Energy | Emmy Van den Berg | 24-02-2011
I recently came across two innovative projects that focus on the desert. Both models demonstrate that the desert can serve as a sustainable source of energy, food, raw materials and non-fossil fuels. But what connects the two projects? What is their primary objective? What are the concrete results? And just how realistic are these projects?
Sahara Solar Breeder Project
The main goal of the Sahara Solar Breeder Project is to produce solar-operated power plants with a total annual capacity of 100 GW. Solar energy panels will be made in local factories out of silica, a raw material found in desert sand. These panels provide an alternative source of energy that can make a significant contribution to helping solve the global energy problem. The project also includes educating the researchers and engineers of the developing countries involved. Hideomi Koinuma of the University of Tokyo, says that the energy generated by this solar energy is more efficient than other energy sources that have been used so far (source). The project is still at the planning stage, and data is currently being collected to anticipate issues beforehand that might arise during implementation.
Model Sahara Solar Breeder Project (Image credit: Diginfo TV)
Check also the video.
Sahara Forest Project
The team of the Sahara Forest Project (SFP) is investigating a number of interconnected processes that affect the balance of the ecological system, such as the increasing temperature of the Earth, the mounting demand for non-fossil fuels, and food shortages. They propose using Seawater Greenhouses to gather energy with solar energy panels, harnessing it to distil salt water, among other things. The steam produced by the boiling water is used to operate a turbine and to generate energy. The distilled water is used to water the plants and algae in the greenhouses. The project will reduce water and food shortages, produce non-fossil fuels and encourage the reforestation of desert areas. Jordan is allowing the team to use a strip of land along the coast where the SFP team is currently trialling the project.
Sahara Forest Project
Sahara Forest Project
The ‘sunny side’ versus the ‘shadow side’ of the projects
Both teams are turning to ways of obtaining sustainable energy in the desert which will in turn nurture other eco-friendly projects. Both projects are based on harvesting and processing solar energy. However, I feel that the Sahara Solar Breeder Project is taking a far too one-sided approach as regards what can be harnessed from the sun and earth. The Sahara Forest Project combines multiple processes and subsequently seems to utilise raw materials (and ground) more efficiently and more awarely. Nonetheless, I wonder whether producing food in the desert will turn out to be as sustainable as the researchers claim – don’t forget that the food will need to be transported to the consumer.
Additionally, the Solar Breeder Project appears to involve complicating factors such as the use of liquid nitrogen to cool the electricity cables, and the need to install the cables below-ground. The technique of making silicon from desert sand for the production of solar panels still requires further development.
At this point, the Sahara Forest Project seems more feasible and, with its test centre, the team seem to be making headway with putting the concept into practice. The status of the Sahara Solar Breeder Project is less clear.
Positive responses to the benefits of solar energy from the desert are being received from numerous organisations including the Desertec Foundation. The Foundation supports initiatives such as the Sahara Solar Breeder Project and the Sahara Forest Project, helping them pursue their aims. A fruitful partnership could very well lead to a new, powerful, source of energy in the not too distant future.
* Manditory fields
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