Desertec Industrial Initiative signs deal with Algeria on renewables

Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii) has signed a deal with Algerian energy supplier Sonelgaz to develop renewable energy supplies in the region.

Algeria has set a national strategyto produce 22 GW of renewable energy by 2030, 10 GW of which could be exported to Europe.

The North African country is one of the best placed to exploit desert-based solar energy because of the hours of sunlight it receives and also has a growing domestic electricity demand.

“The development of renewable energies is of strategic importance to Algeria,” comments Sonelgaz chair Noureddine Boutarfa. “With electricity from renewable sources accounting for 40% of the domestic energy mix by 2030, Algeria will be making its own contribution towards the new era of sustainable energy.”

The agreement, which was signed in the presence of EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Algerian Minister for Energy and Mining Youcef Yousfi, will promote industrial cooperation in Algeria and the exchange of technical expertise and market development.

“Algeria offers perfect sites to continue the implementation of the Desertec vision,” says Dii CEO Paul van Son. “Sonelgaz and Dii will join forces to establish renewable energy from the Algerian deserts for sustainable energy supply both for Algeria and Europe.”

Ultimately, the Desertec project aims to supply 15% of Europe’s electricity needs from renewable sources in North Africa and the Middle East by 2050.

Meanwhile, Torresol Energy – the joint venture between Spain’s Sener and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, has announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) in Spain, the US and Middle East.

Over the next three years, the company aims to build some 6000 MW of CSP capacity, including one such plant in Abu Dhabi. Torresol connected two 50 MW CSP plants in Spain to the grid earlier this month.

“Despite the ongoing economic troubles facing much of the world, we believe we can achieve our goals as foreign banks are becoming more interested in financing solar power projects,” says Torresol’s president Enrique Sendagorta.

And bearing out that claim, private European investment funds Switzerland’s Terra Nex and Germany’s Middle East Best Select (MEBS) have announced their intention to invest around $2 billion in a series of solar plants in Oman.

The plans include a 400 MW solar farm and solar equipment manufacturing facilities.

For further information:
www.dii-eumena.com/home.html
www.desertec.org
www.torresolenergy.com

24 January 2012

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