Aktuelles

Sahara Wind presented at the Millennium Fellowship Initiative at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir, July 12-13 2019

Organized by the Moroccan Millennium Leaders Association (MML) with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP Group), the first edition of the Global Energy Initiative brought together more than 100 young people from 12 regions of Morocco. Coached by opinion leaders, institutional officials and managers in a series of workshops under the theme of "Collective Intelligence for Sustainable Development", participants initiated this inclusive leadership program aimed at the South, based on shared and mutual support values.

Sahara Wind at the EU Sustainable Energy Week Policy Conference in Brussels, June 18-20 2019

In order to decarbonize the European steel industry responsible for 30% of the EU’s industrial emissions, 400 TWh of additional renewable electricity will be needed. This capacity is close to that of an entire country like France. Pioneering electrochemical technologies in Mauritania whose main economy relies on iron-ore exports, the Sahara Wind project provides a unique setting for the carbon-free transformation of iron-ore into steel. The European Sustainable Energy Week (#EUSEW19) enabled lively discussions over these issues. Sahara Wind provided its contribution for achieving the EU’s ambitious deep decarbonization goals by 2050, to meet the Paris agreement’s objectives.

Sahara Wind at the North Africa Renewable Energy Summit 2019, June 24 in Casablanca, Morocco

Sahara Wind’s scaled-up access to the Atlantic Trade Winds presented at the North Africa Renewable Energy Summit 2019. Feeding North African load centers from the Sahara trade wind-blown Atlantic coastline will require a High Voltage Direct Current Transmission line. The scale of Sahara Wind’s 1300 km point to point HVDC line enables regional industries to transition into a carbon-free age. From fertilizers to steel, renewable wind-hydrogen can sustainably transform the regions’ phosphates and iron-ore deposits. By pioneering these technologies in support of Morocco and Mauritania’s energy transitions, Sahara Wind moderated the NARES2019 opening sessions. Backed by recent International Energy Agency studies, Sahara Wind’s regional clean business cases were also presented during this event.

'Deep impact: Sahara Wind's transformative access to the Atlantic Trade Winds' presented at the 2nd International Congress on Desert Economy at ENCG-Dakhla

The phased deployment of Sahara Wind’s HVDC line will sustain the expansion of the region’s cities and agriculture irrigated by wind-desalination plants. Cutting edge electrochemical technologies introduced by Sahara Wind are being tested in pilot projects. As a result, local mining operations can be upgraded into high-efficient CO2-free fertilizer and steel industries. Recently published climate models suggest that increased surface friction of thousands of wind turbines from Sahara Wind’s multi-Giga-Watt project could affect the trade winds. This can lead to a twofold precipitation increase in the Sahel. The impacts of Sahara Wind's transformative access to the Atlantic Trade Winds were discussed at ENCG-Dakhla during the 2nd International Congress on Desert Economy, on April 17-18th 2019.

Sahara Wind at Berlin's Energy Transition Dialogue 2019, April 09-10th

The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) gathered 50 ministers and state secretaries and over 2000 guests from 100 countries. Stakeholders of the energy sector, industry, science and civil society shared their experiences and ideas on a safe, affordable and environmentally responsible global energy transition. Stressing the importance of a local ownership of the energy transition process, Sahara Wind joined the open panel on ‘Energy diversification and technology as drivers of stability and peace’ of Day 2 at #BETD2019.

Sahara Wind at the Panel discussion over Morocco’s economic strategy and outlook on February 19th 2019

The Euromoney Morocco Conference explored the strategic financial implications of Morocco’s ‘pivot to Africa’. During the 1st panel discussion, Sahara Wind provided insights over key assets likely to shape the region’s economic future. While Policy-makers, business people, financiers and investors were positive on the opportunities; education, training and social inclusion were cited as drags to bring Morocco towards its 2030 goals. Capital markets, financial inclusion and digitization also need to accelerate to deliver economic growth across wide segments of the population.  Morocco was nevertheless praised for its energy and commitment to a multi-lateral model of development, regional leadership/integration and its economic and political stability which make it stand out in the region.

‘Sahara Wind: a business case for Clean Water, Energy, Steel and Global Food Security’ presented at Sorbonne University in Paris

At the invitation of the Sorbonne-Energy Law Student’s Association, the Sahara Wind project was presented on February 07th, 2019 at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. This event opened a lively discussion over North Africa’s energy transition and its implications on water and electricity access on a continental level. The leveraged transformation of resources available on the Sahara Atlantic coastline and their impact on world food security were also addressed.

KAS–REMENA Experts’ Meetings from December 15-17 and 19-21 2018 in Rabat, Morocco

KAS–REMENA Experts' Meetings on “Sustainable Finance and Green Economy: Tackling Climate Change and Resource Shortage in the MENA Region” took place from December 15-17, in Rabat. Fostering dialogue among various regional actors is critical for sustainable private investments, in order to connect green finance with the MENA region’s societal aspirations. Additionally, a meeting on “Opportunities and Risks of Digitalization for Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation and Resource Security in the MENA Region“ from 19-21 December looked into smarter, integrated  resource supply systems. Sahara Wind was invited to launch both meetings' debates at Sofitel Palais des roses.

Sahara Wind at MEDays, November 07-10 2018

Under the theme "In the age of disruption: finding the new paradigms" the 11th edition of the MEDays forum gathered 150 high-level speakers and participants from over 50 countries. Held in Tangier, Morocco, the panels " Oil, Gas, Shale and Renewable Energies: Toward a New Energy Order" and "In the Age of Disruption and Digital Acceleration: is it the end of strategies?" have been moderated by Khalid Benhamou, CEO of Sahara Wind. 

Sahara Wind at #P4GSummit to showcase a scalable, inclusive resource-efficient economy

The P4G Copenhagen Summit 2018 gathered Heads of States and Government, leaders of international organizations, businesses, academia, and the civil society from around the world to form a powerful coalition on the sustainable development goals through innovative partnerships. Inspired by the paleontological footprints and human legacy of the Atlantic trade winds, the Sahara Wind project provides a scalable solution that can decarbonize food and agriculture, energy, industry, mobility and supply desalinated water on a massive scale. Recently published climate models also suggest that the Sahara Wind project’s multi-Giga-Watt size could lead to a twofold precipitation increase in the Sahel, through increased surface friction and reduced albedo.

The “Sahara Wind-HVDC project’s transition to clean energy, water and global food security” presented at the "Water-Energy-Food Nexus Implementation in the Mashreq" Workshop in Beirut, Lebanon

Organized on September 24-26th 2018 by the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) and the Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung Regional Program Energy Security and Climate Change Middle East and North Africa (REMENA) under the auspice of the Ministry of Energy & Water of Lebanon, this workshop analyzed the links between water, energy and agricultural sectors. Given the constraints and strong interdependencies between these sectors, integrated approaches to develop effective strategies in the sustainable use of these resources were presented and discussed. On the basis of consistent water policy and governance, the Water-Energy-Food Nexus can leverage significant investments in the Mashreq region.

Sahara Wind-HVDC project presented at CIGRE2018 in Paris, France

Unveiled at the 47^th session of the International Council on Large Electric Systems CIGRE, the global electricity network aims to interconnect power grids between regions and continents to optimize renewable resources. Within such context, the Sahara Wind-HVDC project’s integrated access to the North Atlantic trade winds was presented at the ‘Technologies for Global Energy Grid’ TGEG’18 workshop. Organized by the AGP'21 association, the workshop brought together leading experts to discuss current and prospective technologies for the gradual deployment of a future World Energy Grid.