"How can we manage to provide resources for 10 billion people on our planet in 2050?" Keynote and panel discussion with Dr. Gerhard Knies, Hani Nokraschy and Professor Dr. Hartmut Graßl. Venue: Museum für Völkerkunde, Hamburg, Rothenbaumchaussee. More details:
www.adgn.de
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.
Read article no.1 (Google translation)
Read article no.2 (Google translation)
Written statements
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.
Read article
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.
Read article
Further information
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.
Read article
Further information
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.
Read article
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.
Read article
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.
Read article
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.
Read article
Will DESERTEC in neokolonialer Manier Nordafrikas Sonneneinstrahlung, Wasser- und Flächenressourcen für europäische Interessen ausbeuten? Oder bietet das Projekt in erster Linie neue Entwicklungschancen für die Sahararegion selbst?
Thomas Prinzler im Gespräch mit Befürwortern und Kritikern des DESERTEC-Konsortiums.
Listen to Radio Interview (German only)
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."
Read the whole article
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.
Read the whole article
Am Abend des 10. Septembers wurde in Berlin zum zweiten Mal der Clean Tech Media Award verliehen. Mit ihm werden innovative Projekte und herausragende Leistungen aus dem Bereich der “Grünen Energietechnologie” auszuzeichnen. Im Rahmen einer festlichen Gala-Veranstaltung feierten mehr als 500 prominente Gäste aus Politik, Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Kultur die diesjährigen Preisträger.
Read article (German only)
"Maximale politische Rückendeckung in Deutschland und Europa", versprach der bayerische Ministerpräsident Horst Seehofer dem Wüstenstrom-Projekt DESERTEC. "Dieses mutige und visionäre Zukunftsprojekt hat die volle Unterstützung Bayerns.", versicherte er führenden Repräsentanten der DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII) und der DESERTEC Foundation, die er zu einem Spitzengespräch nach München eingeladen hatte. Horst Seehofer wurde begleitet vom Chef der Staatskanzlei Siegfried Schneider, Finanzminister Georg Fahrenschon und Umweltminister Dr. Markus Söder.
Read the whole article (german only)
German Federal Environment Ministry wants to empower DESERTEC:
Zusätzlich fördert das BMU Forschung und Entwicklung von solarthermischen Kraftwerken und bereitet damit den Weg für Projekte wie das Wüstenstromprojekt der Desertec-Industrieinitiative.
Read article (German only)
Already twenty years ago a study of the Westberliner Akademie der Wissenschaften saw opportunities and risks of the "DESERTEC" Concept.
Read article (German only)
Alibaba.com:
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.
See German Article on Focus Online
Read article
Welt Online:
Heute hat das industrielle Solarzeitalter begonnen. Die Initiative "Desertec" soll Strom aus der Sahara nach Deutschland bringen. Strom aus der Wüste? Da stellen sich Fragen. Zum Beispiel, ob Sonnenstrom nicht zu teuer ist und ob wir uns von arabischen Despoten abhängig machen. WELT ONLINE hat die Antworten.
Read Article (German only)
Middel East Online:
Prince El Hassan calls for 'long term' environmentally sustainable international energy policy.
Read Article
Financial Times explains the DESERTEC Concept and the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII).
Read Article
Interview in German TV Show "ZDF Morgenmagazin" with Max Schön discussing recent developments.
See Video (German only)
Interview in Spiegel Online:
Stromkonzerne wollen massiv Kraftwerke in der Sahara bauen und Solarenergie nach Europa exportieren - doch Lobbyisten behaupten, die Wüste sei terrorgefährdet. Unsinn, sagt Nordafrika-Experte Wolfram Lacher: Im SPIEGEL-ONLINE-Interview spricht er über die wahren Risiken des Milliardenprojekts.
Read the whole Article (German only)
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?
Read the whole Article
Die Süddeutsche Zeitung berichtet über DESERTEC:
Solarstrom vom Schwarzen Kontinent: Ein Firmenkonsortium will in Afrika Sonnenkraftwerke bauen - für 400 Milliarden Euro. Es ist eine der größten privaten Ökostrom-Initiativen aller Zeiten.
