The DESERT-VISION Team has been engaged in thermo-solar power generation since 2009.
We have closely followed the ambitious DESERTEC project from the beginning and are well-acquainted
with the initial challenges it faced.
Lessons from the DESERTEC Project
In 2009, the DESERTEC Foundation was established with the goal of generating solar power in the deserts
of North Africa and transmitting it to Europe via low-loss high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines.
Despite its visionary approach, the project failed due to several factors:
Dipl. Ing. Mario Zapata
COO - Latin America
Prof. Dr. Babacar Diop
COO - Africa
Stanley Charles Louis
COO - Australia
Middle East
Pablo Sanchez
COO - USA
International Area Manager
Several Partner Companies
The DESERT-VISION Team has been engaged in thermo-solar power generation since 2009.
We have closely followed the ambitious DESERTEC project from the beginning and are well-acquainted
with the initial challenges it faced.
Lessons from the DESERTEC Project
In 2009, the DESERTEC Foundation was established with the goal of generating solar power in the deserts
of North Africa and transmitting it to Europe via low-loss high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines.
Despite its visionary approach, the project failed due to several factors:
•
Geopolitical risks in the generating countries
•
High investment and operational costs for solar field technologies at the time
•
Maintenance-intensive and expensive molten salt thermal storage systems
•
One-dimensional economic model relying solely on electricity sales
•
Insufficient experience with large-scale power transmission via HVDC lines
Technological Advancements and New Framework Conditions
Several key parameters have since changed, enabling the efficient implementation of a large-scale solar
thermal project within Europe:
Optimal solar locations within the EU:
The Spanish Mediterranean coast now receives solar radiation of up to 2,000 kWh/m², comparable to
desert regions.
This eliminates geopolitical risks entirely.
Innovative solar field technology:
DESERT-VISION linear mirrors are extremely robust, cost-effective to produce, and fully automated.
They are manufactured directly on-site at the power plant, significantly reducing time, logistics, and costs.
Automated maintenance and self-monitoring:
Large-scale DESERT-VISION solar fields are fully autonomous in cleaning and monitoring.
Faulty linear mirrors are detected in real-time by AI-powered monitoring systems and replaced within 30
minutes.
Compared to previous systems, maintenance efforts are minimized.
The solar field's lifespan far exceeds that of earlier technologies.
Revolutionary thermal energy storage:
Solid-state storage with high-temperature vacuum insulation replaces the previously maintenance-intensive
molten salt storage.
These storage units enable highly efficient, low-loss energy retention to balance grid fluctuations.
They are designed to store large amounts of energy and release it dynamically - not only for nighttime
supply but also for grid stabilization.
Grid stability and flexibility through intelligent load distribution:
Flexible operation modes: The power plant can either reduce power output and store excess energy, or
direct surplus power to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants for freshwater production.
This makes DESERT-VISION power plants highly grid-stabilizing and particularly valuable as a
complement to fluctuating wind and photovoltaic power plants.
Economic Advantages of DESERT-VISION Power Plants
Exceptional cost-effectiveness through multiple revenue streams:
Large-scale CO
2
-free electricity production with zero fuel costs Freshwater production and sales via
integrated desalination plants.
Revenue from CO
2
-certificates due to emission-free operation.
Additional income from leasing land under the solar mirrors for industrial or agricultural use.
High-performance power transmission:
HVDC lines are now a well-established technology, with transmission distances exceeding 3,000 km.
Low-loss transmission ensures cost-efficient and secure energy supply across Europe.
The DESERT-VISION Millennium Project – Europe’s Path to Energy Independence
By leveraging advanced HVDC transmission technology, DESERT-VISION is setting new standards for
sustainable energy security.
Conclusion
The innovative, multifunctional, and highly dynamic thermo-solar power plants of DESERT-VISION,
combined with HVDC transmission, define a new era in renewable energy.
This cutting-edge model is globally scalable and represents a technological breakthrough in efficiency,
flexibility, and economic viability.
Compared to conventional power generation systems, it offers significant advantages in stability, autonomy,
and profitability.
Project Implementation
To ensure smooth project execution, a high-performance consortium is assembled, drawing on decades of
expertise in specialized fields.
Continuous system refinement and immediate integration of the latest technological innovations ensure that
DESERT-VISION power plants remain at the forefront of modern energy solutions.
A selection of our partner companies is presented on this page.
