CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Desertec #5 (How?)

 Desertec

How?

The Desertec concept applies all kinds of renewable sources, though solar power has a special role because of its tremendous intensity. “Within six hours, deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year.” If we take a 300x300 km2 piece of desert land, equipped with solar collectors, it would generate 18.000 TWh per year and thus enough energy to provide the world demands of electric energy of the year 2005. For the EU-MENA region less than half of it, a total surface of 120x120 km2 would be needed.

The basic idea is producing solar and wind power and transmitting it via high-voltage direct current (HVDC) to the areas in question. In order to store the energy collected at day, molten salt heat storage tanks can be used, which is an ideal complement to the fluctuating energy. With this method, the energy could also be used during the night. In order to heat the power plants, water is needed, which can be acquired by sea water desalination (which produces the molten salt).

There are various possible sources of renewable energy:

• Concentrated solar power (CSP)

CSP plants

Mirrors or lenses capture a large amount of sunlight and concentrate it onto a small area. Solar radiation intensity is then concentrated by several 100 times and very high temperature (more than 1000 °C) is generated. After the concentrated light is converted to heat, it drives a heat engine (e.g. a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator, thus electrical power is produced.

An attractive advantage of this technology is that hybridization is possible, meaning that solar fields can be combined with fossil fuel hybrid plants, so the energy supply is continuous.

Parabolic trough-based CSP plant

DESALINATION

The cooling of these plants is a technical challenge, so proper water supply is needed. The sea water is used for this purpose, and by evaporation fresh water is generated from it at the same time. The salt as a byproduct can be further used. Molten salt is a possible tool for thermal energy storage to keep the collected thermal energy. Besides, it can also be used to generate electricity in bad weather or at night.

Apart from this, desalination plants require high temperature fluids and electricity, both of which are easily available in the frames of the Desertec concept. The deployment of these eco-friendly desalination systems is a perfect way to secure fresh water supply.

• Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics (PV) generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors. Solar panels are composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material and this type of solar panel also uses silicon, which can be found in the desert.

• Wind energy

Certain parts of the MENA-region have a high wind potential, so the installation of wind farms complements that of solar panels. Wind turbines produce electricity by wind turning the blades, which connects to a generator, which produces electricity.

• High-voltage direct current (HVDC)

High Voltage DC (HVDC) technology is an economical method of power transmission over very long distances. For the Desertec concept it is an extremelyadvantageous method, as for long-distance transmission HVDC suffers lower electrical losses than alternating current (AC) transmission (the electric losses are only about 4-5% per 1,000 km of line).

Further posts on topic: Introduction, What? When?, Where?, Why?, Who?

CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Desertec #4 (Why?)

Desertec

Why?

"To provide climate protection, energy security and development by generating sustainable power from the sites where renewable sources of energy are at their most abundant."

The excessive use of fossil fuels has brought about climate change, which threatens all species on Earth: animals, plants and humans. People are in danger of “overshooting the carrying capacity of planet Earth”. As a result of the ever growing economic needs, a new form of energy is needed. Renewable energy could be the obvious answer. It could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe and provide energy and fresh water in the MENA region. Also, by exporting excess power from the MENA region to Europe, an export industry could be created, and Europe could save around €30/MWh.

Why solar, why deserts?

Solar radiation on deserts provides the largest accessible but least tapped form of energy on Earth. The energy coming from the Sun is 10,000 times more than it would be needed for the human civilization. Solar energy comes in the form of light at day, while due to the heat radiation it returns to outer space and provides energy throughout the day and night.

The aim of Desertec is to reclaim renewable energy without disturbing the natural environment. Deserts have the best solar radiation conditions and the collectors installed there have the least probable impact onto the biosphere. This concept is a great opportunity to form a community for energy, water and climate security and to recreate the lost balance between humankind and its environment. Research and pilot projects have to be started now, otherwise climate change will hit developing countries soon.

Why else Desertec?

The DESERTEC Concept covers a wider spectrum than just providing renewable energy resources. Among other things its goals are:

• Supporting knowledge transfer & scientific co-operation by creating a DESERTEC University Network, introducing study programs related to renewable energies in the EU-MENA region, creating the DESERTEC Knowledge Platform, which is a free, knowledge-sharing collaboration, as well as developing wind and other renewable energies in Morocco.

• Evaluating and initiating projects that could serve as models. The first of these projects is TuNur, a 2 Gigawatt solar-thermal power plant (CSP) project in Tunisia.

• Informing about DESERTEC, which happens through the press, its website, newsletter and social media, films on DESERTEC and the renewable energy revolution, Flyers, articles and books like the DESERTEC Atlas, international presentations, political work with ministries, the Arab League, the European Union and active participation at international conferences for climate protection.

Further posts on topic: Introduction, What? When?, Where?, Who?, How?

CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Desertec #3 (Who?)

Desertec

Who?

The project is supported by the DESERTEC Foundation, which is a non-profit, non-governmental (NGO) organisation. It is both the initiator and inventor of the concept.

