Could the Sahara turn Africa into a solar superpower?

Jan 17, 2020

If every drop of sunshine that hits the Sahara was converted into solar energy, the desert would produce enough electricity over any given period to power Europe 7,000 times over. Image: Unsplash/Nicolas Jehly

Will de Freitas

Environment and Energy Editor, UK edition, The Conversation

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Just a small portion of the Sahara could produce as much solar energy as the entire continent of Africa does at present. Image: Global Solar Atlas/World Bank

solar power plant electricity green renewable energy sun photovoltaic sustainable

Aerial view of a large concentrated solar power plant in Saharan desert Image: Novikov Aleksey/Shutterstock

elephant carving pre-historic algeria art picture drawing solar power sahara

Long-extinct elephants still remain carved into rocks in southern Algeria. Image: Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock

Large-scale wind and solar would mean more new rain in some areas than others in the Sahara desert. Image: Eviatar Bach

desert heat sahara settlement village home people climate solar energy renewable

Ghardaia, Algeria. Even in the middle of the Sahara, there are settlements. Image: Sergey-73/Shutterstock

sahara saudi arabia photovoltaic energy solar renewable green

The sunniest tenth of the world is mostly Saharan countries … and Saudi Arabia. Image: Denes Csala/NREL

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