Reviving Old Plans with New PV
The European Union’s energy policy is undergoing a profound reexamination. This has led to EU policy shift to ramp up clean energy. It is significant because of its global implications, with the EU’s population of about 447 million and an economic output similar to the US. There is a notable mega-project proposal (Desertec), which has been hampered by technical and cost issues for many years. PI Energy’s technology has the potential to provide an enabling solution.
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident led a German physicist, Dr. Gerhard Knies, to propose a daring solution to provide renewable energy for Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The plan was to deploy large-scale solar installations in deserts across North Africa and the Middle East, providing renewable energy for Europe, while creating jobs, revenue, and modern infrastructure throughout.
Now may be the time to dust off Dr. Knies’ trans-continental clean power plan, that evolved into “Desertec”, a name used by both a non-profit foundation and an industrial consortium. The latest plan from the Desertec Foundation advocates for a high-voltage link between Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East; with power generation that could connect solar thermal, wind, solar photovoltaic, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric power plants.
Desertec Foundation’s plan
Until 2022, Desertec was considered by many European energy experts as stalled, chiefly due to high costs, as well as concerns on exploitation of low-income communities and authoritarian regimes.
In an increasingly interconnected world, there are ways to address most of these concerns, and maybe, a first step forward should be with better technology with more competitive costs. Also, starting collaborative installations in countries that are more democratic and near the EU, like Tunisia and Morocco, is likely to yield better results. Reexamining the current choice of Desertec’s leading renewable technology choice is important, as solar thermal plants do require heavy and expensive equipment, lots of maintenance, and consume water that is often scarce in the desert.
When it comes to cost, PI Energy’s technology is designed to deal with desert conditions:
Better high-temperature performance than traditional c-Si PV.
No need for water that is required in solar thermal facilities.
Easy installation.
Low land-use impacts.
Lightweight and shock resistant - good for transport over rough terrain.
With PI Energy’s technology’s advantages, we would like to advance projects like Desertec, to deploy solar energy in broadly and in new ways. Thank you for sharing our goal to advance clean energy, making a better and more secure future.