The DESERTEC Concept: Clean Power from Deserts Energy Security and Climate Protection for a World with

10 Billion People

DESERTEC Foundation www.DESERTEC.org

Challenges for global power supply until 2050:

1. Electricity demand will increase 2.5-fold
World population will grow from 7 to 9-10 billion Poorer countries continue to industrialize

2. Rising CO2 emissions cause global warming

Rapid and drastic decarbonization of the power sector is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change

Can we provide enough power for 10 billion people and still prevent catastrophic climate change?

There is an abundance of clean energy!

Within 6 hours the deserts of the world receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year

There is an abundance of clean energy!

CSP plants on <1% of the deserts could supply the entire planet with electricity

DESERTEC brings clean energy from deserts to consumer regions

90% of the world population live within 3000 km from deserts

The DESERTEC Concept for EU-MENA

(Europe, Middle East, North Africa)

Potentials of renewable energies in EU-MENA

(Studies by the German Aerospace Centre, DLR)
Biomass: 1,350 TWh/y Geothermal: 1,100 TWh/y Electricity demand of EU-MENA in 2050: 7,500 TWh/y Wind: 1,950 TWh/y

Hydropower: 1,350 TWh/y Solar - CSP, PV: 630,000 TWh/y

The DESERTEC Concept for EU-MENA

Using the best production sites for each type of renewables Dispatchable solar power from deserts (CSP) can balance other intermittent renewables (PV, Wind) International interconnection via low-loss UHVDC supergrid

Power generation scenarios for EU und MENA

(Source: DLR studies)
Export

6
times

MENA (Middle East, North Africa)

Europe

Solar power from deserts mainly for local demand Europe imports 15% of its power supply from MENA Together, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East achieve a CO2 reduction of more than 80%

65% EU

Cooperation between Europe and MENA is a win-win situation

Climate protection due to CO2 reduction Safe energy supply, independence from oil and gas Socio-economic development for MENA countries: Local development of new, sustainable industries Investments and export opportunities Technology and knowledge transfer

The technologies already exist The politics are challenging

CSP not yet competitive with fossil fuels

Need to create favourable legal and regulatory frameworks to encourage investments in a politically fragmented region
11

Industry initiative Dii GmbH:

Enabling DESERTEC in EU-MENA
Non-profit foundation Companies from industry and financial sector

Joint Venture

Objectives of Dii until 2012: Studies for a technical, economic and political and regulatory framework Preparations for first reference projects Long-term roll-out plan for DESERTEC in EU-MENA

Mission of the DESERTEC Foundation:

Fast global implementation of the DESERTEC Concept

China can become a leader in the global market for DESERTEC technologies
China already is a leader in some of the key technologies: Photovoltaics Wind power Long-distance power transmission (UHVDC)

14

China's deserts could power all of China and some neighbours (eg. Japan, Korea)
The energy potential of chinese deserts is more than enough to cover the future electricity demand of China, Japan and Korea combined Long-distance UHVDC transmission can connect Chinese deserts to the regions of power consumption
Potential CSP sites in China
(Source: Ummel 2010)

15

The implementation of DESERTEC in East Asia is a win-win opportunity for China and the world
Economic benefits for China: Abundance of clean power for fast growing domestic electricity demand Improved energy security and independence from imports of fossil fuels Future export of clean power to Japan and South Korea Access to a fast growing global market for CSP technology (e.g. North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East) Job creation and infrastructure development in Northern and Western Chinese desert provinces Climate protection for the entire world: Fast decarbonization of Chinese power generation Fast cost reduction in CSP technology will accelerate global implementation of DESERTEC
16

Next steps: Feasibility studies and policy recommendations

The non-profit DESERTEC Foundation proposes scientific studies in collaboration with partners in China: Prove technical feasibility of the DESERTEC Concept in East Asia Quantify economic benefits for China and the region Develop policy recommendations that foster the fast development of a CSP industry in China the implementation of the DESERTEC Concept in East Asia

17

More information on www.DESERTEC.org