About


Escalating worldwide fuel prices and environmental concerns are helping to dramatically increase the demand for clean alternatives. It has become a global imperative that we break our addiction to oil. Providing for the ever increasing energy needs of the planet is going to take a wide range of alternate energy sources and green technologies are finally beginning to establish themselves in the energy mix.....a sector expected to grow tenfold within several years. The future is bright for renewable energy sources and a more sustainable world.



Archives

01 Mar - 31 Mar 2010
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2010
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2009
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2009
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2009
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2009
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2009
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2009
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2009
01 May - 31 May 2009
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2009
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2009
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2009
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2009
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2008
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2008
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2008
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2008
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2008
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2008
01 May - 31 May 2008
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2008
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2008
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2008
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2008
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2007
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2007
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2007
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2007
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2007

Links

Daily Alternative Energy News Updates
News Groups
Forum
News Archives 1/02-8/07

Alternative Energy Sizing Calculators

Tag Key Word News Search

Search!

Last Comments

lokimikoj (Vermont tailpipe …): Hi all! Cool!.. Nice w…
hiutopor (Vermont tailpipe …): Hello Very interesting…
Emil Möller (Vermont tailpipe …): Very well indeed. Also …
Emil Möller (Vermont tailpipe …): Very well indeed. Re tim…
Rob Rieber (USDA global confe…): It's good that we're invo…
Emil Möller (When the oil drie…): Energy transition is inev…


weblog_text - RSS-XML - ()

XML: RSS Feed 
XML: Atom Feed 

« GM sparks buzz about … | Home | Ban Ki-Moon sides wit… »

When the oil dries up there's still solar, says Algeria

15 08 07 - 14:51

Send this article to a friend

AEN News


New York - Algeria looks to develop solar energy as an export resource, knowing that its reserves of oil and natural gas will one day dry up.

It was an idea being considered by Algerian planners for years but now work has begun on the construction of its first solar power plant at Hassi R'mel, 260 miles south of Algiers, the capital. The solar plant will be a hybrid, using both sun and natural gas to generate 150 megawatts. Of that, 25 megawatts will come from giant parabolic mirrors stretching over nearly 2 million square feet, which is roughly the size of 45 football fields.

The solar hybrid plant is the first of its kind and is expected to be online by 2010. In the future, Algeria hopes to generate enough solar power that it can export 6,000 megawatts to the European market by 2020, which would be equal to a tenth of current electricity consumption in Germany.

New York - Algeria looks to develop solar energy as an export resource, knowing that its reserves of oil and natural gas will one day dry up.

It was an idea being considered by Algerian planners for years but now work has begun on the construction of its first solar power plant at Hassi R'mel, 260 miles south of Algiers, the capital. The solar plant will be a hybrid, using both sun and natural gas to generate 150 megawatts. Of that, 25 megawatts will come from giant parabolic mirrors stretching over nearly 2 million square feet, which is roughly the size of 45 football fields.

The solar hybrid plant is the first of its kind and is expected to be online by 2010. In the future, Algeria hopes to generate enough solar power that it can export 6,000 megawatts to the European market by 2020, which would be equal to a tenth of current electricity consumption in Germany.

While the concept on a large scale is grand, critics are concerned that the huge number of mirrors will produce more heat which could reflect into the lower atmosphere and raise the global temperature, not unlike how cities with their massive amounts of concrete and asphalt absorb heat and return it to the atmosphere which raises the average temperature there. But Algerian representatives closer to the project say that's nonsense due to the location, which does not site directly by populated areas.

"Our potential in thermal solar power is four times the world's energy consumption so you can have all the ambitions you want with that," said Tewfik Hasni, managing director of New Energy Algeria, or NEAL, a company created by the Algerian government in 2002 to develop renewable energy.

Hasni says that it will take 10 years for it to become economically competitive, and while undersea cables to Sicily and Spain are planned for construction in 2010-2012, financing has not been worked out. But after the EU set lofty goals this year of producing 20% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, by the time the Alegerian solar project goes online, political difficulties could be set aside which would permit the next phase of construction to move forward - transmission to the European market.

Algeria's move to join the alternative energy camp is one other OPEC members have resisted, though they've all closely watched technology developments.

One of the supporters of Algeria's hybrid solar project is French President Nicolas Sarkozy who has said that it would "bind France and Algeria" in creating his vision of a "Mediteranian Union", giving rise to France's possible financing of the underseas transmission cable.

While OPEC nations have tried to curb talk of altnerative energy, with global concerns over limited oil supplies and the growing threat of global warming from fossil fuels, many OPEC members are now becoming more open to the idea.

Eduardo Zarza Moya, who works on solar power for Spain's public energy research center, CIEMAT, said at a June solar conference in Algeria, "The solar potential of Algeria is huge, enormous, because solar radiation is high and there is plenty of land for solar plants."

Also attending the conference was Wolfgang Palz, chairman of the independent World Council for Renewable Energy, who said that this was a big chance for OPEC member countries to "really do something instead of torpedoing alternative energy development."

