Inaugural meeting of Desertec industrial initiative brings carbon-neutral power supplies a step closer
ABB and its partners in a project to generate renewable energy in the desert have established a joint venture to accelerate implementation of the plan. DII GmbH was founded in Munich, Germany, and will produce a detailed analysis of the project and establish a framework for investments to supply the Middle East, North Africa and Europe with power from solar and wind energy. The long-term goal of the Desertec project is to provide as much as 15 percent of Europe’s electricity by 2050, as well as a substantial part of the energy requirements of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Paul van Son, a former executive at Deutsche Essent (Germany) and Econcern (The Netherlands), has been appointed chief executive officer of DII. ABB can make a significant contribution, particularly in terms of the technical expertise required to incorporate renewable power into the grid and transmit power efficiently over long distances. ABB developed high-voltage direct current technology to deliver power over long distances with maximum efficiency.