Understanding more about DESERTEC

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March Greeting from Dr Campino, Director of the DESERTEC Foundation

Dr Ignacio Campino

Desertec Foundation Director

A few days ago in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, DESERTEC Power has been founded, a company that will use DESERTEC’s ideas to support the Saudi government ambitious plan to base its future energy supply on renewables. Throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the population is growing rapidly. In 2050, there will be a similar number of people living in this region as in Europe. They will need food, water, electricity and jobs. The whole world must urgently focus on sustainable solutions but especially those regions that are still experiencing strong population growth. For this reason the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken a very far-sighted and wise decision. A program for renewable energy, drinking water and jobs. Thereby the DESERTEC Foundation has reached a major milestone in its development.

It is the largest program for the introduction of renewables anywhere in the world. By 2032, 54 GW of renewable energy will be installed - equivalent to the output of about 40 nuclear power plants. That this power will come from the desert, we regard as particularly important - even ground-breaking. So far, the deserts of the world have played a minor role as a source of energy in the climate debate. That should change with the decision of the Saudis. The newly formed company DESERTEC Power will play a central role. It will plan as well as build and operate power plants. The DESERTEC Foundation will support this process by offering advisory support and, above all, by actively bringing people from different sectors together. It is particularly important for me to emphasize that this renewable energy is destined to meet domestic demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In order to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy, the DESERTEC idea advocates both the use of electricity in the country and the export of desert power, so as to supply other regions with electricity from renewable sources.

With the inclusion of education and industrialization in this program, Saudi Arabia has a steep learning curve ahead of it. Their experiences can serve as a model for many other countries that want to meet their growing energy needs with environmentally-friendly technologies and develop their societies in a short time.

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Ignacio Campino

Director

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¿Que es DESERTEC ?

Tunez está listo para unirse a Desertec, dijo la Ministro de medio ambiente en Berlín