Desertec: what are the implications for Africa?

Desertec: what are the implications for Africa?

The Desertec plan is a highly ambitious, large-scale project designed to harness renewable energy such as solar and wind power to generate large amounts of electricity. It will do this by establishing solar as well as wind plants in the Sahara desert in countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Much of the energy generated will be sent to Europe to meet European energy needs. To generate the amount of electricity that Desertec is planning will require the setting up of huge solar energy plants, and the construction of expensive high-voltage direct current cables to transmit the electricity across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. It is envisaged that the first electricity from Africa will be sent to Europe in 2015. Ultimately, the plan is for the project to provide 15% of Europe’s energy needs by 2050.

• PSIRU report