The Desertec project continues to move forward, with the signing of a new memorandum of understanding between the Moroccan government and the Desertec Foundation. This new agreement strengthens the current plans to build a massive series of solar power plants in the northern part of Morocco which will supply power to Europe.

The agreement, signed by the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ADEREE), confirms that they will collaborate with the German-based foundation, sharing technical expertise and working to develop a policy framework for the groundbreaking project.

The new agreement is expected to help accelerate the development of the project. Once completed, the giant collection of solar power installations would provide clean energy both to their domestic markets and also to Europe via “high voltage direct current transmission lines.”


 
This will further reinforce “Morocco’s position as one of the leading renewable energy markets in Africa, building on the government’s commitment to generate over 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.”

The country have already started construction on one of the major components of the proposed Desertec network, the gigantic 500MW Ouarzazate concentrated solar power plant.

“Morocco is a not just a visionary in the region but also a successful pioneer in the global transition to renewables, where ADEREE plays a key role,” said director of the Desertec Foundation, Dr Thiemo Gropp, in a statement. “We are very happy to support their work in this context.”

This new agreement is a much needed boost to the project; the engineering giant Siemens recently confirmed that it was going to leave the group, as it had decided to sell its solar business. And there have been other reports suggesting that the Algerian government was postponing its final decision on its plans for the new Sonelgaz Desertec Renewable Energy Program until 2013 year.

Source: Business Green
Image Credits: Desertec via Wikimedia Commons

Nathan (354 Posts)

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts; for all is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 3:19