Solar Power from Africa to Europe: One Step Closer

The potential for solar energy generation in desert-belt countries has long been recognised. In Europe our focus has mainly been on North Africa where the infrastructure and investment required to transmit the energy across such large distances has, until recently, been perceived as prohibitive. This talk is about one firm that has started to make this a reality.

Nur Energie is a multi-technology solar power plant developer focused on Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In Tunisia Nur Energy is developing TuNur, one of the World’s first utility-scale solar export projects. It involves the construction and operation of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants with a capacity of up to 2GW in the Kebili Governorate and a 2GW HVDC on land and sub-marine cable from Tunisia to Italy from where it can be exported to other European countries. The project conforms to the DESERTEC principles of benefitting the local environment and economy as well.