|
|
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and information from publics.bg
News
World news
23.02.2010 10:15
© herrberg @sxc.hu
The Desertec project, which aims to power Europe with solar energy from the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, is to go truly international next month as five new companies from Spain, Italy, France, Morocco and Tunisia join the scheme, said from www.euractiv.com
The project aims to cover 15% of Europe's electricity needs by 2050 by importing renewable energy, primarily solar power via a high voltage cable. It utilises concentrating solar thermal power (CSP), which collects sunlight via mirrors to produce steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity.
Paul van Son, chief executive of the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII), told journalists last week that many companies had expressed an interest in joining the consortium of 12 companies that was established in July 2009 to devise financing plans for the project.
The joint venture is currently dominated by German companies, including E.ON, RWE and Siemens. The group of 12 companies already has one Algerian member, Cevital, but the arrival of other Northern African companies is expected to win support for the project in the region.
"With the new partners we'll have a broader base. That's important for acceptance. It's important that we have companies involved from MENA countries (Middle East and North Africa)," said Van Son, according to Reuters. He said the €400 billion long-term plan would start delivering within a decade with its first projects.
More information: http://bit.ly/dlETYY
All world news
Interview 
Full text
Events 
