Desertec - Desert Energy Project

Desertec in difficulties [1]
Solar Millennium, a member of Desertec industrial, is near to complete a 150 megawatt solar energy Kuraymat project in Egypt. However, Algeria quitted the Desertec consortium and German government declines to support the project through subsidies, such as feed-in tariffs. Desertec looks now for investors from the Middle East. In early 2010 the US First Solar company joined Desertec, in partnership with Munich Re, Deutsche Bank, RWE, E.ON, HSH Nordbank and Siemens from Germany, the Swiss ABB, Italy’s Enel, Spain’s Red Electrica and the French group Saint-Gobain.

Desertec plans to build a 1 GigaWatt solar plant in Morocco as a feasibility test, which will have 10 times the capacity of the Shams-1 solar plant being built by Abu Dhabi at Masdar with an estimated cost of US$ 600 million. Meanwhile prices of photovoltaic power plants are down to US$ 330 Million/ 100 mW.  Shams-1  will produce 100 megawatts, covering one square mile of the desert in Madinat Zayed, about 75 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi.

Concentrating solar power, using parabolic mirrors to produce steam to drive turbines are not scalable. They are vulnerable to storms, abrasion of sand, needs complicates power plants to transform heat to steam and finally to electricity. A start using photovoltaic arrays is being recommended, together with electrolysers to produce hydrogen.

[1] Desertec solar hopes cloud over as support starts to waver. The National. 02 September 2010.
http://thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100901/BUSINESS/709019929/1005

01.09.2010: Algeria quits the Desertec Industrial project [1]
Algeria quits the European Desertec Industrial project which is mainly driven by Deutsche Bank. The country will not participate in a network of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Algerian state-owned company Sonelgaz will proceed with the development of 10 mWsolar energy in 2013 scaling up to 50 mW in one year, planed for its own use.

[1] Algeria to light its own solar energy path. The National 28.08.2010.
http://blogs.thenational.ae/the_grid/2010/08/algeria-to-light-its-own-solar-energy-path.html

Desertec [1]
The DESERTEC Concept was developed by the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) and a worldwide network of scientist, politicians, and entrepreneurs associated with the Club of Rome. The concept wants to tackle the problem of climate change using studies carried out by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.

The Desetec Foundation
DESERTEC Foundation started with the idea to supplying Europe with energy from deserts. According to the organization it has now widened its concept for supplying the whole world with clean energy and for fighting climate change. Desertec stresses that the importance to work with national governments and political bodies like the EU and similar bodies all over the world, to create the right framework of laws and regulations, and incentives for the project.

The DESERTEC Industrial Initiative [DII] [2]
The founding meeting of the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII) will be held on July 13, 2009 by invitation of Münchener Rück to the foundation of the "Dii GmbH". It will gather enterprises to meet the chalanges of a 400 billion EUR.

The DII GmbH:
Shareholders of the Dii GmbH are ABB, ABENGOA Solar, Cevital, DESERTEC Foundation, Deutsche Bank, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, MAN Solar Millennium, Munich Re, M+W Zander, RWE, SCHOTT Solar and SIEMENS. Now, several further companies, from several different countries, have joined the Dii.

The Red Papper [3]
The start of DESERTEC concept was built by volunteers. To cope with increasing demands the DESERTEC Foundation was founded. The DESERTEC Foundation is a charitable body that has been created by members of the "TREC" Network and welcomes financial support and other forms of support from commercial organisations.

The White Book [4]
The White Book described the technology of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation TREC. [3]
DESERTEC calls now on the new US-Administration, India, China, and Australia to prioritize the use of solar thermal energy as a solution to the climate and energy crisis.
Download of the White Book
http://www.desertec.org/fileadmin/downloads/DESERTEC-WhiteBook_en_small.pdf

Feasible solution for the start of a global carbon free energy economy
DESERTEC is focused exclusively on concentrating solar collectors, steam turbins and heat storage devices. These are real bulk technical sofisticated systems which are not scalable. The planing and consruction time is enormous. The durability under desert conditions is limited by abrasion of the mirrors due to sandstorms. The system is invariably bounded to a perfect function of a sun tracking systems which includes moving parts imbedded in an hostile environment. Heat storage tanks with molten salt at 400°C are sorces of leaks and interferences from outside.
The 400 Billion Euro project planed by the DESERTEC INDUSTRIAL INITIATIVE ( DII) will discourage small enterprises and developing countries which will be unable to invest even fractions of the initial money needed before any outcome is achieved.

