24.06.2009
Solar Millennium is involved in Desertec Industrial Initiative for the import of solar power
Erlangen, 24. June 2009 Solar Millennium AG is supporting the Desertec Industrial Initiative for the construction of solar-thermal power plants in North Africa. Desertec has the aim to achieve a balanced energy mix in the long term by including solar-thermal technology: by 2050, 15 percent of the European power could come from solar-thermal power plants in North Africa and be transferred to Central Europe via high voltage direct current (HVDC) with hardly any loss. Besides stabilising the power supply in the North African region, solar-thermal power plants could also help solve the drinking water problems by including plants for the desalination of sea water.
"The expansion of solar-thermal power plant capacity in North Africa has commenced. Here, Solar Millennium is involved in the construction of Egypt's first parabolic trough plant" said Christian Beltle, CEO of Solar Millennium AG. "Of course the countries in North Africa have to ensure their own solar power supply first. Then, in about ten year's time, the export to Germany and other European countries can start" Beltle continues. The implementation of the Desertec concept is to take place in close cooperation with the North African countries.
Solar Millennium will be represented at the foundation conference of the Desertec Industrial Initiative in Munich on 13 July. There, the company will contribute its competence in project development, technology and the construction of solar-thermal power plants. The companies and organisations involved are planning to define the framework of the future cooperation and will further discuss the first steps for the implementation of the concept. "For us this is an investment into the future" Beltle emphasised, "Desertec is one of the most exciting visions of our time and we have to start the implementation now. There is no alternative to a shift in the generation of power supply towards regenerative energies."
For further information on the Desertec concept, please refer to the following web sites:
Desertec Initiative: Description of the concept on the import of solar power
German Aerospace Center: Survey on the import of solar power (basis of the Desertec concept)
Greenpeace: Current survey on the market development of solar-thermal power plants
