Sustainable Desert Power

Cover Sustainable Desert Power
Discussing the future of cross-border renewable electricity exchange between the Southern Mediterranean and Europe

This paper discusses the future of cross-border renewable electricity exchange between Europe and Southern Mediterranean countries as defined under Article 9 of the EU Renewable Energy Directive from a development policy perspective.

While many hurdles are still blocking the implementation of Article 9, the authors argue in favor of Southern Mediterranean electricity imports into Europe in the mid- to long term because of their potential contribution towards a low-carbon development trajectory for the Euro-Mediterranean region.

For the case that electricity were indeed to be exported from Southern Mediterranean countries to Europe in accordance with Article 9, the paper outlines the energy-development nexus and argues why both sides should insist not only on “green electricity” but on “sustainable electricity”.

In the end, the paper makes the case for a “Sustainable Desert Power” certificate and concludes with recommendations how it could be moved forward at the European level.

Author(s)
Boris Schinke, Jens Klawitter (with input by Sharlissa Moore and Natalia Caldes Gomez)
Publication date
Pages
24
Document type
Briefing Paper
Order number
14-2-09e
Nominal fee
5.00 EUR