CSP Today - Emerging Markets

Weekly Intelligence Brief: January 23 - 30

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:25:04 +0000

Précis:

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes Spain's suspension of RE FITs; Nur Energie, Top Oilfield Services; Masdar, Energy Technology Partnership; Wind Prospect CWP, Areva, CS Energy, FK Gardner; Siemens Energy, Godawari Green Energy, Corporate Ispat Alloys, Lanco Solar Energy; Torresol Energy.

Spain suspends renewable energy FIT

Spain’s government has issued a Royal Decree to temporarily suspend feed-in tariffs for renewable energy generating facilities including wind, photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, cogeneration, hydro and biogas.

The latest Royal Decree is not retroactive and does not affect projects that have already secured feed-in tariffs. It does, however, affect all projects that have not yet been entered in Spain’s register of renewable energy and cogeneration projects as of the date the decree was approved.

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A second chance for CSP in India

Jenny Muirhead — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:39:42 +0000

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After postponing Phase Two bidding for CSP projects in December to focus on Phase One, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has now extended the completion deadline for the delayed NSM projects under Phase One. What led to this decision and how will it impact future projects?

By Heba Hashem

Relief from millions in fines

A lenient move made by India’s MNRE to stretch the completion deadline for seven delayed CSP projects under the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase One and waive millions of dollars in penalties has been well-received by stakeholders and solar communities all over the world.

The new deadline for these projects – 470 MW in total – has now been pushed from May 10, 2013 to March 10, 2014, allowing developers 10 additional months.

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CSP Today LATAM

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CSP in India, courtesy of Gopal Lal Somani

Why storage is important for CSP developments in South Africa

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:53:43 +0000

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This article provides an overview of recent global research findings on the benefits of energy storage, and then hones in on the latest developments in South Africa regarding CSP with TES.

Recent energy storage research findings
A new report, ‘Simulating the value of Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage in a Production Cost Model’ (8 January 2013) from the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has found that there are considerable benefits to be had from the utilization of CSP and available energy storage methods for an organisation’s optimal mix of energy sources.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Should CSP stand with or against other renewables in MENA?

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:37:35 +0000

Précis:

While concentrated solar power continues to make progress in the Middle East & North Africa, the industry is now assessing whether the technology is in competition with other renewable sources or should be working with them towards the common goal of wider acceptance.

With the number of solar and wind projects on the rise across the region, PV and CSP companies are starting to establish which markets are most receptive of their technology. Aside from the obvious exception of Saudi Arabia, which presents both PV and CSP with a large opportunity, trends are emerging in the region. While Morocco and Tunisia have CSP plants under development, other markets like Jordan and Oman have started developments with PV.

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New: CSP Today Live Debates

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:02:02 +0000

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Listen to an evaluation of the 41GW Saudi solar market

The recordings of this first CSP Today Live Debates are ready. You can get a copy from: http://www.csptoday.com/global-tracker/content9.php

During the 30 minutes programme we discussed the recent Saudi announcement about their plans for CSP. Belén Galllego discussed the main points in the KA Care white paper with 3 leading experts:

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Developing a CSP strategy for the Middle East and North Africa

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:37:42 +0000

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For the concentrated solar power industry, the MENA region represents a key pocket of opportunity. But understanding and explaining the CSP proposition is also a challenge that needs to be tackled.

After the Shams 1 CSP plant was commissioned earlier this year, industry figures have been looking to see where a pipeline can develop for the technology in the region. This is one of the key discussion points at this year’s MENASOL (5th Middle East & North Africa Solar Conference), taking place 14-15 May in Dubai.

On the second day of the event both CSP and PV will be discussed in separate tracks, giving attendees the chance to tailor their conference experience towards their chosen technology.

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MENASOL 2013

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CSP & Mining: Identification of potential sites for CSP development

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:48:05 +0000

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With a scope of more than 100 countries around the world, the mining industry offers a potentially lucrative opportunity for CSP.

By Groupe Reaction

As not all mining sites offer adequate solar conditions or proper regulatory frameworks for the support of CSP projects, CSP Today investigates which places around the globe are the most suitable for a CSP and mining match. To do so we answer questions such as which mineral rich countries have the best DNI conditions? And which DNI sufficient mining countries have suitable government incentives?

