DESERTEC Foundation: Endorsements

"Solar and wind energy projects like DESERTEC show that we have the technologies. We just have to start acting!" "This is not pie in the sky – this can be done. We [the USA] need to do it for our own economy." (Süddeutsche Zeitung 2010-09-05 & www.ted.com/talks/view/id/243 from minute 14:30 on, recorded 2008-02)

Video at 14:30 minutes

"The [CSP] technology is there, we have plants up and running in the US and in Spain. So I hope that before they jump on the nuclear bandwagon, people will look at this source of energy that is freely available in endless supplies." (Interview with Radio Netherlands 2007-12-03)

"We had an intense discourse on the DESERTEC project. Representatives of the project will be present at the subsequent lunch. I once again assured, that we have high interest in DESERTEC becoming reality. It is a vision today, but it has the potential to be a connecting project between the European and the African continent." (Press conference in Berlin 08.12.2010)

"On a global level, the sun and the deserts present us with major opportunity. (…) Large scale solar plants in deserts, connected to a cross-border, or even intercontinental grid are a fundamental solution for sustainable energy supplies after 2050. (…) As an interesting side effect, and of great benefits for the local population, heat from the solar-thermal power plants may be used to desalinate seawater or generate cooling." (Speech at the World Future Energy Summit 2009-01-19)

"The League of Arab States is very confident that the DESERTEC initiative will certainly add to the previous contributions in the field of promoting renewable energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the gap between conventional resources of energy and renewable ones." (Press conference in Munich 2009-07-13)

"Morocco looks forward to exploring, with the European Union, all the opportunities to be created by regional projects, such as DESERTEC, in order to lay the foundations of a well-defined, safe, sustainable Euro-Mediterranean energy policy." (Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse 2010-03-07)

"Let me conclude by repeating that the European Commission shares the objectives of the DESERTEC Initiative as it was presented to the European Parliament in 2007. We highly welcome the support and the enthusiasm of the private companies from the EU, Middle East and North Africa in creating dynamism and furthering progress in implementing sustainable energy. (…) This is a joint project and without the political will to make it work both in the EU and in Northern Africa, the project cannot fly. I am committed to work towards it together with my partners in Northern Africa." (Speech at the DESERTEC Conference in Barcelona 2010-10-26)

"The European Union should support forward-looking projects such as DESERTEC, which was presented to the European Parliament by Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan: the aim of this project is to promote the use, on the basis of the latest technology, of solar energy in parts of the world, such as the Middle East, which enjoy long periods of sunshine. Countries including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia have already stated their interest in cooperating in such a project." (Speech at the meeting of the European Council 2008-03-13)

"Today, more than ever before our world needs pioneering efforts – pioneering efforts like the DESERTEC project. (...) The DESERTEC project reveals the full potential of a sustainable civilization: The African countries gain access to their own renewable sources of energy, which can, for example, be used to power desalination systems. In addition, these countries can use the proceeds from energy exports to advance their economic development and Europe can move a step away from its reliance on fossil fuels. And worldwide CO2 emissions can be reduced by more than 400 million metric tons." (Annual Shareholders' Meeting of Siemens AG 2010-01-26)

"Economic development needs energy. It is not surprising that poverty is first and for most energy poverty. (...) It is a revolutionary idea to use the affluent sun energy especially in the deserts of Africa and Arabia for the production of clean energy that can also be transported to developed countries in the North. A new development paradigm would be the consequence for Africa on the one side and for the climate targets in Europe on the other side. This is what makes DESERTEC fascinating." (DESERTEC WhiteBook 2007-11)