On the Annual Shareholders' Meeting of Siemens AG, Peter Löscher, CEO of Siemens, spoke about DESERTEC, and pointed out that Siemens is the key technology-partner in the implementation of this "pioneering effort".
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The EU wants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 by 20 percent compared to 1990. "It is your and my responsibility to reach this," said Oettinger, and announced a "new and focused action plan." "It is important to think beyond that and we have to set additional targets," says Oettinger. The Desertec project could be a "great opportunity" for Africa and the EU. "We need a global paradigm shift in energy policy with the aim of decarbonization, energy security and energy solidarity." For improving the European energy grids, he could imagine a European funding program along the lines of supporting faster railways.
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Morocco, which is the only North African state with no oil of its own, wants to play a leading role in an European plan to draw solar power from the Sahara. Morocco will invite bids for construction of its first solar power station at the end of next month as part of a $9 billion solar energy project, its energy minister said on Wednesday. The 500-megawatt plant will be in the southern town of Ouarzazate, the site where Morocco's ruler, King Mohammed, announced the launch of the nationwide solar project last year.
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ESolar Inc. of Pasadena signed an agreement Friday to build a series of solar thermal power plants in China with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts, in one of the largest renewable energy deals of its kind.
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Funding for a nine-nation project to link power-generation projects in a high-tech North Sea power grid was announced on Tuesday, sketching the future of European attempts to harness renewable energy. The idea is to link wind farms off Denmark, for example, with solar parks in Germany and tidal power stations in Belgium to create a regional grid of clean power, and it's been hailed on Wednesday morning by German papers as a major step in the fight against global warming.
The plan is similar to the Desertec solar project announced in Europe last year, which aims to bring solar energy from North Africa to European Union customers through a power grid under the Mediterranean Sea -- using nothing but existing technology.
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German solar thermal developer Solar Millennium has appointed Utz Claassen, the former head of German utility EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg, as its new CEO.
As CEO, he officially starts in his new position next month, Claassen will oversee the company’s U.S. expansion. Earlier this year, the company announced that it had hired Deutsche Bank and Citigroup to help it raise as much as €4 billion ($6 billion) to finance construction of thermal power projects in the U.S. Southwest. In Spain, Solar Millennium has developed Europe’s first parabolic trough power plants. It is also participating in the massive $572 billion DESERTEC project, which seeks to build a network of large utility-scale solar generation power plants in the Sahara.
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The World Bank has recently announced that it will contribute 5,5 billion Dollars (3,7 billion Euros) to the funding of the building of 11 concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) plants in 5 Arab countries: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan and Egypt. These units will be able to produce 1 GW of electricity, which according to the World Bank, should lead to a three fold increase of the world’s CSP production capacity.
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A.T. Kearney, the global management consulting firm expects that solar thermal power will become cost competitive in the near future as rising costs for oil and gas make renewable energy sources increasingly attractive. A.T. Kearney believes that when looking at energy generation cost and job creation opportunities MENA countries should invest in a solar power energy industry.
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With its vast stores of oil and gas, the MENA region is the last place one might expect renewable energy to be in vogue. Yet interest in wind, solar and hydroelectric power has grown tremendously here in the past few years, driven by, of all things, energy shortages.
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Will exploit DESERTEC in neo-colonial style the North African sunlight, water and land resources for European interests? Or, does it offers primarily new development opportunities for the Sahara region itself?
Thomas Prinzler talking with supporters and critics of the DESERTEC consortium.
(Source: www.inforadio.de)
Mr Gore, whose campaigning on climate change won him a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, said GCC nations "have the wealth in their legacy from oil and gas, and the ability to follow a vision to take advantage of the whole world energy market in the future".
"Europe has set a mandate and is going to be interested in buying renewable energy," he said. "Even if electricity prices stay low, the market to sell renewable energy to Europe should be a very powerful incentive." "North Africa and the Middle East has as good a solar energy resource of any region in the world and simultaneously there is this tremendous need for portable water and desalination that is highly energy expensive." "It is extremely important in this part of the world. There is going to be an enormous global industry that is bigger than any other industry out there now, in solar, wind-enhanced, geothermal energy."
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Siemens announced today the aquisition of Israel-based Solel Solar Systems for $418m, to strengthen its position in the solar thermal power market. Siemens is one of the companies involved in the Desertec programme, a long-term plan for renewable energy power plants in North Africa (solar plus wind) provide energy for the region and, eventually, for Europe.
