Ennis Rimawi is Managing Director of the Catalyst MENA Clean Energy Fund, launched in mid-2016. Catalyst is the MENA region’s first specialized renewable energy fund, anchored by the European Union (EIB), as well as German, Netherlands, and Finnish Government institutions. Catalyst participated in the first round of solar PV IPP’s in the region, and to date has secured its first four (4) investments (81MW), all solar PV projects in Jordan, two are in operation. Catalyst plans to co-develop and invest in over 700MW of renewable power projects in the next 4 years.
Catalyst is capitalizing on the significant solar power opportunity in the region. Less than 1% of power generation in the MENA region is from renewables, while the solar potential in the region is more than double the global average.
Previously Ennis founded the first MENA region energy and water technology fund (VC) in late 2006, Catalyst PE Fund I. Fund I focused on conventional and renewable energy. As a result, the Catalyst management team has over 10 years experience in the regions fledgling renewable energy sector.
Ennis is currently the Chairman of Millennium Energy Industries, MEI Solar, (with one of the world’s largest solar heating references, in Saudi Arabia), Chairman of Falcon Maan Solar Power, and Director Eagle Solar. Ennis was formerly the Chairman of X3M International acquired by Aker Solutions ASA, and a Director of Tercel Oilfield Products.
He began his career at Ford Motor Company, later founded ONEWORLD Software Solutions (US, China, Jordan) and led the turnaround of Estarta Solutions (Microsoft and Cisco as equity investors) a MENA region software and communication infrastructure support leader. Ennis was also a board member of LogicBlox (Atlanta), acquired by Infor in 2016.
Ennis graduated from MIT with a BS in 1991, an MS in Environmental Engineering, and an MS from the MIT Sloan School of Management (as a Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow).
Ennis is also a board member of Tamweelcom, a top non-profit micro-lending institution, a co-founder of Jordan’s renewable energy business association, co-founder of the MIT Arab Alumni Association, and an alumni of the Young Global Leaders (World Economic Forum.)
