Thursday, October 9, 2014

Desertec – Built on sand – Frankfurter Rundschau

Desertec – Built on sand – Frankfurter Rundschau

08 October 2014

So it could look like: solar thermal plant in the Mojave Desert in the U.S. state of California. The water vehicle in the foreground is intended to limit the generation of dust. Photo: Imago

Desertec before From: The dream of clean and cheap power from deserts for Europe has burst. The shareholders of the planning initiative Dii draw their consequences. However, the global shift to renewable energies, even without the controversial from the start project is progressing well.

fairy tales that have to do with reality little traditionally start with three words that are appropriate in the event of desert energy initiative Desertec: There was once a vision to meet the energy consumption in the European Union by 2050 a share of over 15 percent by desert power from the Sahara. Have launched this ambitious project, the huge investment was estimated at 400 billion euros for the first, in 2009, German corporations – especially the insurer Munich Re. Next Monday they will bury their plan at a meeting in Rome in all probability. “This can not contradict you,” reads from among the companies involved.

Officially it is in Rome for the financing of the planning company Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii). Which has an annual budget of two million euros – a sum which involved companies such as the German bank or RWE could pay out of petty cash. The Dii-budget plan per company reportedly a sum of 100,000 euros a year ago. Not even that everyone wants to shell out shareholders.

The Dii expresses itself not to their future. You will not prejudge decisions of the meeting in Rome, a spokesman said. Similarly reluctant to comment corporations that are members of Dii. Behind closed doors, however, individuals are then It lies not in the money but lost faith in the more talkative of the participating companies.

, represents a previous supporter of the industry initiative clearly. This is not surprising. Erosion is visible for months. Only be a member corporations such as Siemens, Bosch and Eon have turned away. Then Dii CEO Paul van Son has announced his move to the Dii shareholders RWE in 2015. A successor has not been appointed, because you no longer need such a says an insider with a view to the emerging development. Preceded by dramatic political changes.

were to one of the Arab Spring revolutions, terrorism and civil wars have brought a degree of uncertainty in many envisaged for solar power plants States to which no one much of the wants to build Europe’s energy supply.

On the other hand there are in Europe now often an abundance of green electricity produced on site. Germany nibbling on the energy turnaround. States such as Spain and Italy kriseln and have no money for visions in the Sahara. From these truths the Dii shareholders now want to take the consequences in Rome.

As yet there was optimism: Representatives of the Dii-member companies in 2009 at the launch of the initiative. Photo: rtr

The Dii itself with its 20 employees, hopes, as a consulting company for North African states and to be able to survive those from the Middle East. Advise it already several times to get but without spending any money. That should change now. For a necessary start-up funding, the Dii shareholders may provide for alleged farewell.

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Whether they sure are now willing to at least save face, is but not sure. Green power from deserts but is not a total mirage. In the countries of the MENA region (North Africa, Middle East) 68 such projects are currently completed or under construction, green solar and wind power plants emphasize Dii experts.

2015 would there come to a capacity of about four gigawatts and thus provide as much electricity as four nuclear power plants is growing. The green power is urgently needed on site. Desert Power for desert lands, now is the motto. From the idea to transport it again to Europe, the planners have honestly adopted.

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