In the framework of knowledge and best practices exchange activities of Med-EcoSuRe, a cross-border exchange visit was organized for An Najah National University (ANNU) to the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT) from the 15^th until the 17^th of November 2022.

The aim of the visit was to observe the implemented technologies at ENIT, present the ones implemented at ANNU, gain a deeper understanding of the regional differences, and replicate renovation actions based on local specificities.

The team in charge of the implementation of Med-EcoSuRe activities at ENIT, along with the Mediterranean Renewable Energy Centre (MEDREC), coordinator of the project presented the renovation actions that have been implemented so far at the School as well as future ones including:

• A micro-grid platform (SAMRTNESS) powered by Photovoltaic panels for energy generation and trading. The platform allows emulating the energy management and exchange of electricity among four “houses” in a research laboratory at the National Engineering School of Tunis.
• Rooftop Photovoltaic power plant to reduce the energy consumption of teaching buildings.
• Refurbishment of the energy laboratory pilot. The refurbishment work includes upgrading the existing electrical installation as well as the building envelope: double glazing, thermal insulation in the roof, shading devices on the exposed windows, plastering, coatings, paints…

• Rooftop insulation of the administration building
• A scaled up micro-grid, capitalizing on SMARTNESS, to generate and manage energy exchange among teaching rooms, offices and the parking of the university. The micro-grid will include photovoltaic, wind and battery storage technologies. Furthermore, a platform will be create to enable the generation and trading of Green Energy Certificates.

Besides, a conference was organized for post graduate students at ENIT, during which Dr Imad Ibrik from ANNU shared the long term university strategy to plan renovation projects which was elaborated in the framework of Med-EcoSuRe as well as Renewable Energy solutions installed at the university which include:

• Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Power Plants at Top-Roof of Old-Campus Buildings: Humanities faculty building old campus and Educational faculty of science.
• A solar tree based on transparent Photovoltaic technology at An Najah National University yard, enabling to charge electrical devices, including computers, mobile phones, wheelchairs, and lighting LED lamps, with the possibility of controlling the time periods of their lighting during the night.
• Grid-tied carport system at the university campus. This system not only provides additional energy but also serves as an example for architectural integration of Solar PV. The solar car park allows to fully charge electric vehicles, and provides shade to parking spaces within the university
• Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine building

The students and professors exchanged, during the conference, on what are the renovation actions that could be replicated in ENIT while taking into consideration the national context specificities.

A Visit was also organized to the Technical Center for Mechanical and Electric Industries and to Technopole Borj Cedria in Tunis. Representatives from both institutions shared the results of their ongoing projects and research activities including:

• Promoting research results and introducing university courses and programmes in areas with high potential for the employability of young university graduates in the energy sector
• Deployment of photovoltaic systems not only in residential buildings but also in university buildings

These actions can be replicated in the pilots of An-Najah University selected within the framework of the Med-EcoSuRe project.

The cross-border exchange visit was a great opportunity to foster mutual learning and facilitate the emergence of new projects while capitalizing on Med-EcoSuRe outcomes.