Is the Sahara a potential battery for Europe?

The Sahara has long been viewed as a potential battery for Europe, using CSP. In 2013, the €400bn Desertec project collapsed after the two advocates, Desertec Foundation and the Desertec Industrial Initiative, fell out, each accusing the other of poor communication. TuNur believes that now is the time for solar in the Sahara to finally take off.

Could solar power the Great Saharan desert?

The Great Saharan Desert is more than 3.6 million square miles of dry, hot land, 1.2% of which could power the whole world, theoretically, if it were to be covered in solar PV. But the Sahara’s solar potential is yet to be realised, with only the Noor project in Morocco currently operating in the area.

Could Sahara solar power 2 million European homes?

Heat will be stored in molten salts that run through these towers, heating steam to turn turbines but also, as the salt can hold heat for hours, power can be generated long after the sun stops shining. If given the go-ahead, Sahara solar could provide power to two million European homes.

Why is the Sahara's solar potential not realised?

But the Sahara’s solar potential is yet to be realised, with only the Noor project in Morocco currently operating in the area. There are a number of reasons for this, including political instability in the MENA region putting off potential investors.

How much does Sahara solar cost?

The first stage of Sahara solar will see a 250MW CSP tower constructed, along with a dedicated transmission line through the Mediterranean Sea to Malta. This phase is estimated to cost €85m, and a further €1.6bn for the cable link. As such, the cost of power is expected to be 8.73 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh).

Could solar power be the Holy Grail of renewable power?

For years solar power projects in the Sahara have been talked about, hailed as a potential Holy Grail of renewable power. The Great Saharan Desert is more than 3.6 million square miles of dry, hot land, 1.2% of which could power the whole world, theoretically, if it were to be covered in solar PV.