TradeInvest Africa (Cape Town)
16 March 2009
Solar farms in the Sahara could provide the whole of Europe's energy needs, according to scientists at the European Commission's Institute for Energy.
In what could be a 50 billion pounds multiple government investment over the next ten years, these solar farms could produce electricity either through photovoltaic cells or by turning water to steam by focusing the sun's rays with mirrors.
The investment would also make the Sahara attractive for private investors in coming years.
With a solar farm the size of Ireland, Europe could receive 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The Institute's scientists envision that 100GW could be generated by 2050, which is more than the combined electricity output from all sources in the UK.
Trials of concentrated solar power for sources of European electricity will be planned for Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Dubai, with alternatives in Libya and Tunisia.
Solar farms in North Africa would make fossils fuels less relevant, as well as make Europe less dependent on Russia and the Middle East for energy.
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