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On the evening of 10th September was awarded in Berlin for the second time the Clean Tech Media Award. It distinguished innovative projects and outstanding achievements in the field of "green energy technology. As part of a gala event, more than 500 prominent guests from politics, economy, science and culture, celebrated this year's winners.
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"Maximum political support in Germany and Europe," promised the Bavarian Minister, Horst Seehofer, the desert power project DESERTEC. "This bold and visionary project for the future has the full support of Bavaria." He assured to the leaders of the Industrial DESERTEC Initiative (DII) and the DESERTEC Foundation, which he invited to a top-level meeting in Munich. Horst Seehofer was accompanied by Head of State Chancellery, Siegfried Schneider, Finance Minister George Fahrenschon and Environment Minister Dr. Markus Söder.
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German Federal Environment Ministry wants to empower DESERTEC:
In addition, the German Federal Environment Ministry promotes research and development of solar thermal power plants, and paves the way for projects such as the Desert Power Project from the Desertec industry initiative.
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Already twenty years ago a study of the Westberliner Akademie der Wissenschaften saw opportunities and risks of the "DESERTEC" Concept.
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Morocco welcomes a European plan to draw solar power from the Sahara and wants a leading role in the project, which is worth up to 400 billion euros ($564 billion), the head of its renewable energy agency said.
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Today, the industrial solar age has begun. The initiative "Desertec" is up to bring electricity from the Sahara to Germany. Electricity from the desert? This generates questions. For example, whether or not solar power is too expensive, and if we make ourselves dependent on the Arab despots. WELT ONLINE has the answers.
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Middel East Online:
Prince El Hassan calls for 'long term' environmentally sustainable international energy policy.
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Financial Times explains the DESERTEC Concept and the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII).
(Source: www.ft.com)
Interview in German TV Show "ZDF Morgenmagazin" with Max Schön discussing recent developments.
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Power companies want to build massive plants in the Sahara, and to export solar energy to Europe - but lobbyists say that the desert is terror threatened. Nonsense says North Africa expert Wolfram Lacher: in a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, he talks about the true risks of the billion dollar project.
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Green Inc. Blog at New York Times:
Germany has become a global leader in solar energy by building up a substantial industry at home. Can the country now repeat the feat in North Africa?
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The Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on DESERTEC:
Solar power from the Black Continent: An industrial consortium wants to build solar power stations in Africa - for 400 billion euros. It is one of the largest private green energy initiatives ever.
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Jack Steinberger, who received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1988, campaigned for a massive expansion of solar thermal plants. However, the power plants would have to be operated, where the sun shines reliably, for example in deserts. The German organization DESERTEC suggests, for example, building solar thermal plants in North Africa and the Sahara and to export the electricity to Europe. This would require an intercontinental grid of power lines, technologically ahead from the current high voltage cables. In its memorandum, the Nobel laureate explicitly calls for the establishment of such networks.
(Source: Sueddeutsche Zeitung)
Greenpeace International recently issued its report "Global Concentrating Solar Power Outlook 2009" which shows that the DESERTEC Concept "Clean Power from Deserts" is feasable worldwide.
"We now are delighted to say "CSP has taken off", is about to step out of the shadow of other renewable technologies and can establish itself as the third biggest player in the sustainable power generation industry. CSP does not compete against other renewable energies; it is an additional one that is now economically viable.", said Sven Teske, Renewable Energy Director from Greenpeace International and co-author of the report.
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Here we are in May, with Obama’s first 100 days behind him and Congress assiduously debating his clean energy plan. The President's plan includes three major components: global warming policy (cap and trade), a national requirement for utilities to produce a certain percentage of their power from renewables (Renewable Portfolio Standard), and much-needed improvements to our antiquated transmission system.
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Nokia may be best known for its phones but it’s also getting a well-deserved reputation for backing some of the most innovative ‘Green issues’ around. The latest comes in the form of the ‘The SolarCycle Diaries’ – a gruelling around-the-world bicycle expedition that aims to highlight the potential of solar power in the fight against climate change Join us after the solar-powered jump for the full facts…
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For Ralf Christmann, Federal Ministry of Environment it is clear: "The Mediterranean region has enormous potential for renewable energy." Christmann is one of the experts currently working on the substantive matter of the new "Union for the Mediterranean ".
(Source: www.zenithonline.de)
The Bundestag's leading candidate brings it to the point: "Green ideas could create, in the next years, at least one million jobs. We are making great strides to expand the use of renewable energies in Europe." During the European elections Jürgen Trittin, former federal environment minister, speaks on Thursday 28 May at the Café Uferlos.
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The Ad Hoc Committee of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly for Energy and Environment came together today under the leadership of its chairman, Stefan Schennach in Parliament to a meeting with the theme "solar and renewable energy". The Euro-Mediterranean Assembly follows the "Barcelona Process" for the cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean countries, and also provides a forum for dialogue between the Arab partners of the EU and Israel.
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The U.S. energy supplier Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG &E; San Francisco, California) reported on 13.05.2009 that the company had concluded contracts with the manufacturer, Bright Source Energy, Inc.,for the construction of solar thermal power plants with a total capacity of 1, 3 gigawatts (1,310 MW).
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While Congress continues to debate renewable energy portfolios and infrastructure development, individual states and companies continue to move forward.
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The sustainable energy body, also, known as the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co, is due to award the main construction contracts for its Shams 1 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant this month, Masdar senior project manager Olaf Goebel told Reuters.
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Do we, people, have an energy problem? Not really. Our earth receives more energy from outer space than we can consume. Our sun sends us a free and environmentally friendly energie, all around the clock.
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South Africa's National Energy Regulator (NERSA) announced March 31, 2009 the introduction of a system of feed-in tariffs designed to produce 10 TWh of electricity per year by 2013. The feed-in tariffs announced were substantially higher than those in NERSA's original proposal.
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Ideas are taking shape in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EUMENA) for a truly comprehensive, continent-wide energy landscape of the future. And some of the strategies coming out of planning bodies "over there" deserve serious attention on the North American continent.
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360 times 360 kilometers would be sufficient: solar power plants in the Sahara could solve the energy problems in Europe and at the same time, fight poverty in North Africa.
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How do we ensure sustainable and reliable energy supplies for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa? Solar and other renewable energies in the Mediterranean could play a major role here, according to extensive studies by the German Aerospace Centre. Minister of State Gloser pledged German support for the Mediterranean Solar Plan.
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Solar Power Plants in the Sahara could solve Europe's energy problem and fight poverty in North Africa.
(Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung / Christopher Schrader)
The German TV Magazine "ZDF Mittagsmagazin" reported about perspectives of power generation from CSP plants in North African deserts. Dr. Gerhard Knies gives some comments.
Open TV report
See 26 min Video about the DESERTEC Concept produced by "Deutsche Welle" including interviews with members of our TREC-Network. If you would like to download the videos (120 MB each) directly, please make a "right-click" on "file" and "save as" in a folder of your choice.
The global energy system is undergoing a structural crisis. At its heart lies the need to restrain climatic change while at the same time dealing with energy security in an era of rapidly growing demand. The widening gap between rising demand for energy and limited resources of oil and gas has, together with speculation, increased fuel prices to record levels.
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Nevada Energy, Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal cooperate in the development of projects
Thermal power plant with 250 megawatts power, thermal storage, and investments exceeding 1 billion U.S. dollars, as well as Cooperation in other projects in Nevada and the start of the construction of the first power plant end of 2010.
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Concentrating solar power is a well-known approach to lowering the cost of solar electricity. You focus sunlight from a large area onto a small one, the same way a magnifying glass can set a piece of newspaper on fire, using one small, high-quality solar cell and a concentrator for a lower total cost than hundreds of slightly cheaper cells.
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Known as Ultra-High Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC), it could end the 'tyranny of distance' in electricity transmission. The positive global implications are hard to overstate.
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At the University of Hamburg, today begins the annual meeting of the German Physical Society (DPG), round 1,500 experts from home and abroad are expected from 2nd to 6th March 2009. Quantum and atomic physics are focal points of this diversified program. On the agenda are also energy and climate research, arms control and the job market for female physicists.
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Last week the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) threw its weight behind the opposition to the proposed rehabilitation of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. It rejected the opening of the nuclear plant as “the most dangerous and expensive way to generate electricity.” It said multiple risks and the possibility of corruption (again!) outweigh imagined benefits.
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The concentrating solar power sector is set for tremendous growth. Primary forces that are establishing concentrating solar thermal power as an attractive renewable energy resource include 70% growth of total energy demand by 2025.
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Cogentrix Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of the The Goldman Sachs Group, has completed its acquisition of Sunray Energy, Inc., the owner and operator of two solar power plants in the Mojave desert built in the early 1980s.
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