Read the whole Article (German only)
Jack Steinberger, 1988 mit dem Nobelpreis für Physik ausgezeichnet, warb für den massiven Ausbau solarthermischer Kraftwerke. Allerdings müssten die Anlagen dort betrieben werden, wo die Sonne zuverlässig scheint, zum Beispiel in Wüsten. Die deutsche Organisation DESERTEC schlägt zum Beispiel vor, solarthermische Anlagen in Nordafrika und der Sahara anzusiedeln und den Strom nach Europa zu exportieren. Das allerdings setzt ein interkontinentales Leitungsnetz mit anderer Technik als bisherige Hochspannungskabel voraus. In ihrem Memorandum fordern die Nobelpreisträger ausdrücklich den Aufbau solcher Netze.
Read the whole Article (German only)
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.
Go to Greenpeace
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.
Read the whole Article
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…
Read the whole Article
Für Ralf Christmann vom Bundesministerium für Umwelt steht fest: „Der Mittelmeerraum bietet für erneuerbare Energien ein enormes Potenzial.“ Christmann ist einer der Experten, die derzeit an der inhaltlichen Substanz der neuen „Mittelmeerunion“ tüfteln.
Read the whole Article (German only)
Der Bundestags-Spitzenkandidat bringt es auf den Punkt: „Grüne Ideen können in den nächsten Jahren mindestens eine Million Arbeitsplätze schaffen. Wir werden mit großen Schritten die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien in Europa ausbauen.“ Anlässlich der Europawahlen spricht Jürgen Trittin, der frühere Bundesumweltminister, am Donnerstag, 28. Mai im Café Uferlos.
Read the whole Article (German only)
Der Ad Hoc Ausschuss der Euro-Mediterranen Parlamentarischen Versammlung für Energie und Umwelt trat heute unter der Leitung seines Vorsitzenden Stefan Schennach im Parlament zu einer Sitzung mit dem Thema "Solar- und erneuerbare Energien" zusammen. Die Euro-Mediterrane Versammlung begleitet den "Barcelona-Prozess" zur Zusammenarbeit zwischen Europa und den mediterranen Ländern parlamentarisch und stellt überdies ein Dialogforum zwischen den arabischen Partnern der EU und Israel dar.
Read the whole Article (German only)
Der US-Energieversorger Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E; San Francisco, Kalifornien) berichtete am 13.05.2009, das Unternehmen habe mit dem Hersteller BrightSource Energy, Inc. eine Reihe von Verträgen über den Bau solarthermischer Kraftwerke mit einer Leistung von insgesamt 1,3 Gigawatt (1.310 MW) geschlossen.
Read the whole Article (German only)
While Congress continues to debate renewable energy portfolios and infrastructure development, individual states and companies continue to move forward.
Read the whole Article
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.
Read the whole Article
Haben wir Menschen ein Energieproblem? Eigentlich nicht. Unsere Erde empfängt aus dem All viel mehr Energie, als wir verbrauchen können. Unsere Sonne schickt sie uns, gratis und umweltfreundlich, rund um die Uhr.
Read the whole Article (German only)
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.
Read the whole Article
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.
Read the whole Article
360 mal 360 Kilometer würden reichen: Solarkraftwerke in der Sahara könnten die Energieprobleme in Europa lösen und gleichzeitig die Armut in Nordafrika bekämpfen.
Read the whole Article (German only)
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.
Read the whole Article
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.
Read the whole Article
Nevada Energy, Solar Millennium und MAN Ferrostaal kooperieren bei der Entwicklung von Projekten
* Solarthermisches Kraftwerk mit 250 Megawatt Leistung, thermischem Speicher und Investitionsvolumen größer als 1 Milliarde US-Dollar * Zusammenarbeit bei weiteren Projekten im Bundesstaat Nevada beabsichtigt * Geplanter Baubeginn für das erste Kraftwerk Ende 2010
Read the whole Article (German only)
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.
Read the whole Comment
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.
Read the whole Article
An der Universität Hamburg beginnt heute die Jahrestagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft (DPG), zu der vom 2. bis 6. März 2009 rund 1.500 Fachleute aus dem In- und Ausland erwartet werden. Quanten- und Atomphysik sind Schwerpunkte des vielseitigen Programms. Auf der Tagesordnung stehen zudem Energie- und Klimaforschung, Rüstungskontrolle sowie der Arbeitsmarkt für Physikerinnen.
Read the whole Article (German only)
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.
Read the whole Article
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.
Read the whole Article
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.
Read the whole Article
