Clean energy is available in abundance

Helene Faure, intern at UNIC in Washington D.C.

A plan to install solar panels in the Sahara Desert could cover much of the energy needs of the planet.

It sounds too good to be true. A solar power plant in the Sahara desert could provide clean energy for all of Europe and, conceivably, for the world.

Munich Re, a German reinsurance group, brought together finance and energy companies on July 13th to study the possibility. The industrial initiative is based on the Desertec Project, working to stabilise the world’s climate.

According to this foundation’s research, solar thermal power plants will be capable of generating more than half the electricity needs of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa within 40 years. While the Sahara desert could in theory provide enough energy for the whole world, it is more likely that other deserts will in turn be equipped with such technology, to avoid the costs of long-distance power transmission.

The implications are enormous. Two in particular come to mind. Firstly, we would become less dependent on fossil fuels. The solar technology would be installed in different countries, with at least 20 power lines to transfer the energy. This means that these solar facilities would not be concentrated in one particular country or area, thus reducing their vulnerability to political changes in particular countries or, in the extreme case, terrorist attacks. The other implication is, of course, environmental. The Desertec Project tackles two global challenges – shortage of energy and excessive emissions of CO2.

“Within six hours deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year,” says Dr. Gerard Knies, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Desertec Foundation. Even if it will take years before the project can be fully implemented, the idea is powerful; a possible solution could be at hand. Thus it has the advantage of motivating individuals and businesses, and creating new forms of cooperation.

To me, what Desertec brings to the table is a refreshing, convincing and seemingly flawless solution, qualities that are necessary to garner political, industrial and popular support. This support is what can bring the project to the fore and help it gather enough momentum to become reality, sooner rather than later.

The Desertec concept, in other words, can channel the desires of people who, at every level, are concerned about climate change, and turn them into a viable solution. ■

Photo: UN Photo/Christopher Herwig