Organized by
Supported by
Ref. Ares(2022)3657048 - 13/05/2022
Physical Location: W Dubai - The Palm hotel, West Crescent Palm - Jumeirah - Dubai
The meeting will be ‘hybrid’, as it will physically take place in the W Dubai Palm hotel for these who can
join us personally; other participants may join the meeting virtually.
The decade of the acceleration of the energy transition in MENA
AGENDA Day 2 (Day 1 reserved for Dii Partners)
11th November 2021
11th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit
08:30-09:00
Welcome Networking Coffee & Breakfast
09:00-09:15
Welcome Address: From Desertec 1.0 to Desertec 3.0: how did the region develop over
the past decade? It appears that MENA is ready now to become a regional and global
Powerhouse for green electrons and molecules.
Speaker:
Paul van Son, President, Dii Desert Energy
09:15-09:25
Invited Keynote: EU-MENA Energy Ties to Achieve Climate Neutrality by 2050
Speaker: Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal,
European Commission (invited)
09:25-10:30
Invited Keynote Addresses: the Energy Transition in the Regional and International
Context
Impulse presentation and moderator: Frank Wouters, Chair, Advisory Board, Dii Desert
Energy and MENA Hydrogen Alliance (confirmed)
Organized by
Supported by
Speakers:
Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO, ACWA Power (confirmed)
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar (invited)
Senior Representative, State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC/CEPRI) (invited)
Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer, GCC Interconnection Authority
(confirmed)
Senior Representative/board level, thyssenkrupp (invited)
Jamila Matar, Director Energy, League of Arabs States (invited)
Chaher Boulakhras, CEO, Sonelgaz (confirmed)
Katherina Reiche, Chairperson, German Hydrogen Council (confirmed)
Bertrand Piccard, Founder, Solar Impulse Foundation (to be invited)
Francesco La Camera, Director General, IRENA (invited)
*
Pre-recorded messages are possible
10:30-11:00
Networking Break
11:00-12:00
Opening and Keynote Panel: Status of the Energy Transition in MENA
Outlook, challenges and perspectives from ministers and heads of governmental
organizations from UAE, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia
Impulse presentation and moderator:
Cornelius Matthes, CEO, Dii Desert Energy
Dr. Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Egypt
(invited)
H.E. Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jordan (invited)
Mr. Aziz RABBAH, Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Morocco
(invited)
Mr. Mustapha Bakkoury, President, Masen, Morocco (invited)
Dr. Salim Al Huthaili, CEO - Alternative Energy, OQ, Oman (invited)
12:00-13:00
Panel discussion: Update about concrete projects and initiatives on green electrons and
green molecules
This session showcases lighthouse projects and regional initiatives along the emission-
free energy value chain covering e.g. Oman, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia alongside some
international success stories such as Australia.
Speakers:
Herbert Jost, General Manager Green Hydrogen, DEME Group (confirmed)
Dimitar Enchev, Co-founder & Director, CWP Global (invited)
Senior Representative, AMEA Power (invited)
13:00-14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00-14:30
Special Spotlight: NEOM’s New Hub for Clean Energy Generation, Innovation and
Research
Speaker: Peter Terium, Managing Director of Energy, Water and Food, NEOM
(confirmed)
Organized by
Supported by
14:30-14:45
Special Presentation: Hydrogen Connecting Continents
Speaker: Ad van Wijk, Member of Dii Desert Energy’s Advisory Board, Professor Future
Energy Systems, TU Delft (confirmed)
14:45-15:45
The Right Ingredients for the Energy Transition: Different perspectives from investors,
utilities and EPCs
• We achieved 1 cent solar but there are significant challenges ahead. What is the
impact of the recent rise in raw material prices, logistics costs and potential rise
in costs for debt for both solar and wind projects?
• Are NOCs and oil majors ready for the energy transition?
• Emission and green energy trade certificates/swap deals
Speakers:
Amit Jain, Global CEO, Sterling Wilson Solar (invited)
Joaquín Rodríguez Jadraque, Director Business Development, Fisterra Energy
SL/BLACKSTONE Group (invited)
15:45-16:15
Networking Break
16:15-17:30
Interactives Roundtables
1. New requirements for financing and structures for green molecules
2. Energy efficiency (ESCO) and demand side management
3. Energy storage solutions for emission-free energy systems
4. The convergence between electricity and gas markets
5. Water and Energy Nexus
6. R&D, innovation and education
7. Smart cities & mobility
17:30-18:00
Capacity Building, Local Content and Green Job Creation
• What is the job creation potential across different parts of the renewable energy
value chain?
• How to enhance capacity building programs to prepare the qualified work force
across the emission-free energy value chain?
• What are the current initiatives to engage in research & development
partnership?
18:00-18:05
Closing Remarks:
Paul van Son, President and Cornelius Matthes, Chief Executive, Dii Desert Energy
18:05-21:00
Networking Reception followed by VIP Dinner at ‘LAWN’ Restaurant
Organized by
Supported by
Site visit on 12th November (invited):
-
Solar Innovation Center at Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park Solar Park + first green
hydrogen project in MENA
Confirmed Speakers:
*
In alphabetical order
1. Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO, ACWA Power (confirmed)
2. Paul van Son, President, Dii Desert Energy
3. Cornelius Matthes, CEO, Dii Desert Energy
4. Frank Wouters, Chair, Advisory Board of Dii Desert Energy and MENA Hydrogen Alliance
5. Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer, GCC Interconnection Authority (confirmed)
6. Herbert Jost, General Manager Green Hydrogen, DEME Group
7. Katherina Reiche, Chairperson, German Hydrogen Council
8. Peter Terium, Managing Director of Energy, Water and Food, NEOM
9. Chaher Boulakhras, CEO, Sonelgaz
10. Ad van Wijk, Member of Dii Desert Energy’s Advisory Board, Professor Future Energy Systems, TU
Delft
Organized by
Supported by
Electronically signed on 13/05/2022 11:54 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121
Document Outline
