Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Challenges & Opportunities for Large-Scale Export of Solar-Power from North Africa to the EU

Pays/Région : Afrique du Nord

Date : 1 January 2019–31 December 2021

Identifiant : 2018-06784_VR

Présentation
The European Union is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world and fossil fuels are used for nearly half of electricity generation and almost all transport. A transition to renewable sources will therefore require a massive effort.

Luckily, the EU has a vast, untapped supply of renewable energy next door : the Saharan deserts of North Africa. Until recently, importing electricity from very large Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants in North Africa was conceived as a viable partial solution. In 2014, however, the plans were cancelled as the Desertec Industrial Initiative was dismantled. Nonetheless, the notion of harnessing solar power did take root, two countries in North Africa – Morocco and Tunisia – are currently at various stages of CSP plants development, including some export to the EU set to begin in 2020. The purpose of this research project is to identify the main challenges and opportunities (social, ecological and geo-political) for the transfer of renewable energy from North Africa to Europe. This research is planned to last for a period of 36 months through drawing upon political ecology & political economy perspectives combined with postcolonial theories to understand large-scale energy transfer from North Africa to Europe, based on field work in Tunisia where qualitative methods will be deployed. The research aims to contribute to EU’s decarbonisation and climate strategy by offering in-depth analysis and viable recommendations.

Coordination : Lund University

Financement : Swedish Research Council
Budget : 3,150,000 kr

Swecris project database