DESERTEC Foundation was created by the consortium called Dii (Desertec industrial initiative), which was founded in 2009. It is a German, limited liability company (GmbH). Its aim is to create the technical, economic, political, social and ecological conditions to realize the Desertec concept in the EU-MENA region.

The Dii was developed by the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC), an international network of politicians, scientists and economists. It is a voluntary organisation made up of experts from all across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EU-MENA).

Dr Gerhard Knies, the main initiator of Desertec

The main initiator of the entire concept is a German particle physicist, the founder of TREC: Dr. Gerhard Knies. In 1986, seeing Chernobyl, he started looking for a potential alternative source of clean energy.

A TedTalk with Dr. Gerhard Knies:

The DESERTEC Foundation has 2 directors and a CEO:

Dr Thiemo Gropp,
director of the DESERTEC Foundation,
German physicist and co-founder of the DESERTEC Foundation

Dr Ignacio Campino,
director of the DESERTEC Foundation,
Chilean ecologist

Paul van Son,
CEO of Dii GmbH,
senior international energy manager

Further posts on topic: Introduction, What? When?, Where?, Why?, How?

CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Desertec #2 (Where?)

Desertec

Where?

 “where renewable sources of energy are at their most abundant”

 The Desertec Concept aims to connect the European power network with the Middle East and North Africa, which are together called the EU-MENA region. Solar-thermal power plants (CSP) and wind turbines generators are going to be installed in the deserts of Northern Africa and the Middle East.

Sahara desert

The Sahara Desert is an ideal place for solar farms, as it is exposed to sunlight 3-4000 hours per year. The intensity of sunshine is great and because of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is very high and maximum solar energy can be gained. 

The Sahara, which is also close to Europe, covers huge parts of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia. However, the desert is sparsely populated. As a result, huge solar farms have no serious effect on inhabitants. Furthermore, sand deserts provide silicon necessary for building solar panels. The development has a strong job creation potential, which would also be a good opportunity for stabilizing the region.

The project has already started in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in 2012.
“At present Dii is preparing 2.5GW of reference projects in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, including plans for 500MW in Morocco. Half of this project has already been specified with 150 MW of solar thermal energy and 100 MW PV and wind energy planned for 2014. Algeria and Tunisia will contribute 1GW each.”

Further deserts and sunny areas are to be added (such as the Atacama in Chile), though the plans are not crystallised yet.

Further posts on topic: Introduction, What? When?, Who?, Why?, How?

CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Desertec #1 (What? When?)

Desertec

What is Desertec?

Desertec is an initiative that aims to exploit the largest available source of renewable energy on earth.

The aim of the project is creating a global renewable energy plan by using sustainable power from sites where renewable sources are abundant. The basic plan is to use the intensive solar radiation in the deserts - mainly the Sahara - for producing clean energy, which can provide the EU-MENA region (Europe, Middle East, North Africa) with energy by transferring it through high-voltage direct current transmission to consumption centers. By reducing fossil fuels, carbon emission could be reduced significantly, which would mean a solution against global warming. As a byproduct, by seawater desalination fresh water could be produced, which could be a possible solution for water shortage in the MENA area.

All in all, the Desertec Concept demonstrates a way to provide climate protection, energy security and generating sustainable power.

When?

The most important dates:

• The Desertec Foundation was founded in 2009.

• Between 2004 and 2007 the German Aerospace Center (DLR) conducted several scientific studies, which support the project. 

• The Dii (Desertec industrial initiative) published a study in 2012:
  By the year 2050 - in the framework of Desert Power 2050 - MENA would meet its needs for power with renewable energy.

• In 2013 Desertec and Dii have broken up.
  The earlier close relationship between the founding companies ceased as a result of irresolvable disputes.

• The Desertec Foundation is ultimately planning similar initiatives in America (with the Atacama Desert as a focus) and Asia.

Further posts on topic: Introduction, Where?, Who?, Why?, How?

CAJ: Advanced infrastructure megaprojects - Introduction

Advanced infrastructure megaprojects

In the following months I would like to devote myself to this research project where my aim is to provide an in-depth description on advanced infrastructure megaprojects which are currently under development.

First of all, what are megaprojects?

• "a very large, expensive, or ambitious business project" (Collins Dictionary)
• "Projects that cost more than US$1 billion and attract a lot of public attention because of substantial impacts on communities, environment, and budgets."
• Megaprojects can be: "bridges, tunnels, highways, railways, airports, seaports, power plants, dams, wastewater projects, Special Economic Zones, oil and natural gas extraction projects, public buildings, information technology systems, aerospace projects, and weapons systems" (Wikipedia)

As the list above shows, megaprojects can be very diverse, so the scope of my research is going to be infrastructure related projects.

Masdar City under construction

The subtopics which I am planning to investigate:

(links to be added!)

• Masdar City 
• What? Where?
• When?
• Who? Why?
• How?
• Desertec
• What? When?
• Where?
• Who?
• Why?
• How?
• Crossrail
• space solar energy

They are all amazingly interesting topics, though I am afraid that this semester will not be long enough to discuss all of them in detail, but let's see!