Desertec's Promise of Solar Power for Europe Fades- Spiegel
Three years ago, the Desertec was announced as ameans whereby solar thermal plants in North Africa could supply a significant portion of Europe's energy needs. But now industrial backers are backing out and the political will to continue the project is fading according the German magazine Spiegel.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Desertec-s-Prom...
The project has failed to break ground on a single power plan,Spiegel notes. Spain has refused to sign a declaration of intent to connect high-voltage lines between Morocco and the rest of Europe.two of the biggest German industrial supporters at the founding of the initiative, Siemens and Bosch, backed out. At last week's third annual Desertec conference held in Berlin's Foreign Ministry, not a single German cabinet minister bothered to attend indicating that the political willtosupport the project is waning, the article says.
The reasons for this include the destabalisation brought on by the destabalisation of the political landscape in North Africa andthe reemergence of distrust between certain countries. Energy requirements in the Mena region are growing which throws upnew challenges. Energy policy and security go together and Europe is concerned about plunging into a huge collaborative grid between Europe and North Africa. the economic depression and the lack of available cash in Europe is also an important factor.
Renewable energy projects are more expensive than traditional fossil fuel plants and tend to require government subsidies. Part of the problem is the sheer size of the Desertec project and the costs that would be incurred in establishing the grid between Europe and North Africa. However the need for Europe to import clean energy remains, Spiegel points out.The idea behind Desertec is applauded but this does not guarantee the financial
support.
Plans to sign a deal on three Moroccan solar power plants which are part of a Desertec pilot project at the fell through when Spain did not show up at the signing at the Dii conference in Berlin. Anticipation had built after €600 million worth of Moroccan solar power projects were announced late last month. Without Spain the projectis on hold.A spokesman for the Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii) quoted by Spiegel said that projects and political negotiations were continuing and that the situation was normal.
The reasons for this include the destabalisation brought on by the destabalisation of the political landscape in North Africa andthe reemergence of distrust between certain countries. Energy requirements in the Mena region are growing which throws upnew challenges. Energy policy and security go together and Europe is concerned about plunging into a huge collaborative grid between Europe and North Africa. the economic depression and the lack of available cash in Europe is also an important factor.
Renewable energy projects are more expensive than traditional fossil fuel plants and tend to require government subsidies. Part of the problem is the sheer size of the Desertec project and the costs that would be incurred in establishing the grid between Europe and North Africa. However the need for Europe to import clean energy remains, Spiegel points out.The idea behind Desertec is applauded but this does not guarantee the financial
support.
Plans to sign a deal on three Moroccan solar power plants which are part of a Desertec pilot project at the fell through when Spain did not show up at the signing at the Dii conference in Berlin. Anticipation had built after €600 million worth of Moroccan solar power projects were announced late last month. Without Spain the projectis on hold.A spokesman for the Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii) quoted by Spiegel said that projects and political negotiations were continuing and that the situation was normal.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Desertec-s-Prom...