Continue the Desertec debate online with Agrion
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December 10, 2009 - Desertec is the largest private green energy initiative ever. At a cost of some €400bn, major companies including RWE, Siemens, Deutsche Bank and Munich Re plan to build huge solar power plants in Africa to supply both Africa and Europe with electricity. Agrion’s international video-conference on the subject, on December 1, brought together more than 150 politicians, scientists, industrial players and other stakeholders to debate the project.
This week and next, the discussion will continue online, with the experts involved responding to your questions. In this first instalment, the Desertec Foundation co-founder Tobias Morell answers general questions about Desertec. To publish your comments, click on the link below, or alternatively send us your reaction and any further questions, and we will publish them online: editorial@agrion.org
Part I: General Questions
Q: Desertec says that about 15% of Europe's electricity demand could be covered by these big installations and the supergrid. What about the 85% ? Does Desertec consider that it will be produced by decentralised renewables?
Tobias Morell: The Trans-CSP study on which the Desertec concept is based shows the following energy mix for the EU until 2050. The mix in each country may vary depending on the available energy sources.
TRANS-CSP scenario (on which the Desertec concept is based) of gross electricity production and import for the analysed European countries until 2050. The import of electricity other than solar to the region is negligible. Source: DLR, Trans-CSP Study
Q: Some utility companies are planning nuclear and coal power plants (25 coal power plants are currently planned in Germany). How can we be sure that Desertec will restrict itself to solar?
Tobias Morell: The mission of the industrial initiative DII is to accelerate the rollout of the Desertec concept with the target of supplying Europe and MENA with power produced from sun and wind as renewable sources of energy in North Africa and the Middle East and establishing related industries there. It is in the hands of each country’s government, how the particular energy mix will look.
Q: Have negotiations with African governments started? With which governments? What guaranties (especially guaranties concerning the security) are the local governments willing to provide?
Tobias Morell: Various governments have shown strong interest in the Desertec concept. Morocco, for example, has claimed a leading role. But there are no concrete negotiations, yet.
Join us on Monday, December 14 for Part II: Technical Aspects
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