Concentrated Solar Power as a chance for development? A comparative empirical analysis of capacity aspects in the planning of CSP projects contributing to the sustainable human development of less developed countries in North Africa and the Middle East – the cases of the Desertec Network and CSP in Egypt

Abstract

The production of fossil fuel based energy production will come to end in the future, but energy demand will continue to rise. In order to secure the energy needs of Europe in the future, sophisticated plans for Super Grids have been laid out. Recent socio-political upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East has increased pressure for Europe to provide support and revise existing neighbourhood policy. In this context the idea of an African-European energy partnership based on CSP projects in the Sahara has been taken up. The idea has been discussed for some years in initiatives such as Transgreen and Desertec and institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Due to its particularly technical nature there is a lack of research on associated social issues. In order to pave the way for future implementation of this project, research on the basement of sustainable and human development is essential. This research sets out to analyse the elements that contribute to target countries capacity to maximize sustainable human development benefits. In order to obtain these results the capacity elements such as knowledge and technology transfer and domestic stakeholder involvement are researched in two cases. On the global level the elements will be examined in the context of the Desertec initiative and on the local level the existing CSP project context in the country of Egypt are researched.