Discussion Paper

The DESERTEC initiative: powering the development perspectives of Southern Mediterranean countries?

Erdle, Steffen
Discussion Paper (12/2010)

Bonn: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

ISBN: 978-3-88985-520-6
Price: 6 €

"DESERTEC is the name of a project that aims to secure the energy needs of the countries north and south of the Mediterranean via the large-scale deployment of solar and wind energy plants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and their inter-connection with European energy markets through high-voltage direct-current lines.
This Discussion Paper explores (i) whether such an approach is feasible and desirable for MENA countries, (ii) what needs to be done to pave the way for its implementation, make full use of it and find a way around possible pitfalls and (iii) what role development cooperation can play in this context."