Deserts May Hold the Key to Converting Enough Solar Energy

Filed in archive Solar on October 31, 2006

It is really amazing to realize the potential of every aspect of this planet. What you could think of as useless and desolate could be a powerful resource after all. Such is the case of Deserts in the middle east and North Africa. A recent German study shows that these areas may provide the energy needed by Europe and other nearby regions.

Researchers have found out that the solar energy potential of the area is tremendous. To put things in perspective, the amount of energy available from the sun in these deserts is equal to a ten inch sea of oil covering the entire area.

According to Franz Trieb of the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Center:

"That's a huge energy potential. And against what some say, you wouldn't have to pave the entire desert -- one thousandth of the entire desert area in the region would be enough."

He further estimates that as much as 15 percent of Europe's electricity needs could be supplied by a series of strategically placed solar thermal power plants by 2050.

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