The potential for solar power from the desert has been known for decades. In the days after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, the German particle physicist Gerhard Knies calculated that the world’s deserts receive enough energy in a few hours to provide for humanity’s power needs for a whole year. The challenge, though, has been capturing that energy and transporting it to the population centers where it is required. Experts expect that solar energy will make up a third of Morocco’s renewable energy supply by 2020, with wind and hydro taking the same share each. “We are very proud of this project,” Morocco’s environment minister, Hakima el-Haite said. “I think it is the most important solar plant in the world.”
What did Gerhard Knies say?
The entire world can be powered for a year with only a few hours of desert energy The world can supply a year-worth of energy to the desert within a few hours Solar energy will make up a third of Morocco’s renewable energy supply by 2020 The planet will run out of energy resources sooner than people believe