Electricity from ­the Desert

The dream of exploiting the high level of solar radiation in the desert regions ­of the earth as “solar electricity generators” is at least 100 years old. In 2009 twelve industrial enterprises and the non-profit “Desertec” Foundation founded the Munich-based Dii GmbH with the aim of developing this electricity generation concept with partners from science, private investors and industry so that in the next few decades the generation of electricity from renewable sources (sun, wind) is significantly extended in the regions of North Africa and the Middle East (MENA). Besides providing electricity for regional needs, the desert concept envisages exporting some of the energy to the consumer centres of industrialised countries. 

In June 2012 Dii GmbH presented a study entitled “Desert Power 2050” drawn up in collaboration with the Fraunhofer ISI Institute and other partners. The main thrust of the study concerns the objective of providing affordable electricity in the Europe-MENA region in the light of the political goals of reducing CO₂ emissions and expanding renewable energies. Also the choice of the most effi­cient electricity generating locations and technologies as well as the effect of an overriding network and electricity transmission infrastructure are addressed in the study. An essential finding of the study is that a European electricity grid linked up to producer countries in the MENA region will lead to a reduction of electricity system costs (generation, networks). At the same time such an electricity grid will open up new areas of economic and ecological cooperation between Europe and the countries on the southern edge of the Mediterranean.