Mining activities around the world

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CSP and mining in Chile

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:39:20 +0000

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With a mining industry that produces 35% of the world´s copper, it is imperative for Chile´s economic growth to produce energy from a source that is secure, dispatchable and unlimited.

In an exclusive online webinar last week, hosted by CSP Today, experts discussed the positive impact that solar CSP could have on Chile’s mining industry.

With many mining markets located in areas with good DNI conditions, at a glance it seems that the pairing makes perfect sense. CSP could provide a green and potentially cost-competitive source of energy for mining activities, particularly those in emerging markets where access to the electricity grid or gas network may pose a challenge.

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CSP Today LATAM

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Wave of CSP activity across the MENA region

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:22:24 +0000

Précis:

Looking beyond Saudi Arabia, the CSP Today Global Tracker highlighted a number of updates made this week that demonstrate the progression of the concentrated solar power industry in MENA.

While attention has focused heavily on the Saudi Arabian solar opportunity, it should not be forgotten that there are a number of pipelines now opening for CSP companies in the Middle East. The commissioning of the 100MW Shams 1 project in the U.A.E. was undoubtedly a milestone for both the technology and the region, but there are other interesting projects under development, as highlighted by the CSP Today Global Tracker this week.

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MENASOL 2013

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Assessing the point focus Fresnel collector

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:51:55 +0000

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An innovation by King Saud University may help overcome some of the shortcomings of Fresnel technology, for instance by raising heat transfer fluid temperatures above 500ºC.

By Jason Deign

Has King Saud University (KSU) found a way to improve upon CSP’s established Fresnel technology? The Desertec Foundation certainly thinks so.

Endorsing the point focus Fresnel collector (PFFC) prototype being tested at KSU’s Riyadh campus, the Foundation declared that the technology “has strong potential to provide a highly efficient and cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications.

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MENASOL 2013

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Kuwait drafting renewable energy plan for 2030

Beatriz Gonzalez — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:18:40 +0000

Précis:

The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has confirmed that a strategy to utilise renewables is underway, with solar on the agenda.

The plan has been put in place to utilise renewable energy resources as a main resource for the generation of electricity and desalination of water in the State of Kuwait.

KISR explained that the strategy has four main priorities. These are to identify the demand for electricity and water, diversify resources for production, update policies and systems and create convenient conditions for the installation of renewable energy technologies.

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MENASOL 2013

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: March 18 - 25

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:32:09 +0000

Précis:

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Energía Llaima-Sunmark, Banco BCI; SolarReserve, The Saguache County Board of County Commissioners; WWF-Australia, Earth Hour; DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, DuPont, Tate & Lyle.

Denmark’s Crown Prince visits solar thermal plant in Chile

Denmark’s Crown Prince, Frederik, his wife Princess Mary of Denmark, and the country’s Foreign Minister, Villy Sovdal, recently visited the Pampa Elvira Solar project in Chile.

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Shams 1 site visit announced for MENASOL 2013 in May

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:17:33 +0000

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Attendees of the MENASOL 2013 conference (14-15 May, Dubai) will be given the opportunity to visit the recently commissioned Shams 1 CSP plant on May 16 in Abu Dhabi.

Matt Carr announced the news on Friday 22 March, explaining that the popularity of the site visit last year made it an easy choice to make for 2013. “With Shams 1 now online, interest in seeing the plant in action has been enormous,” he said. “We are delighted to give MENASOL attendees the chance to tour the plant and see a key milestone in the progress of the solar industry for themselves.”

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MENASOL 2013

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Masdar will not stop at Shams 1

Jenny Muirhead — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:28:35 +0000

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Shams 1, the world’s largest CSP plant, in terms of both power and size, was launched last Sunday.

CSP Today witnessed the inauguration, and spoke with executives from Masdar, Total and Abengoa Solar, who revealed exclusive insight on what distinguishes this CSP plant from others, the planned operations and maintenance, and how CSP features on Abu Dhabi’s future agenda.

