Desertec
Desertec Foundation: Criteria for implementing large solar projects
18 April 2013POSTED IN Applications News
After several years of development, the Desertec Foundation today releases a set of criteria that ensure the social and environmental responsibility of large solar projects in desert regions. With this step, the foundation offers practical measures to achieve one of the cornerstones of the Desertec Concept: ensuring through that local people benefit from the development of concrete renewable energy projects.
First Solar Becomes Shareholder in Dii Initiative
11 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
First Solar joined Dii as a new shareholder in March 2013. The company was previously a Dii associated partner.
COP 18: Desertec and climate protection
26 November 2012POSTED IN Applications News
The 18th Climate Change Conference (COP 18), designed to facilitate negotiations aimed at curbing global greenhouse gas emissions, begins today in Doha (Qatar).
dii Loses Another Technology Partner
20 November 2012POSTED IN Business News
Bosch will not renew its membership as an associated partner within the Desertec-initiative Dii. According to a spokeswoman of the Bosch division Bosch Rexroth, which holds the Dii membership at Bosch group, by not renewing it the company will step out of the consortium end of this year.
Desertec Project Waits for Spain’s Approval
09 November 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Government representatives from Morocco, France, Italy, Malta and Luxembourg have signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany for a first Desertec cooperation project between EU member states and Morocco. The agreement, however, has been postponed due to the absence of Spain.
EU PVSEC 2012: Solar community meets in the financial centre of Germany
25 September 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
The 27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) opened its doors on Monday in Frankfurt, Germany with a vast conference and show program. 4000 conference delegates from over 100 countries are expected to listen to a choice of 1600 scientific, technical and market-related presentations.
Chilean International Renewable Energy Congress
16 August 2012POSTED IN Business News
The 60-minute Chilean International Renewable Energy Congress (CIREC) webinar took place on 8 August 2012 and saw renewable energy experts discuss current projects and government policy for renewables in Chile. If you missed the webinar, the full recording is now available for download by clicking on this website.
Renewable Energy for North Africa, Through the Lens of Egypt
15 August 2012POSTED IN Guest Blogs
The role of renewable energy in the energy mix for both developed and developing countries is rapidly increasing, driven primarily by mounting energy demand, increase in fossil-fuel prices and the need to respond to climate change concerns. Within this context, the abundance of solar and wind energy resources in the North African countries are likely to offer opportunities to satisfy both local energy demand as well as that of European countries through exports. To this end, the DESERTEC concept, the Mediterranean Solar Plan and the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (Dii), explore venues for cross-Mediterranean energy integration from various perspectives: private sector investment, institutional aspects, and economic development.
Schott Solar Wins CSP Award
17 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
Schott Solar today announced it has won the CSP Technology and Supplier Award for the second year in a row.
The company accepted the award at the annual CSP Today conference in Las Vegas, Nevada (US) at the end of June.
Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG Reorganises
11 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG today submitted an application to the relevant District Court of Ulm for the launching of insolvency protection, and plans to pursue a path to reorganisation.
Leoni is the Latest Member of the Desertec Consortium
05 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
Leoni has today joined the Desertec consortium as an associated partner, becoming part of the industrial initiative Dii and its international business network.
Exclusive Interview: Dii Managing Director, Dr. Aglaia Wieland
22 June 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
In addition to developing the long-term “Desert Power 2050” plan, which was presented on Thursday, Dii together with local partners and stakeholders follows the strategy of setting up reference projects. The initial capacity of 500MW in Morocco – half of these have already been specified with 150MW solar thermal energy and 100MW wind and PV – has been extended to a total volume of 2.5GW and now also includes projects in Algeria and Tunisia with a planned capacity of 1GW per country. Solar Novus Today (SNT) Senior Editor, Andreas Breyer, talked to Dr. Aglaia Wieland, Dii Managing Director about these projects.
Mediterranean Efforts Unite for Renewable Energy
21 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
A joint power network involving North Africa, the Middle East and Europe (EUMENA) offers clear benefits to all involved. This is the key finding of the "Desert Power 2050" study, which was presented by the industrial initiative Dii in Munich on 21 June.
The Asian Super Grid Initiative
12 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
A year after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the DESERTEC Foundation and the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF) will start to co-operate on promoting an Asian Super Grid necessary for the expansion of renewable energy in Asia. Shown here are Dr. Thiemo Gropp, Director of the DESERTEC Foundation and Dr. Tomas Kåberger, JREF Executive Board Chair.
Desertec: Tunisia or Morocco? Foundation or Dii?
13 February 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
The current status of the Desertec program—and where it’s taking place is confusing. The industry consortium Dii has just communicated that the planning phase of the first reference project in Morocco is on schedule and the decision regarding the final location of the plant might even be made in the coming weeks. Then, it has to be decided whether PV or CSP technology is being installed to which extent, until energy production is expected to begin between 2014 and 2016. The reference project in which Dii acts as an enabler wants to demonstrate the export feasibility of solar generated electricity in the deserts to Europe, using existing lines between Spain and Morocco.
Intersolar China Welcomed 4500 Visitors
13 December 2011POSTED IN Business News
Intersolar China, China's international exhibition for the solar industry, drew to a close on Friday, 9 December, 2011. In total, 130 exhibitors from 13 countries attended the inaugural exhibition, which took place at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.
Dii GmbH Takes the Next Step Toward Renewable Power
09 December 2011POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
In the presence of EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Algerian Minister for Energy and Mining Youcef Yousfi, the Algerian energy supplier Sonelgaz and Industrial Initiative Dii have today signed an agreement in Brussels on their future collaboration.
World Bank Helps Fund Solar Plant in Morocco
25 November 2011POSTED IN Business News
The World Bank has approved loans of $297 million for a solar plant in Morocco.
Dii and Medgrid Join Forces to Develop Renewable Energy
25 November 2011POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The industrial initiatives Dii and Medgrid signed an agreement to strengthen their co-operation on the development of industrial-scale renewable energy from the deserts and a suitable transmission infrastructure.
Solar Summit Freiburg: Solar thermal and energy storage
17 November 2011POSTED IN Editors Blogs
The second day at this year’s Solar Summit in Freiburg was dedicated to trends in solar thermal and energy storage. In the session about solar thermal energy for processes and power generation, Prof. Dr. Robert Pitz-Paal from the German Aerospace Center gave an overview about the trends in CSP and expected a cost reduction potential for the technology of around 50% in the coming 10-15 years based on the current level of about 18 €cents/kwh.
