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Solar possibilities

Many plans exist for future energy solutions. One of the recent ideas has been provided by the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC).

By building a system to collect solar-energy at small parts of the Sahara or the Arabian Peninsula, combined with wind-power from the African shores of the Atlantic, it has been estimated that enough energy could be produced to fulfil the needs of Western Europe as well as the Middle East. In addition it would be possible to install desalination com-pounds to produce sweet-water from the oceans.

The principle here is to provide solar-collectors and the windmills in places with low population densities and then to transfer energy as electricity at high voltage direct current (HVDC) through so-called super-grids.

For more information see www.trecers.net

Size of red squares indicates area needed to generate current consumption of electricity in the World, Europe (EU-25) and Germany respectively.

Size of red squares indicates area needed to generate current consumption of electricity in the World, Europe (EU-25) and Germany respectively.