Institute For The Future

Siemens Backs a 400 Billion Euro Initiative to Harvest Solar Energy in the Sahara Desert

The TYF team has been talking about tapping the solar energy of the Sahara desert for the past year or so. Siemens and other companies are now taking a big step in that direction.

On July 13th a group of European Companies, including Siemens, and Desertec Foundation signed an MoU for a 400 billion Euro solar project in Saharan Desert. Desertec is believed to have the potential to supply up to 20% of Europe's electricity by 2050 and will be located on 6,500 square miles across the desert.

Managing board member from Siemens, Dr. Siegfrien Russwurm, describes the project as "courageous" and compares it to the first transcontinental telecommunications line.