A century ago, Egypt hosted the first solar thermal plant in the world. Today, Egypt hosts almost half of the installed wind farms in Africa and the Middle East.
Located in the sun-belt area, blessed by the highest steady wind speeds in the world, augmented by our young low cost skilled labour and vibrant modern industry, Egypt offers lucrative business opportunities in all renewable energy sectors. No wonder that Egypt hosts the 2nd Dii Desert Energy Conference in Cairo, from 2nd to 3rd November 2011.
The Government of Egypt shall spare no effort to turn this international event into a real success. All possible support will be provided.
I look forward to welcoming you all in Egypt.
Whether it be climate change, responsible resource management or a secure, competitive and environmentally sound energy supply – energy policy is facing huge challenges.
Following the disastrous events at Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, the German Government decided to accelerate its ambitious journey into the age of renewable energies. In our Energy Concept, we describe our long-term strategy to restructure our energy supply. While maintaining competitive energy prices and a high level of prosperity, we want to make Germany one of the most energy-efficient economies in the world. In pursuing this course, we are also looking beyond Germany and Europe.
The German Government welcomes the fact that the establishment of solar power stations and wind farms in North Africa is to be advanced with Desertec. In the long term, this can prove to be a valuable contribution towards political and economic stabilization, and thus an improvement in living conditions, in North African countries.
Therefore, the German Government is working, inter alia, within the framework of the European Mediterranean Solar Plan on the development of the necessary political and regulatory conditions and is supporting initiatives for pilot projects in North African regions. Our common goal is a long-term and equal partnership with the countries of North Africa in the sphere of energy supply, which offers both sides opportunities for cooperation and growth.
The Desertec Initiative is setting a good example in this respect. It shows that an open dialogue among business people, scientists and policymakers can also resolve difficult issues. I therefore hope that the Cairo conference will send out clear signals in favour of strong cooperation. On that note, I wish you every success and fruitful discussions at the Desertec Industrial Initiative Energy Conference.
Desert power – A key contribution towards sustainable energy supply in Europe and MENA
In September 2011 the Commission set out a comprehensive strategy for the EU's external relations in energy committing not only to the security of energy supplies in Europe but also to fostering international energy partnerships. I refer here not only to Norway, Russia and the members of the Energy Community, but also to our Southern Mediterranean partners with whom we are actively looking for further integration.
Tomorrow’s energy challenges cannot be met with today’s ways of thinking. Resource efficiency is a main driver of our economies. We need to efficiently use every natural resource and rely on renewable energy sources. In this respect, Dii is a pioneering initiative.
With solar radiation in North African deserts being significantly more intensive and stable than elsewhere, they offer ideal conditions for generating electricity from renewable energy sources.
But Desertec goes far beyond clean energy supply and can contribute to sustained prosperity in North Africa and the Middle East, benefiting both sides of the Mediterranean in line with EU’s neighbourhood policy. By 2050 more people will live in the MENA region than in the EU. Moreover, its population is much younger than in Europe and unemployment rates are high, increasing the urgency for job creation. Desert power can be an economic driver for host countries. A large-scale development of renewable energy will be an important contribution to local sustainable development by creating jobs and ensuring energy security, opening up new economic opportunities.
Major infrastructure investments are needed in Europe and in interconnectors with third countries such as North Africa to enhance market integration, competitiveness, security of energy supply and to prepare ourselves for the move to a low carbon economy. It is also in this context that on 19 October, the Commission proposed a regulation to define and build the essential infrastructure Europe needs with a 2030 perspective.
Furthermore, moving to low carbon and secure energy generation across the EU will require increased cooperation and coordination amongst Member States. We need to develop and put in place new coordination mechanisms. This has been broadly recognized at the informal Energy Council in September.
Also on the future market design of the energy sector important work lies ahead. These issues will be further addressed in the Roadmap 2050 that I intend to issue in December.
Achieving a long-term 2050 target of low-carbon energy supply requires action today. Some renewable energy technologies, like PV and CSP, are not yet fully cost-competitive and require support to build up economies of scale, which enable them to drive down cost-curves. However, support should be targeted to full market integration of renewable energies as soon as possible.
In the coming years, first reference projects can become a reality, notably in Morocco. They will be a first step in establishing desert power as a long-term contribution to a sustainable energy mix in Europe and North Africa and foster international energy partnerships in line with the EU external energy policy.
I am confident that collectively we can and will achieve this goal. The European Commission together with the Union for the Mediterranean will act as facilitators in promoting renewable energy projects in the Southern Mediterranean, together with national governments and the private sector.
I wish you a fruitful Dii Annual conference 2011!
This year has so far been dominated by the significant political transitions in North Africa and a worldwide re-evaluation of our energy supply. Both developments have accelerated the question of our times: Where are the large sustainable energy resources of the future?
I believe that the most obvious resources can be found in the deserts such as in North Africa and the Middle East. Our objective is to help making these resources available for the local population and remote markets in close cooperation with local governments and industrial actors. I am confident that Dii’s joint effort with governments and businesses will contribute to long-term prosperity. It is not only about renewable energy and climate protection, it is all about the development of new industries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), about investments, the creation of jobs and the transfer of knowledge and know-how.
Our choice to meet in Cairo intends to illustrate that the development of renewable energy sources should first and foremost benefit the MENA region. It is now more urgent than ever that desert renewable energy will soon provide the entire region of MENA and partly EU with a secure energy supply.
I hope to meet you all in Cairo to take definite steps towards the realisation of our vision!