DESERT ENERGY PROJECT provides an alternative to the problems of DESERTEC. Starting with photovoltaic arrays electricity is generated immediately with the first panel installed. The system grows continuously adding more arrays. This maintains initial investments low and suits any company or country with low budgets. The system is best designed for desert environments. It does not rely on moving parts or steam turbines. It can start immediately and grow to global dimensions following the global grid of Fuller. Later on, devices like concentrating solar collectors using the Integrated Solar Combined Cycle, Wind generators may be added to the grid.     pdf Download

Surplus energy is planned to be use to hydrolyse water for the production of hydrogen for transportation. Direct current generated by photovoltaic can be easily transported to the urban centres where it is being needed where hydrogen can be generated on site at fuel stations using electricity from the grid. The technology of cars with combustion engines switching between hydrogen and petrol to overcome initial low infrastructure of hydrogen fuel stations or even the E-cell technology is already well established. [5]     pdf Download


[1] DESERTEC Foundation
http://www.desertec.org/en/foundation/

[2] DESERTEC concept taken up: industry engages in unique project for clean power from deserts. DESERTEC Press Release. Berlin, June 16, 2009
http://www.desertec.org/fileadmin/downloads/press/press-release_090616_en.pdf

[3] DESERTEC Foundation: RED PAPER, an Overview of the DESERTEC Concept.
http://www.desertec.org/fileadmin/downloads/DESERTEC_RedPaper_2nd_en.pdf

[4] Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation TREC: Clean Power from Deserts. The DESERTEC Concept for Energy, Water and Climate Security. White Book.
http://www.desertec.org/downloads/articles/trec_white_paper.pdf

[5] Sebastian Verhelst: A Study of the Combustion in Hydrogen-Fuelled Internal Combustion Engines. 2004-2005 University of Gent.
https://biblio.ugent.be/input?func=downloadFile&fileOId=490048

What's News in Clean Energy: DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII) is borne. 13.07.2009 [1]
The Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII) Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Munich on the 13. of July 2009 by ABB, ABENGOA Solar, Cevital, Deutsche Bank, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, MAN Solar Millennium, Munich Re, M+W Zander, RWE, SCHOTT Solar, SIEMENS.

The Desertec Industrial Initiative aims to analyse and develop the technical, economic, political, social and ecological framework for carbon-free power generation in the deserts of North Africa, aiming to produce 15 % of Europe’s electricity requirements in 2050.

Timetable targets
Planing entity: The intention is to establish a planning entity, which includes viable investment plans until 2012.
Completion: Desertec aims to produce 15 % of Europe’s electricity requirements in 2050.

Organisation
The DII planning entity is to be established as a GmbH (limited liability company) under German law by 31 October 2009.

Desertec ignites political disagreement between Germany and France [2]
Morocco spends 7 billion EUR each year importing fuel for its energy needs. Desertec is therefore highly welcome. This, however, is not being supported by the French government which wants to sell several AREVA nuclear power plants to Morocco. Desertec, mainly supported by Germany, will upset French plans of a big nuclear deal initiated by President Sarcozi. A rivalry between German energy corporations holding Desertec and the French AREVA will be fought in the desert of Morocco.
Abdullah Alaoui from the Moroccan Energy Association supports the nuclear plans, and Abderrahim El Hafidi , in charge of renewable Energies in the Moroccan energy ministry favours the Desertec solution.

