Desertec

About

Founded in 2009, Desertec is a ngo headquartered in Germany specializing in Solar, Wind, Energy Storage.

Desertec Foundation, established in 2009, is a think tank and advocacy organization dedicated to harnessing the energy potential of deserts worldwide to advance the global energy transition. The foundation promotes the strategic development of solar thermal power plants (CSP), photovoltaic installations, and wind farms in desert regions, particularly the Sahara. A core innovation is the use of iron powder as a sustainable energy carrier—renewable electricity from desert solar installations can convert iron oxide to iron powder for transport globally, then be burned in existing coal infrastructure without CO2 emissions. The foundation operates through three complementary strategies: public education and awareness-raising, political advocacy and lobbying, and concrete project development. Desertec works with scientific institutions, businesses, governments, and NGOs across Africa, Europe, and beyond to overcome regulatory barriers and accelerate investment in desert-based renewable energy systems. The foundation emphasizes that less than 2% of the Sahara's surface could theoretically supply the world's electricity demand.

Projects