Europe to be powered by solar energy from Africa in 10 years?!

by Ostia | June 17, 2009 at 04:34 am

503 views | 65 Recommendations | 9 comments

Twenty blue chip companies from Germany, among them Deutsche Bank, Siemens, and the energy companies RWE and E.on, have agreed on forming a consortium with the plan of harnessing solar power in the deserts of Northern Africa to power Europe. The consortium will be known under the name Desertec.

The first step of the project will be to attract additional sponsors across Europe to cover the project costs of approximately €400bn (US$550bn).

We want to found an initiative which over the next two to three years will put concrete measures on the table.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Even though no exact details about the individual involvements of the companies is available, the participating companies have stressed that Desertec is supposed to bring them to the top of the green technology industry and contribute significantly to combating climate change.

According to the European Commission's Institute for Energy, if just 0.3% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle Eastern deserts was captured, it could provide all of Europe's energy needs.

Source: guardian.co.uk

The plan intends to establish several solar fields across Northern Africa, however, only in politically stable countries. Algeria, Morocco and Libya have been mentioned as possible locations.

The technique called "concentrating solar power" or CSP, uses banks of mirrors to focus the sun's rays in a central column filled with water. The rays heat the water, vaporising the it into a steam which is then used to drive turbines which generate carbon-free electricity.
The energy would then be fed via high-voltage direct current (DC) transmission lines over thousands of miles to Europe - traditional AC lines are far too inefficient.

Scientists in general agree that the project is technically realistic; yet there is doubt about the finances since the power would have to be transported over several hundreds of miles, a distance that has, using solar energy, never been attempted before.

The €400bn investment would be enough to cover 15% of Europe's electricity requirements, according to Jeworrek. He added "in technical terms this project can be realised" but stressed in order for it to be sustainable it would have to finance itself in the long-run and be competitive within 10 to 15 years.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Further, also concerns have arised about the advantages of the project.

Scheer was also critical of the fact that the project would "duplicate the current system" whereby energy distribution is concentrated in the hands of a few multinational companies. "We should be looking instead at decentralising the system, and looking closer to home for our energy supplies, such as solar panels on homes or harnessing wind energy on the coasts, or inland," he said.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Yet, it has been questioned to what extent this argument may be directed at keeping business in Europe and, consequently, preventing outsourcing to Africa.

"Desert power from solar thermal power plants would be cheaper and there would be a constant supply. But Germany's solar lobby apparently wants to teach environmentally aware consumers that solar power is good when it is generated domestically with billions in subsidies. And it's bad when it comes from projects that benefit the poor in Africa.

Source: spiegel.de

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Spydermonkey

at 05:45 on June 17th, 2009

This is not a bad idea overall, but I don't think this project will have much benefit for the poor in Africa, unless Desertec will agree to donate a portion of the electricity generated to the country it's generated in.

Ostia

at 05:59 on June 17th, 2009

I fully agree it is important that the project also contributes to the areas where the actual energy is produced. From what I saw on the desertec website it seems to be the case that the overall plan is to generate enough electricty not only for Europe but also for Northern Africa and the Middle East by 2050. However, there are no information regarding pricing policies.

Richard Mullen (not verified)

at 05:58 on June 17th, 2009

This is fantastic as far as bring some stability to countries such as Libya. The distance issue could be solved by either transporting it via conversion (create hydrogen) or better built power lines. There is always the problem of resistance in metals and power loss over distance.

How about convert it to microwaves and beam it via satellite to key locations?

sara star

at 06:33 on June 17th, 2009

The desert had to be good for something.

SamirJ

at 10:19 on June 17th, 2009

Interesting!

amyjudd

at 12:32 on June 17th, 2009

10 years is not a long time but if this can be done, it is fantastic!

Eva Moly (not verified)

at 06:41 on June 18th, 2009

This project is certainly not as easy as it looks. Although Africa has more sunlight than Europe and thus has a higher electrical average peak power production than in more Northern areas, costs of transportation just make it hard for the project to be profitable. It is unlikely that the facility will be able to produce 400 billion Euros worth of electricity, especially with the lost that occur in long-distance transportation. The worth of the project is not the profit that it will generate, but more the idea and ecological value of it.

obeng,Ghana (not verified)

at 13:36 on July 31st, 2009

powerful technology,where the project will take place should benefit as well.

i strongly believe that, there will be enviromental problem to the country in questioned

Spydermonkey

at 12:10 on August 4th, 2009

The transmission of power over VERY high voltage DC seams to be the general direction research is taking for solving the power loss over distance problem.

A similer idea is being batted around the USA using the western areas for solar generation & transmit the power to other parts of the country.