Desertec For Clean Energy
In Europe

The African Sahara solar project proposed by Desertec looks to be the largest solar power generation scheme the world has yet seen. The plan is cover a large swathe of uninhabitable North African desert with a power grid of concentrated solar thermal power stations, which could conceivably supply Europe with virtually all its power needs by the Year 2050.

While the project will require an enormous amount of up front capital, at least 400 billion dollars, the eventual rewards are clean energy, no pollution and no need to war over oil reserves. This sounds like a ridiculous amount of money, but if we consider that the bailout of the US economy has been five times this amount at least, it starts to look quite achievable.

The initial cost of this Desertec project is indeed daunting, but the promise of clean cheap solar power for years to come after the project's completion is a great incentive.

What About Africa?

This is a grand sounding scheme to be sure, but what do the African nations whose land it is to be built on get from this project? It is proposed that the excess heat from the concentrating thermal plants be used to purify sea water, providing fresh water to the host nations. It is also suggested that at the level so far proposed, the solar array will be able to power two thirds of the countries hosting the stations.

It is even conceivable that sufficient fresh water would be available to revegetate some areas of the desert and with that bring a whole new swathe of economic opportunities.

It is not acceptable to enter yet another era of plundering the poorer and less developed nations for their natural resources, whether those resources are gold, diamonds or sunlight. This project must pay its way. While water desalination is a start, it should be expected that the project will meet the energy needs of the host nations first, not last.

More Information

For more information, visit the company website.

10 July 2009

Top Of Page