By Heba Hashem

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MENASOL 2013

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Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the UAE (left) looks at Shams 1 CSP plant during the opening ceremony

Women’s Solar Seminar 2013

Beatriz Gonzalez — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:51:42 +0000

Précis:

CSP Today and PV Insider will host this year’s Women’s Solar Seminar in Dubai, with leading speakers including Mona Ghalayini – Chairman Founder of Arab Society for Environmental and Sustainable Development and Lori Atwater, Managing Director, Techni Service Company.

After the success of Women’s Solar Seminar 2012, this year’s event will take place on May 13that the Regency Hyatt Dubai Hotel. This will take place 1 day before MENASOL 2013 the region’s leading utility scale solar conference and exhibition. This has been an exciting time for solar in the Middle East with the recent inauguration of Shams 1 plant earlier this month, and K.A. CARE’s announcement of 41GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar PV projects by 2032, 25GW and 16GW respectively.

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MENASOL 2013

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Masdar’s Shams 1 goes live

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:58:03 +0000

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Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, has officially inaugurated Shams 1. The 100MW project is described as the largest concentrated solar power plant in operation in the world.

The plant covers an area of 2.5 km² im Madinat Zayed in the Western Region. It utilizes parabolic trough technology, with more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors.

Shams 1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar (60%), French company Total (20%) and Spain’s Abengoa Solar (20%). With the addition of Shams 1, Masdar’s renewable energy portfolio accounts for almost 68% of the Gulf’s renewable energy capacity and close to 10% percent of the world’s installed CSP capacity.

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MENASOL 2013

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CSP Today speaks with SASIA about the future of Solar Energy in the Middle East

Nikita Smith — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:33:56 +0000

Précis:

In the lead-up to MENASOL 2013, Browning Rockwell Founder and Director of SASIA (Saudi Arabia Solar Industries Association) shares his views on both CSP and PV in the MENA region.

Now that the industry has had time to consider the 54GW renewable energy strategy in place for Saudi Arabia for 2032, what are your conclusions?

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MENASOL 2013

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Browning Rockwell Founder & Director of SASIA

ACWA'S South African CSP Project Now Scheduled for Late April Start

Jenny Muirhead — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:05:52 +0000

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The Bokpoort CSP project in South Africa's Northern Cape province is expected to get underway in the week of 22nd April this year after a holdup in the financial close at the Department of Energy.

By Tom Nevin

The Bokpoort CSP project in South Africa's Northern Cape province is expected to get underway in the week of 22nd April this year after a holdup in the financial close at the Department of Energy. The anticipated start date of the 50MW parabolic trough installation on the Orange River near Groblershoop was 4th March. The delay was due to the financial close postponement of Round 2 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP), affecting all projects in the programme.

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MENASOL 2013

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Concentrated solar thermal power a good fit for Jordan

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:57:25 +0000

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Jordanian officials to discuss role solar can play in their developing energy mix at MENASOL 2013 (14-15 May, Dubai).

According to the CSP Today Global Tracker, the use of CSP in Jordan is currently under investigation, “while the country is busy implementing reliable low-cost supply of energy using large, conventional and centrally-located power plants and developing its interconnection with neighbouring countries.”

In January of this year, Abu-Dhabi based Masdar signed an agreement with Jordan to secure the company’s involvement in upcoming renewable energy projects there.

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CSP could be the best energy solution for the mining industry

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:53:20 +0000

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Chile could be the make or break of the concentrated solar power industry in finding a way to work closely with the mining industry.

Many mining companies in the Great North would greatly benefit from being able to take advantage of an abundant and free solar resource that could eliminate reliance on expensive energy imports.

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MENA – opportunities for local component manufacture

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:11:08 +0000

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As the CSP industry develops in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) then so it makes sense for components to be manufactured locally.

By Alison Ebbage

Doing so would boost local economies and bring production costs down. Up until now barriers to entry have been high with minimal local manufacture. But the amount of MW expected to come online is now set to provide enough critical mass to merit local investment and skills development to be able to manufacture components locally and create local ‘ownership’. A real opportunity presents itself.

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MENASOL 2013

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Saudi procurement process: a CSP perspective

Jenny Muirhead — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:29:52 +0000

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Saudi Arabia has raised the bar for its renewable energy program, taking its target from the previously announced 41GW to an even more ambitious 54GW by 2032.

