SEPA Workshop 2009
SolarEnergyPartnership between Africa and Europe
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen
The aim of SEPA09 is to stimulate trans-disciplinary discussions on the future energy supply of Europe and Africa. Following the DESERTEC concept, a possible future option for both continents is the installation of a significant amount of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems in the deserts of Africa. Many people call this plan unrealistic, others claim that this plan is not an option, it is a necessity.
Since our previous workshop SEPA08 the world has changed dramatically, not only because of the financial crisis. The last year’s oil prices and the Russian gas cut to Ukraine were another wake-up call to remind us that our energy supplies based on fossil resources are neither stable nor secure. As a reaction, our nuclear power industry is preparing for a renaissance in Europe and is searching new customers in the Arabian and African countries. As a complementary approach, some countries start to invest in large scale CSP, like Spain and the USA.
Our workshop will focus on the interplay of technical, economical, geographical, political and historical conditions that will have to be understood in order to make a smooth transition from our current world situation to a stable, sustainable and adequate energy supply for Europe and Africa.
We will try to make the workshop effective and inspiring as well for experts as for students and other interested participants.