Algeria and Germany have signed a research agreement that focuses on solar thermal power. The two countries will study the possibility of developing a new generation of large-scale, low-cost solar thermal power plants. Algerian and German researchers will be sharing data and expertise to speed up the market introduction of large-scale solar thermal plants.
The agreement between Germany and the New Energy Algeria will allow German researchers access to data from the 150 MW hybrid solar-gas plant at Hassi R’mel, which is due to come online in 2009 with a capacity of 25 MW with a parabola trough design. The German researchers are looking for ways to optimize the design and the manufacturing of the component parts and the efficiency of the collectors and absorbers.
The plants could supply up to 200 MW of electricity and desalinate water for 50,000 people. According to Bernhard Milow of the German Aerospace Center, the technology and science are available and it now needs to be transferred to those countries that have the necessary sunlight to make the technology competitive.
By 2050, Milow estimated that 10%–25% of the EU’s electricity demand could be met by North African solar thermal power plants. "The DLR has 30 years of experience in solar thermal power technology while Algeria has the right sites for these plants, and has committed itself developing the technology for its own use and for export to Europe, so we can help each other out," Milow said.
While the power will be developed in Algeria, it will be transported to Europe through an almost 2,000 mile high voltage cable. The cable would pass through Sardinia, Italy and Switzerland before arriving in Germany. "Getting permission from all these countries to build this cable could slow down the project for years because of all the red tape. But the cable will be able to carry electricity to Europe with only about a 10% loss," Milow said. He said small quantities of electricity could be imported into