This blog had relayed a World Bank announcement before. The World Bank’s Clean Technology Fund alloted 750 million dollars for solar thermal projects in five countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Alternative Energy tells us more about Desertec. These 13 energy and technology companies have formed a coalition to build a renewable energy grid (solar and wind power) in North Africa, and connect it to the European grid for sale of renewable energy to European buyers. Founded in 2009, the organization’s focus is on solar thermal, plus photo voltaic and wind projects throughout MENA (the Middle East and North Africa).

Solar Thermal Power Plant Schematic
“Harnessing the sun’s energy falling on just 6,000 square kilometers of desert” with solar thermal electric power plants, of “between 50 and 200 MW in size in different locations across North Africa,” estimate the German Aerospace Center, “would supply energy equivalent to the entire oil production of the Middle East of 9 billion barrels a year.”

MENA is one of the principle regions around the globe that benefits from a higher solar radiance. Morocco receives “over 3000 hours of sunshine per year” and the country now plans to produce “40% of their energy needs via solar energy.” Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra, “This is a bold but realistic project. We will guarantee all the technical and financial resources to make it succeed.”

[Morocco] will spend $9 billion to generate 2000MWs of energy by 2020. It will require 5 solar power stations to produce 2000MWs of energy. These power stations will be situated in the regions of Ouarzazate, Ain Bni Mathar, Foum Al Oued, Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah. The first station is expected to become operational by 2015.

Ali Fassi Fihri, Chairman of ONE, Morocco’s power utility, “The project would add in terms of power generation the equivalent of the current electricity consumption of the country’s commercial capital Casablanca.”