Last updated: August 28, 2025

Desertec: A Solar Dream for Europe and Africa

Concentrated solar power plant in the desert

A Visionary Energy Concept

Launched in 2009, the Desertec project aimed to transform the Sahara and the deserts of the Middle East into giant solar power plants. The idea was simple yet ambitious: harness the almost unlimited solar energy of these regions, where solar irradiation often exceeds 2000 kWh/m²/year, to produce green electricity exported to Europe via HVDC (high-voltage direct current) lines.

Potential African Sites

At the launch of Desertec, several strategic areas were identified as potential sites for massive solar power plants. The selection was based on a combination of factors: exceptional solar resources (annual irradiation over 2,000 kWh/m²), vast available desert areas, relative proximity to Mediterranean coasts, and the possibility of connecting electricity via HVDC corridors.

Algeria (northern and central Sahara desert areas): considered one of the flagship sites, with one of the highest potentials in the world. The desert plains near Hassi R’Mel were considered for coupling solar and gas.
Algerian Sahara: deeper desert sites, such as Tamanrasset, were studied for thermosolar complexes (CSP) that could operate with molten salt storage.
Egypt: the desert strip west of the Nile and the Kom Ombo area were identified, close to the country's major electrical axes.
Saudi Arabia (northeast): some studies planned the installation of solar farms in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, but expansion to the south of Arabia was also mentioned due to the vast unoccupied arid areas.

These sites were not exclusive but formed an initial circle of "solar hubs" that could be interconnected with each other and with Europe, drawing a true Saharo-Arab energy belt.

Technical and Geopolitical Challenges

The project relied on concentrated solar power plants (CSP) and the development of interconnected electrical networks. However, it faced several obstacles: political instability, initial investment costs > €400 billion, and the complexity of transporting energy over thousands of kilometers while limiting losses (~3% per 1000 km in HVDC).

An Unfinished Dream, but a Sustainable Vision

Although the initial consortium dissolved in 2014, the spirit of Desertec lives on. Today, the idea is reborn in a new form: local production of green electricity in Africa, conversion to green hydrogen, and export to Europe. This approach combines solar, wind, and storage technologies while promoting regional economic development.

Desertec Today

In 2025, Desertec is no longer a single project but a network of initiatives coordinated by the Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii). The focus is now on decentralized production and the conversion of electricity into transportable energy vectors: green hydrogen, ammonia, and e-fuels. Several North African countries, such as Morocco and Egypt, have launched pilot projects integrating solar and wind, supported by European and international funding.

The planned energy corridors are no longer limited to raw exports to Europe: they also aim to stabilize African grids and create a local energy market capable of stimulating industrialization. The current vision of Desertec thus approaches a Euro-African cooperative model where renewable energy becomes a lever for shared development.

Table of Major Transcontinental Solar Projects

Comparison of Major Transcontinental Solar Projects
Project	Planned Capacity	Technology / Description	Status in 2025
Desertec (MENA – Europe)	100 GW	CSP + HVDC	Abandoned in 2014, partially relaunched (hydrogen)
Xlinks – Morocco → UK	10.5 GW (7 GW solar + 3.5 GW wind) + 5 GW/20 GWh storage	PV + wind + submarine HVDC (3800 km)	Permits in progress; CfD rejected by the UK government (July 2025)
Sun Cable – Australia → Singapore	17–20 GW	PV + storage + HVDC (~3700-4000 km submarine)	Under development; first phase planned before 2028
Mediterranean Solar Plan (UPM/Medgrid/Desertec)	Not specified (macro-regional vision)	Solar production & export via Mediterranean interconnections	Original concept launched in 2008, still in institutional planning phase
Australia–Asia Power Link	17–20 GW	PV + storage + HVDC to Singapore	Expected to be operational around 2027–2030

Table of the World's Largest Photovoltaic Power Plants

Ranking of Major Photovoltaic Power Plants (2025)
Power Plant	Country	Capacity (GW)	Commissioning	Comment
Xinjiang Solar Farm	China	5.0	2024	The world's largest solar farm, covering 610 km² on the Tibetan Plateau. It powers about 1 million households.
Golmud Solar Park	China	2.8	2024	Located in Qinghai Province, this plant is expected to reach 16 GW in the coming years.
Bhadla Solar Park	India	2.25	March 20, 2020	Located in the Thar Desert, this plant covers 56 km² and powers about 4.5 million households. It is the world's largest solar plant in terms of installed capacity.
Hainan Solar Park	China	2.25	2020	Located on Hainan Island, this plant benefits from optimal sunlight.
Pavagada Solar Park	India	2.05	2019	Located in Karnataka, it is one of the largest in India.
Benban Solar Park	Egypt	1.8	2019	Located in the Benban region, it is one of the largest in Africa.
Noor Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	1.17	2019	The largest single-site solar plant, located in Sweihan.
Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base	China	1.0 (Phase I)	2016	Phase I completed, total project of 3 GW in several phases. Uses advanced technologies to maximize efficiency.
Botley West Solar Farm	United Kingdom	0.84	Planned for 2026	Awaiting approval, this project could become the largest in Western Europe.
Gemini Solar Project	United States	0.69	2024	Hybrid project with storage, located in Nevada.
Noor Ouarzazate	Morocco	0.58	2016	CSP and photovoltaic solar complex, the world's largest concentrated solar complex, covering 3,000 hectares.
Topaz Solar Farm	United States	0.55	2014	Located in California, it is one of the largest in the United States.
Cestas Solar Park	France	0.3	2015	Located southwest of Bordeaux, covers 300 hectares, the first major solar plant in Europe.