MENALINKS at IRENA 16th Assembly: building smart grids for a connected, resilient future

MENALINKS’ consortium partner, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), participated in this year’s IRENA 16th Assembly in Abu Dhabi a leading platform advancing renewables deployment globally. Bringing together global policymakers, regional and multilateral organisations, IRENA Assembly set the stage for high‑level discussions on the future of clean energy and resilient infrastructure.  

Dedicated sessions around Mediterranean energy transitions, grids and system flexibility emerged as central themes. RCREEE also participated in a dedicated meeting on the MENA-Europe Future Energy Dialogue process (MEFED), highlighting the relevance of cross-regional cooperation to advance the energy transition. The growing opportunities at the intersection of AI, digitalization, grid modernization, and cooperation between MENA countries as well as between MENA and Europe particularly inspiring. A key takeaway resonated strongly with our mission: grids do not only connect the components of the power system — they connect people. They create space for collaboration, shared learning, and knowledge exchange across borders.