Finance Landscape for smart grid and sector coupling projects in MENA. Special Focus: Financing for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

On 7 October 2025 from 10:30 to 12:00 CEST, the MENALINKS programme will host a public webinar focused on exploring the finance landscape for smart grid and sector coupling projects in the MENA region. In a deep dive, we will the discuss with distinguished experts the required steps for creating bankable battery projects in countries of the MENA region – a key component for unlocking flexible energy systems that can integrate an increasing share of renewables.

The event will bring together stakeholders from development banks, commercial banks, project developers, and government bodies to discuss bankability requirements, financing sources, and investment strategies for battery projects.

The MENALINKS programme invites project developers, investors, government representatives, NGOs and other interested stakeholders to a webinar exploring the finance landscape for smart grid and sector coupling projects in the MENA region with special focus on battery energy storage system (BESS) – a key component for unlocking flexible energy systems that can integrate an increasing share of renewables.

After presenting the general finance landscape for smart grid and sector coupling projects, based on a newly launched MENALINKS report, we will take a deep dive into financing BESS. With distinguished experts we will discuss the required steps for creating bankable BESS projects in countries of the MENA region.

What are instruments for financing BESS and other smart grid and sector coupling projects in MENA region?

What are key success factors for financing BESS projects?

What are lessons learnt from existing projects?

In this webinar we will shed light on these questions from different perspectives of financiers, project developers and regulators.

The session will include:

• Introduction to the MENALINKS programme
• Overview of finance landscape for smart grid and sector coupling projects in MENA (launch of dedicated MENALINKS report)
• Bankability dimensions of smart grid and sector coupling projects
• Expert panel discussion on best-practices for creating bankable large-scale battery projects

Please refer to the programme for more details about our speakers: www.menalinks.org/events/finance-landscape-webinar

The webinar is part of MENALINKS’ finance workstream, which aims to improve access to finance for clean energy solutions by identifying investment barriers, promoting viable business models, and facilitating matchmaking between developers and financiers.