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High-level international representatives from political as well as scientific communities, civil society and industry will meet at the 4th Dii Desert Energy Conference in Rabat, Morocco, to identify common actions needed to reach a self-contained market in which renewable energies improve the total energy mix of North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Desert Power Promotes Global Energy Transition
In the United Arab Emirates, the world’s largest CSP plant begins operations

“Projects like Shams-1 move us forward along the path to emissions-free power production and represent a big step toward the realization of the Desertec vision”, says Dii CEO Paul Van Son.

First Solar new Dii Shareholder
Leading company in PV energy solutions extends commitment to desert power

“Our extended dedication to Dii as a shareholder emphasises First Solar’s commitment to the MENA region, where we see tremendous potential to build a sustainable market for solar power.” said Christopher Burghardt, First Solar’s Vice President of Business Development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

NREA (New and Renewable Energy Authority) and Dii agree to work together closely in Egypt

The Egyptian State Authority for New & Renewable Energy (NREA) and Dii signed a memorandum of understanding to increase their collaboration which will support local institutions to create renewable energy capacities and accelerate the dissemination of RE projects in Egypt.

Management Board

Paul van Son

Paul van Son joined Dii in 2009 as CEO. He has been active in various management and executive positions in the international (renewable) electricity and gas business for over 30 years at Siemens AG (Germany), SEP (the Dutch power pool and interconnected grid), KEMA Consulting/ECC (international energy consultants). He was also Chief Executive Officer of Essent Energy Trading, Managing Director of Essent Sustainable Energy and Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Essent GmbH in Düsseldorf, being responsible for the German activities of Essent N.V.

Mr. van Son has been instrumental in the development of the use of non-food biomass for power supply, wind power development and marketing of green power (an invention of Essent in 1998).

During 2008/9 Mr. van Son was Executive Director of Econcern, NL (renewable energy and energy efficiency). He is Chairman of the Energy4All Foundation (www.energy4all.org / www.niceinternational.com), a non-profit organization promoting decentralized energy and communication systems in Africa. In addition, Mr. van Son was President of the European Federation of Energy Traders (www.efet.org) from 1999 till 2012, a pioneer organization in energy market creation and (renewable) energy trading.

Paul van Son is responsible for all matters of governance, interaction with political key contacts, shareholders, associated partners, media and other stakeholders.

Dr. Aglaia Wieland

Before joining Dii in 2010, Aglaia Wieland worked at the Boston Consulting Group, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. Her international experience includes projects in the following fields: industrial goods, renewable energies, operations, growth and internationalization strategies.

Aglaia Wieland joined the managing board of Dii as managing director in 2012. In her responsibility lie all matters of strategy, public affairs, reference projects and country activities in North Africa and the Middle East as well as the regulatory framework.

She is notably responsible for Dii’s long-term strategy, “Desert Power 2050”, which effectively answers the question which technology and geographic mix is suitable to provide the EUMENA region with a sustainable, reliable and affordable power system based on renewable energy by 2050. The first part of this study, focusing on this target picture, was published in summer 2012. In a second part, “Getting Started” to be publishedat the beginning of 2013, Dii will provide guidance on investment, regulatory questions, technology choices and political decisions necessary to realize this vision in the coming 40 years.

Dr. Aglaia Wieland is a postgraduate in Finance and received her PhD in the same field.