Solar in the Sahara

14th Nov 2011

In what is considered to be the most ambitious solar power project in the world, a plant is to be built in Morocco's portion of the Sahara Desert.

Desertec will commence building its first power plant next year – a 500 megawatt facility spread over 12 square kilometres.

The total sum of the project is expected to be more than €2 billion (AU$2.67 billion as at November 14).

The first phase of the Moroccan complex will be a 150 megawatt facility – costing up to €600 million and taking between two and four years to build.

The project will see solar rays gathered from fields of mirrors in the desert powering turbines to electrify a new carbon-free network linking Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

"Depending on the technology, electricity production can start in 2014, or no later than 2016," Munich Re project lead Ernst Rauch said.

Reinsurance company Munich Re were one of the initiators of the project, which has been dubbed the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII).

DII is also supported by the Desertec Foundation – a global network of governments, scientists and economists that plan to discover how to effectively harness solar power in deserts.

Details on the exact location, technology and financing of the project are due to be released in the coming months, however shareholders already include German financial group Deutsche Bank, technology provider Siemens and electricity company Red Electrica.

According to research conducted for the initiative, deserts receive more solar energy in six hours than the world's population consumes in a year.

They believe that "energy is available in abundance and we have the technology to use it," and electricity can be supplied around the clock thanks to heat storage tanks and concentrated solar-thermal power plants.

DII's goal is to analyse how to develop clean energy in the North Africa deserts which can then be used to supply up to 15 per cent of Europe's power demand by 2050.

The foundation recognises that 90 percent of the world’s population lives within 3,000 km of deserts, meaning the technology used in Morocco would be viable for other countries where the centres of demand are within the reach of suitable deserts – including Australia, India and East Asia.

According to the Clean Energy Council, despite having 21 solar power plants in operation – with another 4 under construction – there are currently no truly large-scale stations in Australia.

Posted by Mike Peacock – Solar Correspondent 

All solar power news categories

Government Rebate & Regulations
Solar Power & Technology


More Solar Power & Technology

Australia to be a part of huge Asian renewable energy growth
SunPower steps up to make solar more affordable
Canberra makes strides toward carbon neutrality
GTM puts solar's massive growth in perspective
Examining Australia's falling solar PV rooftop prices
Australia's shift toward renewable energy picks up the pace
Australia shines at solar decathlon
University of Queensland tapped as lead researcher on massive solar project
100 per cent renewable energy is possible in 10 years, environmental group says
Climate Commission releases report on solar progress
Aussie government actually shows spine for solar power
Be gone, skeptics: One million solar installations and counting
Australia embarks on its greatest solar journey ever
Australia looks to solar thermal for commercial success
Solar power helps King Island reach 100% sustainability
Australians 'heavy supporters of solar power'
Mildura solar plant officially unveiled
Solar power trumps other renewables in Australian minds
Sunshine Coast solar farm "fantastic initiative"
Sunshine Coast cashes in on namesake with solar plans
Energy storage 'could maximise solar power utility'
Solar powered family car - a world first?
Code of conduct for solar installers in the works
'Stop punishing households' for solar PV
Australian solar companies 'adjusting well'
Australian mining 'next solar frontier'
"Rooftop revolution" underway across Australia
Global PV market emerging from sluggish period
Royalla solar farm receives final approval
Leadership challenge a "debacle" for Australian solar power
Solar power giving global renewables a helping hand
Australia's largest CPV solar power plant up and running
Renewable energy misinformation "staggering"
CEC: Don't underestimate consumer desire for solar
Setting energy efficient examples on TV
Solar PV brightening up household bills
World's largest solar powered boat on the move
Climate change is heating up
The global solar power shift
New solar tech win for NSW
Industry orgs praise City of Sydney solar efforts
Clean Energy Council supports Regional Renewables scheme
Asian nations emerging as PV leaders
Solar PV demand continues to grow
Regional areas of Australia to receive more renewables
Australia's significant renewable energy growth
Solar panel reprieve for Queensland
New funding for solar research
Find love with sustainable speed dating
New Victorian solar power deal
 To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: