Solar Power to Illuminate Darkest Africa

Concentrating solar thermal generating stations across Africa and the Middle East would join other renewable energy generation to power millions.

Legislators from several African nations heard a proposal to develop a network of solar power stations across the Sahara, which would be capable of providing electricity to the continent’s 600 million citizens currently without power.

A representative of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) told the gathering in Nairobi that the project could even provide excess capacity to the European power grid.

TREC proposes establishing solar thermal power stations across North Africa in conjunction with wind, biomass, geothermal and hydro generation on each side of the Mediterranean.

Solar plants built near the coast could also remove salt from seawater as a byproduct of the process.

Stephen Karekezi of the Environment and Development Network for Africa told the gathering that high oil prices were fueling the drive for alternative and cleaner energy sources.

"We are quite excited by this opportunity... that the high oil prices begin to turn our policy makers to actually contribute and push for renewable (energy)," Karekezi said.

Graphic: Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation
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