SDG 07: Affordable and Clean Energy

Could the Sahara turn Africa into a solar superpower?

Sahara Desert Le Roi Soleil

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
Share:
The Big Picture
Explore and monitor how SDG 07: Affordable and Clean Energy is affecting economies, industries and global issues
A hand holding a looking glass by a lake
Crowdsource Innovation
Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale
Stay up to date:

SDG 07: Affordable and Clean Energy

Have you read?

Just a small portion of the Sahara could produce as much solar energy as the entire continent of Africa does at present.
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.
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

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

Sign up for free

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Related topics:
SDG 07: Affordable and Clean EnergyElectricityOil and GasEnergy TransitionClimate ChangeWaterFuture of the EnvironmentAfricaMiddle East and North Africa
Share:
World Economic Forum logo
Global Agenda

The Agenda Weekly

A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda

Subscribe today

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails. For more details, review our privacy policy.

COP28 and the world 'on track' to triple renewables. Top energy stories of the week

Roberto Bocca

December 6, 2023

About Us

Events

Media

Partners & Members

  • Join Us

Language Editions

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

© 2023 World Economic Forum