page_title: Medgrid
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Medgrid / History / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: DESERTEC EU-MENA Map: Sketch of possible infrastructure for a sustainable supply of power to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EU-MENA) proposed by TREC) For illustration: The red squares represent the total surfaces needed for solar collectors of Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plants to provide the present electricity demands - for the world (18.000 TWh/a, 300x300 km) - for Europe (EU 3.200 TWh/a, 125x125 km) - and for Germany or MENA (Middle East and North Africa, about 600 TWh/a, 55x55 km). - The square labeled "TRANS-CSP Mix EUMENA 2050" indicates the surface needed for solar collectors to realize DESERTEC in EU-MENA (according to the TRANS-CSP scenario by DLR). This way the needs for seawater desalination and about two-thirds of the rising electricity consumption in the MENA region could be provided and about 17 percent of the European electricity consumption in 2050 (2,940 TWh/a, 120x120 km² in total). In reality numerous CSP-Plants will be spread in the deserts of EU-MENA and around the globe. Deutsch: DESERTEC EU-MENA Karte: Skizze einer möglichen Infrastruktur für eine nachhaltige Stromversorgung in Europa, dem Nahen Osten und Nord-Afrika (EU-MENA). Zur Veranschaulichung: Die durch die roten Quadrate markierten Flächen für Solarkollektoren würden genügen, um in solarthermischen Kraftwerken (CSP) den Strombedarf - der Welt (18.000 TWh/a, 300x300 km), - Europas (EU, 3.200 TWh/a, 125x125 km) - und von Deutschland bzw. MENA (Middle East and North Africa, ca. 600 TWh/a, 55x55 km) zu erzeugen. - Das Quadrat "TRANS-CSP Mix EUMENA 2050" zeigt die insgesamt benötigte Fläche für Solarkollektoren, um DESERTEC in EU-MENA zu realisieren (entsprechend dem TRANS-CSP Szenario des DLR). Auf diese Weise könnte genügend Energie erzeugt werden, um den Bedarf an Meerwasserentsalzung und zwei Drittel des bis 2050 stark wachsenden Strombedarfs der MENA-Region zu decken sowie etwa 17 Prozent des europäischen Strombedarfs (zusammen 2,940 TWh/a, 120x120 km). In der Realität werden viele CSP-Kraftwerke über die Wüsten der MENA-Region und der Welt verteilt sein. Die gestrichelten Linien stellen eine zweite Ausbaustufe dar.
context_page_description: Medgrid project, created at the end of 2010 in Paris, is a large industrial project planned in North Africa, which aims to promote and develop a Euro-Mediterranean electricity network that would provide North Africa & Europe with inexpensive renewable electricity, mostly from solar. The goal is to install 20 gigawatts of generating capacity, with 5 GW being devoted for exports to Europe.
  The Medgrid project was envisioned by a consortium of twenty plus utilities, grid operators, equipment makers, financing institutions and investors, mostly European.
  On 24 Nov 2011, a MoU was signed between Medgrid and Desertec Industry Initiative to study, design and promote an interconnected electrical grid with the 400 billion euro renewable energy 'Desertec' project in North Africa. The medgrid together with Desertec would serve as the backbone of the 'European Supergrid' and the benefits of investing in HVDC technology are being assessed to reach the final goal – the 'SuperSmart Grid'.
context_section_description: As per the statement made by Dr Gerhard Knies, German physicist and founder of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) network of researchers - "The world’s deserts collect more energy from the sun in six hours than mankind consumes in an entire year.” It illustrates the idea behind the ambitious project - Medgrid which will exploit solar energy from desert areas.
  The Sahara desert was chosen as an ideal location for solar farms as they enjoy strong direct sunlight for much of the year (3,000 to 4,000 hours of sunlight per year). In addition, the deserts are sparsely populated, making it possible to set up large solar farms. Lastly, sand deserts can provide silicon, a raw material that is essential in the production of solar panels.
caption: Schematic plan of the European Supergrid
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