Sahara electricity and hydroelectric power – Into the future with renewable energy

"Desertec", so der Name eines gigantischen Zuk"Desertec" is the name of a gigantic, future project, which according to its plans, hopes to supply approximately 15 percent of Europe’s electrical power with the aid of giant photovoltaic facilities in the Sahara. On July 13 a meeting was lead by the reinsurance company Munich Re with the initiative to found the largest private green electricity project of all time. Twenty German companies have expressed a desire to participate in building the photovoltaic system and solar power plant in the Sahara. It appears that a solution has, in the meantime, been found for the, thus far, uneconomical transport of electric power to Europe.

This new initiative is yet another indicator of the increasing significance of renewable energy for the global energy supply. Amid signs of global warming and scarcity of oil resources, the necessity of utilizing sustainable and renewable sources to meet energy needs becomes ever more apparent. In addition to the aforementioned solar power, wind energy, hydroelectric power, biomass and geothermal energy will also be used to generate energy in the form of electricity. Utilization of renewable energy offers not only ecologically valuable potential, but specifically also great chances in economic areas. It is increasingly evident that the labor market profits from growth of the environmentally friendly sector.

The July edition of Research Special looks at the social science aspects of regenerative energy generation and its impact on the economy, politics and society.

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