The Hassi R'Mel plant is one of four planned for construction. Its use of abundent natural gas supplies are intended to suplement times of overcast skies, which could reduce solar power generation levels and for use at night when the sun





Used tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
one comment

Energy transition is inevitable and should be given high priority. The key issue is the combination of energy transition with other energy related short term priorities to produce real synergy and the 1 + 1 = 4 effect.

"The Netherlands Gas-land" is, because of the Dutch position in European gas reserves and supplies a fact and a Dutch government policy issue. The last is the same for “The Netherlands Duurzaam (renewable)”. Furthermore natural gas is the cleanest and hence the best transition fuel. It is urgently needed for a long time to come. The Netherlands therefore should in Europe be one of the lead countries to combine increased utilization of natural gas in combination with the acceleration of energy transition.

The developing countries, led by China and India, must appease their hunger for energy and raw materials. China in particular approaches this problem strategically by forging links with energy supplying countries through comprehensive investment- and development programs.

Regarding natural gas Europe depends increasingly on Russia. This is hazardous in view of the current geopolitical situation. However North Africa also has large reserves of natural gas and therefore offers an excellent alternative source of supply.

Furthermore North Africa is eminently suitable for the deployment of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), a proven technology in which the sun's heat is concentrated with mirrors and used for the large scale production of electrical power. Using this techno-logy an area in North Africa smaller than the Benelux countries could supply the total European electricity demand - the Sahara Electricity option - and at the same time make the local electricity production renewable and generate local prosperity.

If The Netherlands/Europe were to import natural gas from North Africa in exchange for cooperation in the construction of CSP power stations the outcome would from many viewpoints be a win - win, a 1 + 1 = 4 situation (see also the attached graphical representation of the proposal). In following this thinking energy transition really can show its value.

With its advisory letter of March 3rd 2006 the Dutch General Energy Council (Algemene Energieraad, AER) has brought the potential of CSP to the attention of the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Brinkhorst. The Council affirms, that by the year 2020 CSP in North Africa could be the most attractive source of large scale renewable electricity supply for Europe, even taking the cost of long distance transport into account.

Notwithstanding this advice CSP is still not included in Dutch renewable energy programs. Neither is this the case in Europe. This is strange and requires correction. We are proceeding accordingly, supported by a growing number of persons. The same should be done in the European environment and we are looking there for supporters as well.

A structurally sound political and business relationship between Europe and North Africa is obviously highly desirable for Europe. That structural relationship can:

1. Considerably enhance the security of gas supply and serve the strategic aims of The Netherlands Gas-land and can strongly support and be connected to the European renewable energy programs and policies;

2. Be strengthened by mutual (Europe-North African countries) investments in CSP which:
a. Will stimulate local industry, prosperity and well being. This is in line with the objectives of the North-South Dialogue;
b. Will accelerate energy transition in Europe and stimulate "Nederland Duurzaam" (Dutch objectives program for renewable energy). Kyoto objectives will in this way be properly served;
c. Will counterbalance the growing influence of China in Africa and neutralize potential conflicts in a politically sensitive and for Europe important region. This serves the objectives of security policies;
d. Can convert the growing interest and capabilities of Dutch/European companies into CSP related industrial activities and growth of GNP’s.

We hereby propose: to put CSP high on the Dutch/European/North African agenda for the energy transition by designating it as a key transition path within the Renewable Electricity theme/policies/programs through installation of CSP in North Africa. Such a program should be linked with increased strategic supplies of natural gas from the same region into Europe. The Netherlands should take the lead in Europe and search for support to forge appropriate political, economical and technical alliances, related to this way of thinking.

The Dutch foundation for the development of Large Scale Solar Energy (stichting ter bevordering van Grootschalige Zonne-Energie Nederland, GEZEN) recently submit-ted a proposal to the Task Force Energy transition, the leading body for energy transition in the Netherlands, to this effect. We support their initiative wholeheartedly, together with an increasing number of other organizations and look forward to forge alliances with parties within Europe, motivated to realize the same objectives.

Emil Möller, PhD researcher 'Decision making processes in a transition towards a sustainable energy regime', Maastricht, Netherlands
Emil Möller () (URL) - 18 08 07 - 14:24


Trackback link:

Please enable javascript to generate a trackback url

  
Remember personal info?

Emoticons /

Comment moderation is enabled on this site. This means that your comment will not be visible on this site until it has been approved by an editor.

To prevent automated comment spam we require you to answer this silly question. Trackback spam IP's are tracked, IP range banned, blacklisted and reported, so don't waste your time.
 

  (Register your username / Log in)

Notify:
Hide email:

Small print: All html tags except <b> and <i> will be removed from your comment. You can make links by just typing the url or mail-address.




edie.net News from edie.net


edie.net News from edie.net




 

weblog_text - more - ()

Number of storms may drop, but more could be intense, study says

Saturday 06 March 2010 at 08:30 am By Peter N. Spotts


The number of hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms globally is likely to either fall or remain flat over the course of the 21st century. But an increasing proportion of the storms are likely to hit the highest levels of intensity because of the projected effects of global warming, an international team of scientists concludes. more

Is Punxsutawney Phil responding to global warming?

