Europe and Africa are trying to work together in building a future that is based on the power of the might Apollo, whose radiant brilliance flourishes in all its unabated splendor in the Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa. While the vast continent endowed in huge waste lands which constantly scorch under the heat of the sun are considered backward, they might just provide the world with another great resource of nature. But unlike in the past, this resource does not come from the valleys of Nile or the thick dense African forests, but they come from the Sun.
A string of giant solar stations are being planned across the very hot African terrain to convert all that untapped solar energy in to electricity. The project involves building of fields of reflectors with giant mirrors. These mirrors would align themselves appropriately through out the day to provide maximum radiation. The radiation would heat up the water obtained from the ocean. The steam would run turbines to produce electricity.
The current plan for this project is to let European nations work with Africa & the electricity would be sent to Europe through a cable under the ocean. The energy produced from such a venture could account to 1/6th of Europe’s current energy needs. That is a huge chunk of energy from conventional sources being replaced by green energy. This would also signify a cut down in Carbon emissions.
Last week Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan presented details of the scheme – named Desertec – to the European Parliament. On that occasion he told that ‘Countries with deserts, countries with high energy demand, and countries with technology competence must co-operate’. The project would involve many African nations and European power houses. The project when finished fully would cost a whooping £200bn and would take nearly 30 years to fully realize.
The project aims at improving even the African economy as the initial capital inflow would be from the European countries. The project aims at harnessing huge chunks of solar power those Deserts posses, which man is currently grossly under-using. The project would use a long line of mirrors on the coast of Africa to realize the dream of making it a success. The project also produces drinking water to Africa from sea water. That surely is one advantage that is unmatched. Hope it goes ahead and makes the world cleaner & better.
Via: Guardian
