind) attended the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue Conference 2023. This event bringing together Delegations from more than 90 countries enabled Sahara Wind’s experiences and ideas on a safe, affordable, and environmentally responsible global energy transition to be shared with key stakeholders. These included high-level policymakers, representatives from industry, science, as well as civil society who gathered in Berlin during this two-day event.