Thursday 04 February 2010 at 09:55 am Is Punxsutawney Phil responding to global warming?


By Eoin O'Carroll


As dawn broke on Monday morning, officials in cities and towns across the United States and Canada, engaged in an annual ritual of attempting to predict the weather by harassing a marmot.

According to the website of the Punxsutawney (Pa.) Groundhog Club, the most famous of these marmots, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his burrow (or more accurately, was dragged out of a box), surveyed the 13,000-person crowd that had gathered to see him, and uttered something in the obscure language of Groundhogese to Club President Bill Cooper, who then proclaimed that the large rodent had seen his shadow and we would therefore be getting six more weeks of winter. more

Lithium Demand Energizing Exploration

Thursday 04 February 2010 at 09:43 am Lithium Demand Energizing Exploration


By Dave Porter



Reno - As demand for lithium grows, thanks to the push by the auto industry to produce lithium batteries, exploration for the rare earth is underway and in Nevada where the only operating US lithium mine exists, Lithium Corporation (OTCBB: LTUM) has been locking up properties it believes show promise.

Reno-based Lithium Corp. has managed to acquire claims in several areas considered hotbeds for lithium exploration, three of which are west of Clayton Valley where Silver Peak operates the only US lithium carbonate brine production plant in the US. The Company says samples indicate lithium sediments are double that found at Silver Peak's project with plans calling for further exploration of those properties. more

What to look for at Copenhagen

Saturday 12 December 2009 at 10:20 pm By Peter Spotts



Copenhagen - Delegates left the Bali climate change talks in December 2007 with high hopes that a grand bargain on reducing greenhouse gas emissions would be secured by now.

But today, as the latest round of climate change talks begin with representatives from more than 190 countries gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, expectations are far more modest. more

UN's Ban sure of a Climate Treaty ahead of the Copenhagen Summit next month

Monday 30 November 2009 at 01:13 am Washington - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was encouraged by the interest being shown by world leaders ahead of the United Nations' climate change summit to be held in Copenhagen next month, saying that a strong framework fora Climate Treaty could be in place by 2010.

Ban, who has repeatedly called climate change and its attendant consequences of increased droughts, floods, rising seas and more violent storms "the defining challenge of our era," will urge the leaders of the 53-member Commonwealth to attend the summit, confident that strong momentum is building for a framework that can be molded into a legally binding climate treaty as early as possible in 2010. more

Hacked climate emails: conspiracy or tempest in a teapot?

Tuesday 24 November 2009 at 4:28 pm Hacked climate emails: conspiracy or tempest in a teapot?



By Pete Spotts,


For all its gee-whiz discoveries and its influence on public policy, science can be a messy, sometimes ugly enterprise.

When the science is paleontology, astronomy, or geophysics, internal politics, thinly or not-so-thinly veiled personal attacks, and water-cooler discussions among influential scientists about whose research is junk and not worth publishing draw a collective yawn from anyone outside the relatively small circle of researchers involved.

When the topic is global warming, however, look out. more

California may pull the plug on power-guzzling flat-screen TVs

Wednesday 04 November 2009 at 3:41 pm California may pull the plug on power-guzzling flat-screen TVs


By Michael B. Farrell


San Francisco - The state that first championed the ban on energy-hogging refrigerators in the 1970s now has its sights set on power-hungry TVs.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) could adopt new efficiency standards for televisions with screens smaller than 58 inches as early as next week. If the commission OKs the requirement at its Nov. 4 meeting, TVs sold in the state will have to be 33 percent more efficient by 2011 and consume 49 percent less energy by 2013. more

Industry leaders propose new energy efficiency standards

Friday 23 October 2009 at 12:21 pm By Emily Mullin

Washington - Leading energy-efficiency advocates and appliance manufacturers signed an agreement Tuesday to create new regional efficiency standards for air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps.

"Energy-efficiency standards may not be sexy, but they are incredibly effective," Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said at a press conference.

If the Department of Energy adopts the standards, households could save about $100 a year. more

Controlling the paths of light could produce better solar cells, scientists find

Wednesday 14 October 2009 at 07:32 am AEN News



Gainesville, FL - University of Florida chemists have pioneered a method to tease out promising molecular structures for capturing energy, a step that could speed the development of more efficient, cheaper solar cells.

"This gives us a new way of studying light-matter interactions," said Valeria Kleiman, a UF associate professor of chemistry. "It enables us to study not just how the molecule reacts, but actually to change how it reacts, so we can test different energy transfer pathways and find the most efficient one." more

Schwarzenegger leads governors' summit on global warming

Saturday 03 October 2009 at 01:30 am Schwarzenegger leads governors' summit on global warming


By Daniel B. Wood


Los Angeles - Some 1,200 representatives from more than 70 states, provinces, and countries are meeting here this week for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Global Climate Summit 2.
Three years after Governor Schwarzenegger won global attention for signing legislation committing the world's eighth largest economy to reduce its greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020, the gathering is trying to pave the way for a United Nations conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December to establish new, worldwide emissions targets. more
 

Alternate Energy Resource Network Webring

[ join now | ring list | random | << prev | next >> ]