Sahara’s solar revolution: Can desert sun power Europe’s future?

However, as with many grand visions, the devil is in the details. The primary challenge lies not in capturing this abundant solar energy but in transporting it from the remote Sahara to Europe’s power-hungry cities and industries.

The transmission challenge

Currently, only two interconnections link North Africa to Europe, both between Morocco and Spain, with a combined capacity of 1,400 megawatts. A third connection, slated for completion before 2030, will boost this to 2,100 MW. However, hundreds more such interconnections would be needed to realize Europe’s dream of Saharan solar power.

These are not simple cables but highly complex and expensive infrastructure projects. Longer interconnections would be even more costly, potentially linking Tunisia to Sicily, Algeria to Sardinia, and Libya to Crete before continuing to mainland Europe.

Significant upgrades to internal European interconnections would also be necessary to facilitate power transfer across the continent.

Despite these hurdles, the potential rewards have spurred ambitious plans. The most notable was Desertec, a German-led initiative that envisioned a half-trillion-dollar investment to create a vast network of solar and wind farms across North Africa and the Middle East connected to Europe via high-voltage transmission lines.

The Desertec plan allocated $55 billion to increase Mediterranean transmission capabilities, utilizing high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) for shorter distances and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) for longer spans.

The critical distance at which HVDC becomes more cost-effective than HVAC is typically around 500 to 800 kilometers. For instance, the 28-kilometer gap between Morocco and Spain does not justify HVDC, but the longer distance between Tunisia and Italy would.

The evolving landscape of solar tech

Transmission losses for HVDC are about three percent per 1,000 kilometers. Given that the distance from Tunisia to Germany’s capital is only 1,800 kilometers, transmitting power over this distance with adequate investment is feasible.

Desertec initially focused on concentrated solar power (CSP) technology for energy generation.

Unlike the more familiar photovoltaic (PV) panels, CSP uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, generating heat to drive steam turbines. This approach allows for energy storage, potentially providing more consistent power output.

Morocco’s Noor Complex, the world’s largest CSP plant, showcases this technology’s potential.

Spread across three sections—Noor I, II, and III—it combines different CSP technologies to generate 510 MW of power. Noor I and II use parabolic troughs with synthetic oil as the heat transfer fluid, reaching temperatures as high as 400 degrees Celsius. Noor III employs a tower system, focusing sunlight on a central tower to directly heat molten salt, allowing for higher temperatures and more efficient steam turbines.

However, CSP has faced significant challenges.

For instance, the Crescent Dunes plant in Nevada ceased operations in 2019 due to maintenance issues and high costs before reopening in 2023 under new ownership. Moreover, the rapid price drops in PV technology have changed the equation. PV is now often more cost-effective, even without built-in storage capabilities.

This shift is reflected in the latest addition to the Noor Complex, Noor IV, which is a PV farm contributing 73 MW. PV panels’ cost-effectiveness and versatility make them increasingly attractive, especially in politically and economically volatile regions.

Ethical concerns

The Desertec vision has faced other challenges beyond technological considerations.

Critics have pointed out the problematic historical echoes of European countries extracting resources from Africa primarily for their benefit. Concerns are that large-scale foreign investment in North African solar projects could exacerbate local issues like water scarcity and economic inequality.

Recognizing these risks, countries like Germany have shifted focus to domestic PV generation, which accounted for 10 percent of its power generation in 2020.

This shift also underscores the importance of considering local benefits in large-scale energy projects.

For North Africa to truly benefit from its solar potential, a grassroots approach rather than one driven primarily by external interests is needed.

With its proximity to Spain, relatively stable government, and abundant solar and wind resources, Morocco is well-positioned to lead by example. By focusing on meeting its energy needs first and exporting only surplus power, Morocco could transition from being a net energy importer to an exporter, bringing significant economic benefits.

As the dream of Saharan solar power for Europe evolves, new technologies and approaches emerge. Smart grids and advanced algorithms are improving the management and efficiency of electricity transmission. Investments in grid interconnections continue, such as the third link between Morocco and Spain, jointly funded by both countries.

The potential for cross-border energy trading in Africa is also gaining attention. As the continent develops its renewable resources, we could see a transformation of the entire regional energy landscape.