The kingdom has now taken action by formulating a preliminary procurement process for industry feedback. What can CSP developers expect in terms of challenges and incentives?

By Heba Hashem

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MENASOL 2013

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Saudi Solar Energy Forum

CSP cost and feasibility considered in MENA webinar

Beatriz Gonzalez — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:58:29 +0000

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A recent CSP Today webinar on the prospects for the concentrated solar thermal power industry in the Middle East and North Africa is now available for viewing.

The 60 minute webinar addressed the opportunities open across the MENA region for CSP companies, with a cost analysis for the technology and a detailed look at hybridization.

Luis Crespo, President of ESTELA, explained during his presentation in the webinar that performance increases in CSP technology will be just as important as CAPEX reduction, which together will make solar thermal plants affordable. The key opportunity to enhance competitiveness will be hybridization, which provides dispatchable, base load power.

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Saudi Arabia CSP Plan Review

Jenny Muirhead — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:44:23 +0000

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Belén Gallego, CSP Today founder, speaks about what exactly the announcement of K.A.Care's White Paper on renewables means for CSP

The Saudi market has often been referred to as the biggest market for the solar industry, and for good reason. The kingdom has an objective of 25GW of operational CSP before 2032. Many solar professionals have been waiting for months, if not years, for the Saudi tender to come out.

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MENASOL 2013

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Mining, CSP and emerging markets: what is the potential?

Jenny Muirhead — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:53:10 +0000

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Mining is fast becoming an area of interest for CSP development – particularly CSP with storage.

This is not surprising: currently the mining industry is present in more than 100 countries around the world. To support the burgeoning demand for mined goods, a large, continuous, supply of energy is needed for extraction purposes and to power equipment. Whilst mines are increasing their production to meet the growing demand, at the same time they are receiving pressure to introduce sustainable, ‘green’, initiatives into their processes.

By Groupe Reaction

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Chile launches its first CSP tendering process

Belén Gallego — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:08:24 +0000

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Santiago de Chile: Jorge Bunster, Minister of Energy, together with Hernán Cheyre, Executive VP of Corfo, yesterday presented the first international CSP tender process in Latam.

The launch took place one year after the announcement by the president Sebastián Piñera of the National Energy Strategy Plan 2012 -2030.

Bunster said that the CSP plant “will allow us to use of natural [solar] resources, diversify our energy mix and will provide us with greater energy independence whilst reducing carbon emissions”

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CSP Today LATAM

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CSP TODAY LATAM welcomes the mining companies

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:45:03 +0000

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CSP Today is proud to announce the launch of CSP Today LATAM taking place on the 17-18 July in Antofagasta, Chile

The 1st CSP Today Latin America event has been scheduled to take place in the Northern city of Antofagasta (Chile) on the 17th and 18th of July. By celebrating the event in Antofagasta, CSP Today is hoping to bring together the CSP & mining industry to find common ground for future developments. CSP Today has finally made available the brochure of the conference, with all the details of the speakers, sponsors and agenda.

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Saudi Arabia solar program gives massive boost to concentrated solar power industry

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:23:31 +0000

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Last week King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A. CARE) announced the first details of their Renewable Energy Program, which contained a number of key takeaways that the CSP industry must now consider.

On 21 February 2013, K.A.CARE announced the launch of its eagerly awaited Renewable Energy Competitive Procurement Portal together with a White Paper outlining how the procurement process will take place.

The introductory round of the Competitive Procurement Process (CPP) will consist of five to seven projects utilising different technologies. The winners of this first round are expected to be announced in the next 9 to 12 months. Estimates for the CSP allocation are around 900 MW for the introductory round and 1,200 MW for the second round.

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MENASOL 2013

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Desertec: why it still makes sense

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:50:36 +0000

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With German vendors dropping out and unrest spreading across the Sahara, it would be easy to write off Desertec’s North African ambitions. Do not be too hasty, though.

Recent events do not seem to bode well for Desertec, the ambitious plan to ship CSP from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.

First of all, there is the fact that two of the major industrial backers behind the project, Bosch and Siemens, last year pulled out of the Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii), a private industrial consortium aiming to fulfil Desertec’s vision in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

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MENASOL 2013

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