RAMY SALAMA

DOHA A THREE-DAY meeting on renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage began at the Student Centre of Education City on Monday.

It is organised by the European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council (EUGCC) Clean Energy Network and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI).

Dr Rabi Mohtar, executive director of QEERI, in his opening remarks outlined the objectives of the institute which he said are knowledge generation through research, formulation of locally-applicable solutions in the areas of energy and the environment, sustainability of research and solutions, and seeking local and international partnerships to facilitate the objectives.

Mohtar said QEERI’s research interests include solar desalination and cooling.

“In the area of the environment, we have launched a programme in coordination with major stakeholders on air quality, and its impact on health. In the near future, we’re looking at photovoltaic, wind energy and hydrogen production feasibility,” he said.

Other speakers at the opening session included Sophie Parson of the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments Service who thanked QEERI and the Qatar Foundation for hosting the meeting.

Prof John Psarras, network director of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems of the National Technical University of Athens (ICCSNTUA), was also in attendance.

The event is in line with the efforts of Qatar Foundation and the EUGCC Clean Energy Network to promote EU-GCC cooperation in the field of clean energy. It aims to enhance inter-regional knowledge dissemination and information exchange on clean energy topics, including research, technology and policy.

The event will also include discussion sessions on the roadmap to a sustainable EU-GCC clean energy network, energy efficiency and demand side management, and renewable energy sources.

On Tuesday, seminars will be delivered by experts on areas of mutual interest to EU-GCC members including tri-generation and district cooling and carbon capture and storage.

Visits to Qatar Science and Technology Park and the cogeneration plants in Ras Laffan Industrial City are also part of the event.

The meeting is of great interest to energy sector experts, consultants and researchers including engineers, project developers, executives at energy utilities and authorities, as well as students specialising in the fields of clean energy.