Energy from North Africa - Study shows: Region could cover Germany's needs at least 60 times over

Created: 2022-12-11, 8:12 p.m

By: Linus Prien

A solar system in Morocco (symbolic image).

© Ute Grabowsky / photothek.net/ IMAGO

The world is looking for ways to generate energy in a climate-friendly and cheap way.

A difficult task.

Researchers in North Africa may have found a solution.

Wuppertal – The escalating Ukraine conflict and the ensuing energy crisis are showing Germany in a painful way what dependence on one resource supplier can lead to.

Especially when the supplier is a regime like that of Russia.

As a consequence, Germany is now supposed to import gas from Qatar.

Because the fact remains for the time being: As an industrial nation, Germany needs a considerable amount of energy.

However, a new study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has come to the conclusion that there is enormous potential for generating renewable energies in North Africa and the Middle East.

The region could generate 400,000 terawatt hours of electricity per year.

Energy potential in North Africa: photovoltaics is the key

Together with the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbH and the Institute for Future Energy and Material Flow Systems, DLR has looked at 17 countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

With the help of satellite images, the countries were analyzed piece by piece.

Researchers concluded that the Middle East and North Africa have significant potential to produce hydrogen and synthetic fuels from renewable resources.

The decisive factor is the use of solar energy in the form of photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal energy.

According to the DLR, the potential for producing hydrogen and synthetic fuels is correspondingly large.

Energy potential in North Africa: Region could supply Germany at least 60 times

However, the region could not only be self-sufficient - on the contrary: According to the study, the export potential from the MENA region could exceed Germany's requirements by a factor of 60 to 1,200.

This considerable range is not least due to the investment climate.

Projects in some countries in the region are definitely associated with risks due to unstable political situations.

For this reason, the forecasts diverge widely.

"For the first time we have a comprehensive analysis - as a basis for further research work, but also as a source of information and basis for decision-makers in industry and politics," says Jürgen Kern, project manager of the study.