News

'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 on 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 the exploitation of resources, particularly renewable ones. 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.

'Sahara Wind’s energy, water and global food security nexus’ at the World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies in Seville, Spain

To secure access to water, the founder of the Sahara Wind project installed Morocco’s first wind turbine on the Sahara Atlantic coastline in 1995. Local field trials, reporting and regional consultations inspired wind policies over decades to secure an optimal water access powered by wind technologies. Boosting sustainable agriculture and local development while powering Africa & Europe at record-low electricity prices, the Sahara Wind project’s 5GW-HVDC transmission line paves the way to carbon-free fertilizer production. In processing 71% of the world’s phosphate reserves, a major source of industrial emissions can be alleviated. Critical in today’s energy transition, hydrogen can be produced through renewables. These prospects have been presented on July 19th at the Water and Resources Panel of #WOCMES2018.

Sahara Wind at the “EU vision for a modern, clean and competitive economy” high level conference in Brussels, July 10-11 2018

In March 2018, EU leaders asked the European Commission to present, within 12 months, “a proposal for a Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction in accordance with the Paris Agreement”. In preparation for a mid-century low carbon emissions strategy, the Commission organized a stakeholder consultation event for a discussion on the EU long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hosted by Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), this by invitation-only 2-day stakeholder meeting sought inputs from citizens and stakeholders from business, research and civil society over the EU’s long-term emission reduction strategy.

Sahara Wind moderates the Moroccan accession to ECOWAS conference of May 15th 2018 in Accra, Ghana.

Morocco’s accession to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a full member has been agreed in principle by the community’s Heads of State in June 2017; however, the absence of a debate has been noticed in Morocco as well as in the ECOWAS states. In order to reinforce trust between governments and people, a conference under the theme: “Morocco’s accession to ECOWAS: Towards a strengthening of the West African community” was held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. Organized by the Amadeus Institute in partnership with the General Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Morocco (CGEM) and the Ghanaian Think Tank IMANI Africa, participants shared their respective sectors interests on how Morocco’s accession process can be implemented without disrupting the West African integrationist synergy. Held under “Chatham House Rule” Moroccan, Ghanaian and West African delegations debated and explored ways to reinforce this exemplary regional community with the best “win-win” approach.