Influence of large-scale deployment of concentrated solar power on North African countries: Socio-economic aspects (Conference Paper)

Komendantova, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2568-6179 & Patt, A. (2010). Influence of large-scale deployment of concentrated solar power on North African countries: Socio-economic aspects (Conference Paper). ISEE Conference 2010: "Advancing Sustainability in a Time of Crisis," 22-25 August 2010, Oldenburg - Bremen, Germany (2010)

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Abstract

To prevent catastrophic results of climate change, the stabilization of atmospheric concentrations of CO2 below 450 or even 350 parts per million is necessary. The large-scale electricity generation from renewable energy sources is one of possible options to satisfy the world's growing energy demand and to reduce green house gas emissions from electricity generation. Several studies show technical viability of large-scale deployment of concentrated solar power in North African countries and its further transmission to Europe. Political will exists from the side of European Union and North African countries to develop renewable energy sources in the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean Solar Plan, launched by the French presidency, foresees deployment of 20 GW of new solar facilities in the Mediterranean region by 2020. The European Union has a goal to increase the share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption by 20% by 2020. Besides, within the EU framework there will be an opportunity for trading renewable energy Guarantees of Origin (GOs), which stimulates import of renewable electricity to Europe. The North African countries introduced ambitious goals of development of renewable energy sources. Based on the Desertec concept, the European industrial enterprises formed a consortium with ambitious goal to develop renewable energy sources in North Africa.

The socio-economic development, however, is one of a major concern within the North African countries and international development organizations. In this paper, we present the preliminary results from research conducted in the second half of the year 2009 and the first half of year 2010, as part of the Addressing North African Questions in the Context of Renewable Energy Development (ANORAQ) project, supported by the European Climate Foundation. The project investigates barriers for deployment of renewable energy sources from the perspective of North African policymakers and concerns.

Among other issues like security of supply and technical constraints such as water usage, we focus on socio-economic aspects of large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources. What are the likely employment effects of concentrated solar power development? Will it lead to creation of additional work-places? In which areas direct jobs will be created? Will they be created just in operation and management of plants? What will be the ration of local and international jobs in construction of installations and manufacturing of components? What will be a multiplier effect on creation of indirect jobs? Will the jobs created in new sectors compensate for losses of jobs in other sectors?

While our subject will be the North African region as a whole, we will particularly focus on two countries, Egypt and Morocco. There are reasons to assume that influence of large scale deployment of renewables will be different on economies of these two countries as their local economic and resource conditions are different. Egypt is characterized by large non-renewable energies reserves as Morocco covers almost all of its energy needs of imports.

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