Hermann Scheer says that Desertec is unrealistic and predicts its failure. Sheer is the head of Eurosolar and co-founder of IRENA which is backed by Qatar. [3]

The Global Energy Initiative, an alternative to Desertec
The Global Energy Initiative uses the photovoltaic solution providing a rapid start. It delivers energy right from the first installed module and it does not require complicated steam turbines. In addition to electricity hydrogen as fuel for transportation may be produced. The Global Energy Initiative covers all the global needs of future generations.    [4]    pdf Downolad


What's News in Clean Energy: DESERTEC is the start of a global energy revolution 16.06.2009 [5]
European technology will harvest solar energy from the African deserts. The 400 billion EUR project will inaugurate the change of the global energy economy. The energy giant EWE, Siemens, Deutsche Bank and reinsurance company Rück are involved. The largest green-energy project in the world will provide around 15 percent of Europe's energy needs. However German firms say they cannot do it alone. They seek the funding of various European governments.

Solar electricity from Desertec may be used for the production of hydrogen as fuel for transportation. This will reduce the European energy dependence on oil, gas and coal. European corporations may become leading in the global energy business providing electricity and the fuel for cars. Read more


[1] DESERTEC Org: 12 companies plan establishment of a Desertec Industrial Initiative. Press release 13 July 2009.
http://www.desertec.org/en/press/press-releases/090713-01-assembly-desertec-industrial-initiative/

[2] Startschuss fuer Wüstenstrom-Projekt "Desertec". Kampf der Lobbys in Marokko. Vorspiel einer deutsch-franzoesischen Auseinandersetzung?
http://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/desertec100.html

[3] Eurosolar: European power from the desert is a Fata Morgana. 13.07.2009.
http://www.eurosolar.de/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=356&Itemid=98

[4] Desert Energy Project: Global Energy Initiative
http://www.desertenergyproject.net/Global_initiative.pdf

[5] Energy from North Africa. Massive European Solar Project Set for Launch. Spiegel Online. 16.06.2009.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,630699,00.html

02.07.2009: New study predicts the best outcomes for Desertec 
German energy corporations will start on the 13.July a consortium weighing 400 Billion EUR. Solar energy, using mainly solar concentrators.
A study payed by Green Peace, the Club of Rome and the Desertec Foundation was performed by the Wuppertaler Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. The study predicts enormous revenues out of Desertec. A brilliant future is being expected for the project. [1]

Some critics raise concerns about great corporation like the Munich Re, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, and German electricity companies RWE and E.on leading the field of this new economy. [2]

Desertec paving the way for smaller private enterprises
Concerns about energy monopole position of Desertec shareholders are unfounded. Desertec will built the electric grid which will link Africa and the Middle Easr to Europe. Small private enterprises, isolated activities such as Kuwait will profit from the infrastructure provided by Desertec. These companies may start with photovoltaic, which needs only very small capital and and start to produce revenues right from the first panel. The system builds up on a modular way and hydrogen as clean fuel for transportation may be produced. Hydrogen supplements the activities of decarbonising the global energy economy. [3]

In Australia Tim Flannery proposes to use geotermia exploring the massive reserves of heat energy in the earth’s crust, such as the hot rocks spot near Lake Eyre, in four kilometres depth.

Wilson Tuckey envisages to explore the tidal energy resources of the northwest coast of Western Australia. Wind turbines and solar energy plants, united by a super grid may provide sufficient energy for Australia and Asia. Solar energy from the desert Thar can provide energy for India and the Gobi desert can supply clean energy for China.

A supergrid linking all continents was proposed by Fuller. Details are explained in a global energy initiative. The carbon free electricity may be used to electrolyse water for the production on hydrogen as clean fuel for transportation.     pdf Download


[1] Ökonomische Chancen für die deutsche Industrie resultierend auf einer weltweiten Verbreitung von CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) Technologien. Wuppertaler Institut. 24.06.2009
http://www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx_wiprojekt/Chancen_Verbreitung_CSP.pdf

[2]Spiegel Online: Greenpeace-Studie: Solarstrom könnte Hunderttausende Jobs schaffen. 02.07.2009.
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,633810,00.html

[3] The Global Energy Initiative.
http://www.desertenergyproject.net/Global_Initiatibe.pdf