Comments on: Europe Seeks to Harvest African Sun

By: Solar Panels in the Sahara Could Meet All Europe’s Energy Needs – EcoLocalizer

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:05:47 +0000

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By: Australia’s $1.2B Desalination Plant Nears Completion : EcoWorldly

Australia’s $1.2B Desalination Plant Nears Completion : EcoWorldly — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:01:09 +0000

[...] Europe Seeks to Harvest African Sun London’s Drinking Water Shortages Spur Mayor to OK Desalination Plant Low-Energy Water Desalination From Seawater Greenhouse [...]

By: Arminius

Arminius — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:05:41 +0000

I think this project is a great idea. 450Bn is a lot of money; then again if you think that investment could provide all power for the whole EU, then you are talking about less than 25e per person per year for 50 years for construction.

And no I don’t think developing another country’s infrastructure for them (which by the way will be done with EU money if the Mediterranean Union takes shape) is ‘robbing them of their resources’. The massive investments, developments to infrastructure, increased and improved trade relations, and training of an able workforce should bring massive benefits to Africa. Solar energy on this scale also makes the access to solar energy dirt cheap for African countries. They just need to connect it to their grid and they can become zero-carbon as well. I don’t think another wales here or there will make the difference.

By: mitchissuper

mitchissuper — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:05:38 +0000

It doesn’t take a genius to work this one out, Europe only needs 0.3% of the Sahara’s sun according to the Article, well we build and finance 0.5% and let Africa have the spare capacity. There not exactly let us going to build it for free are they…
But it won’t be completed in the near future so if employed they’d steadily see an increase and not just get total power to the whole continent as some would assume.
Plus for the people complaining about Europeans (we English)gave back the colonial countries and they still blame us white men when no one has done much bar start civil wars.. What can we do they don’t want us there.

By: zeta

zeta — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:36:06 +0000

What are you people talking about? Do you honestly believe european companys – this is going to be a privately financed project – would be willing to spend dozens of billions of € in Africa without political stability and therefore obvious benefits for the host countries? The idea to harvest the suns energy in the sahara is such a big project, that it just doesn’t make much sense unless you maximize your market. And this is not the EU, but foremost the north-african countries. Not just for electricity, but also for desalination. It’s a question of economies of scale. Plus: You have obviously forgotten that the EU is the global forerunner in the trading of emission rights. Therefore it is even more profitable to invest in clean energy in africa.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:22:37 +0000

Ahh..White guilt never ceases to amaze me. Please name one successful country where the population is overwhelmingly from Sub Saharan African descent? Every country in the world could give it’s entire GDP to 47 some odd African countries and they still would be the corrupt cesspools they are today. Stop guilt trips please!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:47:19 +0000

I don’t disagree with your point, but I’ve been studying this stuff for some years now and really do struggle to find any benefit we have brought to Africa.

By: Megan McWilliams

Megan McWilliams — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:56:41 +0000

something is terribly wrong if europe can seriously consider such a huge (and worthy) undertaking without serious benefit to the host continent!!??!! especially because there are people who still have NO energy in Africa – let alone clean energy!

if they can devise a plan that includes benefit for both africa & europe, i think it is an awesome thing and the US ought to take notes.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:28:39 +0000

“there is no mention of how such a development will also benefit Africa”

Perhaps you could remind me when last did Europe do something of benefit for Africa..!

@ Michelle, actually as far as I can tell, China is doing a far better job of benefitting the source of much of its raw material (Africa) than Europe ever did.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:45:47 +0000

If Europe is to use a natural resource from Africa, it surely should think of benefiting the source of the raw material as well; it is only fair.at the end of the day such would make the whole world a better place.I agree with the post,Africa also would want to become a zero carbon society.