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The bad news: the United Nations IPCC released its updated report — stating that the planet and all humans will suffer dire consequences if we stay on our current path of fossil fuel energy usage. As you know, we are already seeing stronger and more frequent storms, severe droughts and wildfires, and climate refugees.
The good news: We have solutions today! Renewable energy is vast and cost competitive.
I recently returned from a tour of Morocco, and visited the largest Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant in the world: Noor (meaning "light") Projects 1,2, and 3. This 580MW three phase
installation provides 1/3 of Morocco's electricity needs today. While Noor covers 6,000+ acres, we drove hours across vast empty deserts with suitable locations for many more.
What's so different about Noor? These plants use thermal salt storage — so they produce electricity during the day and continue generating into the night when the demand often increases. Their stored heat acts as a short term battery.
With support from the World Bank, Morocco plans to develop additional solar power plants, build high-voltage transmission and sell this clean energy to its African and European neighbors.
Sometimes the best answers are right in front of us. This solution works on all continents and between all nations: Develop renewables, build transmission and we all share the benefits.
In Partnership for the Planet, |
