Saharan Thermal Solar Power for Europe: Scientist

The rapid progression of environmental technologies, together with cheaper costs, means that drawing solar energy from North Africa to fill the dominant part of Europe’s electricity needs is now a viable option, a scientist, speaking at the International Scientific Congress on Climate Change, which is being held in Copenhagen, has said.

Through utilising thermal solar power from the Sahara Desert – a location where the sun is present in abundance and that covers an area roughly equivalent to that of Ireland - the European aim of having renewable energy represent a fifth of all energies by 2020 could well be achievable, he said.

"It could supply Europe [with] all the energy it needs”, Austrian-based Applied Systems Analysis representative, Anthony Patt, commented, adding: "The sun is very strong there and it's very reliable."

Investing in Solar Energy

Addressing other scientists in attendance at the Danish conference, Dr Patt said that governments would need to invest £50 billion over the coming decade to make the project appealing to those that would be interested in investing in solar energy.

The process in the Sahara Desert would involve mirrors, which would be used to direct solar rays onto water and, thus, evaporate it to create steam.

From a financial perspective, the cost associated with this technique is on the descent and, Dr Patt added, the cost linked to long-distance electricity transportation is now about 75 per cent lower.

The expansive Sahara Desert totals about three-and-a-half million square miles in area. Only a small percentage of this, said Dr Patt, would be required in order to light up Europe.

Saharan sun has twice the strength of that that shines on Spain, and cloud cover is only a very occasional occurrence there. Give this kind of record, thermal solar power – as described above – would be ideal.

Renewable Energy Storage

The electricity produced by the process of thermal solar power can be put into storage for several hours, prior to being used for electrical purposes. This is different to wind power, which, generally, requires immediate use due to the costs associated with this kind of renewable energy storage.

While preparations are underway for tests of the technique to take place in Dubai, Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, they may also be carried out in countries like Tunisia and Libya.

If the plans do come to fruition, Europe would be less reliant on the Middle East and Russia for its fuel needs.

Dr Patt’s speech mentioned that those involved in the Saharan thermal solar power venture were looking to approach relevant governmental figures towards the end of 2009.