- A PDF or MS Word version of this press release, with pictures, can be
downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/press.htm#press_release_1.
TRANS-MEDITERRANEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY COOPERATION (TREC)
Press Release
NEW REPORT SHOWS HOW EUROPE CAN MAKE DEEP CUTS IN CO2 EMISSIONS AND
PHASE OUT NUCLEAR POWER AT THE SAME TIME
Energy mix to include solar power from deserts
A new report, commissioned by the German Government (The German Federal
Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety (BMU)) shows in detail how Europe (including the UK and Ireland)
can meet all its needs for electricity, cut emissions of CO2 from
electricity generation by 70% by the year 2050, and phase out nuclear
power at the same time.
The key to this revolution in electricity supply is the
replacement of old polluting power plants that rely on dwindling
supplies of fuel with a larger range of non-polluting sources of
energy that will be good for thousands of years.
In the scenario described in the new 'TRANS-CSP' report, the need for
imported sources of energy will be reduced and this, coupled with the
increased range of sources of energy, will help to ensure the resilience
and security of energy supplies.
But an important part of the proposals in this report and the earlier
'MED-CSP' report is the development of a collaboration between countries
of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EUMENA) to take
advantage of the truly monumental quantities of energy that fall as
sunlight on the world's hot deserts.
"Every year, each square kilometre of desert receives solar energy
equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of oil. Multiplying by the area of
deserts world-wide, this is nearly a thousand times the entire current
energy consumption of the world." said Dr Franz Trieb, Project Manager
for the two reports.
"We can tap in to this energy by using mirrors to concentrate sunlight
and create heat. The heat may be used to raise steam and drive a
generator in the conventional way. This kind of 'concentrating solar
power' (CSP) — which is very different from the better-known
photovoltaic 'solar panels' — has been producing electricity successfully
in California for nearly twenty years.
"The cost of collecting solar thermal energy equivalent to one barrel
of oil is about US$50 right now (already less than the current world
price of oil) and is likely to come down to around US$20 in future.
"Contrary to what is commonly supposed, it is entirely feasible and
cost-effective to transmit solar electricity over long distances. With
modern high-voltage DC transmission lines (HVDC), only about 3% of the
power is lost for each 1000 km. In round figures, this means that solar
electricity could be imported from North Africa to London with only
about 10% loss of power. This compares extremely favourably with
the 50% to 70% of losses that have been accepted for many years in
conventional coal-fired power stations.
"We have calculated that solar electricity imported to Europe would
be amongst the cheapest sources of electricity, and that includes the
cost of transmitting it. Supplies would be much less vulnerable to
interruption than are current imports of gas, oil and uranium."
Collaboration amongst countries of EUMENA would create substantial
benefits. For all the countries it would mean a plentiful supply of
inexpensive pollution-free electricity and the creation of jobs and
earnings in a large new industry.
For countries in North Africa and the Middle East it can also mean the
creation of fresh water by the desalination of sea water using the
waste heat from CSP. This can have a major impact in alleviating
shortages of fresh water in those regions, a problem that is likely
to be made worse by climate change, as highlighted recently by Sir
David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government.
In addition, the areas under the solar mirrors of CSP plants are
relatively cool and protected from the harshness of direct tropical
sunlight—which means they can be useful for many purposes including
horticulture using desalinated sea water.
TRANS-MEDITERRANEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY COOPERATION (TREC)
NOTES FOR EDITORS
A PDF or MS Word version of this press release, with pictures, can be
downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/press.htm#press_release_1.
The website of TREC is at www.trecers.net.
Copies of the TRANS-CSP and MED-CSP reports may be downloaded
from www.dlr.de/tt/trans-csp and www.dlr.de/tt/med-csp.
Further information, with links to other sources, is at
www.trec-uk.org.uk.
CONTACT
This press release has been issued on behalf of TREC by
Dr Gerry Wolff, 18 Penlon, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5LR, UK.
Phone: +44 (0)1248 712962,
Web: www.trec-uk.org.uk.
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