What’s Happening Right Now?
As far as meeting the ever growing energy need of the world is concerned, two distinct trends are clearly visible. First, there is a growing realization among policy makers, researchers and the general public that existing resources of energy are depleting faster than ever and that a permanent solution has not yet been found. Second, ideas for harnessing alternative sources of energy like water, wind, and sun are being implemented, even though on a small scale. As a part of the second trend, plans for harnessing solar energy in the vast spread deserts like the Sahara have been made in recent times, as you will see below.
Trends
1. Energy Generating Desert Towers Harvest the Sun and Wind
Named as the Layers of Dubai, the energy generating desert towers can harness energy from multiple renewable sources like the sun, wind and piezoelectric materials. The 140 meters tall desert towers are one of a kind of power plant that features both wind turbines and a solar chimney. Also, the electric carbon shafts can generate energy from piezoelectric movement. This unique architectural piece has been designed by Karim Mahmoud Elnabawy Balbaa.
2. Sahara to Witness the Green Change with the World’s Largest Solar Project
This €400bn project has been promoted by Desertec Foundation along with 20 other German companies. It would be scattered through most of the northern Africa and take about 10-15 years for completion. According to the estimates, this world’s largest solar power project in the world’s largest desert region, the Sahara, could produce about 100 GW of solar power. The power would be transported to Europe through high-voltage DC lines via the Mediterranean sea.
3. $70 Billion Solar Installation in the Sahara Could Power all of Europe
The $70 billion proposal prepared by Dr. Anthony Patt of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria, could meet the energy demands of entire European region, if implemented successfully. According to Dr. Patt, the installation of photo voltaic modules, or PV modules, on a small fraction of the Sahara could serve the entire Europe.
He plans to use mirrors for concentrating the solar light on to a thin pipe containing either water or salt. The steam or molten salt produced in the process could then be used for running electricity generators.
4. Solar Energy Field Renewable Energy Producing Structure for Deserts
Designed by Michael Jantzen, the Solar Energy Field can produce up to 10,000 W of power on a sunny day and can also provide shade to travelers in the desert. It has been made up of prefabricated panels that are supported by steel frames and covered with colored concrete. The sun facing panels are covered with high temperature performance photovoltaic film.
Concept
Huge amount of solar energy can be tapped by installing photovoltaic modules on a large area of deserts. In fact, researchers have estimated that 9 million square kilometer spread of the Sahara desert could produce 750 terawatts of solar power. A report by Greenpeace has also said that about 25% of total world energy needs could be obtained in the deserts by 2050.
Advantages
The deserts provide multiple favorable conditions for establishing large scale solar power plants. Such as:
- Making lands available for mega scale solar power plants would never be a problem as most of the deserts of the world are barren.
- Deserts are generally dry with hot and sunny climate throughout the year.
- Establishing mega power plants would also provide job opportunities for the local population in large numbers.
- Solar power plants would produce ‘green’ energy and help fight the climate change and global warming in a way that none other sources can.
Impact
Most of the plans of harnessing solar energy in deserts have not yet been successfully implemented anywhere in the world, as you have read above. However, the idea of putting barren deserts to some meaningful use is no less exciting. But, any such endeavor cannot be okayed without considering some other hidden impacts such as the large scale intrusion of people and transmission wires might have on the desert’s ecology or on the local population. They might even face stiff competition.
