Sustainable Desert Power

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.