Clean power from Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) deserts can provide the region with sufficient energy for urgently needed seawater desalination. In addition, desert power can supply around two-thirds of the region’s rising energy demand, whilst still leaving enough electricity for export, meeting 15 percent of European consumption. Studies by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) show that this aim is technologically and economically feasible with economic and environmental benefits for all partners.
The DESERTEC Foundation grew out of a network of scientists, politicians and economists from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (short: EU-MENA), who together developed the DESERTEC Concept. Our main activities in this region are:
Industrial initiative Dii GmbH with focus on EU-MENA
In 2009, the non-profit DESERTEC Foundation founded the industrial initiative Dii GmbH together with partners from industry and finance. The Dii GmbH will not build power plants itself. Instead it focuses on four core objectives:
- Development of a long term roll-out plan for the period up to 2050 providing investment and financing guidance
- Carrying out specific in-depth studies
- Development of a framework for feasible investments into renewable energy and interconnected grids in EU-MENA
- Origination of reference projects to prove feasibility
For further information on Dii GmbH, please visit www.dii-eumena.com
DESERTEC University Network
In 2010, the DESERTEC Foundation launched the DESERTEC University Network as a platform for scientific and academic collaboration. It is committed to developing know-how and implementing study programs related to renewable energies. Besides the DESERTEC Foundation, the founding members are 18 universities and research facilities from the MENA region. Further universities from Europe have subsequently joined the network.
WEREEMa
In 2011, we started projects in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The first project is called WEREEMa and is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Under the leadership of the Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, the DESERTEC Foundation and partners from Morocco and Germany are working together to improve the framework conditions for the rapid development of wind and other renewable energies in Morocco. This will be achieved through building capacity in education and research, network studies, wind measurements, pilot projects and economic cooperation.
RE-Generation MENA
The second project, RE-Generation MENA, is funded by the German Foreign Office. The objective is to focus on a greater involvement of students in Egypt and Tunisia in the EU-MENA renewable energy sector. It aims to equip them with the skills to contribute fully to the democratic process by demanding the necessary conditions for the expansion of renewable energies in Egypt and Tunisia.
Further information:
