The DESERTEC Foundation, an initiative of the Club of Rome, will hold the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative founding meeting (Monday, 13 July) in Munich, Germany, to launch one of the largest and most ambitious international energy projects ever conceived.

"By using the inexhaustible solar energy of the deserts, the DESERTEC project stands to revolutionise the way in which energy is harnessed and supplied," HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, former President of the Club of Rome, and DESERTEC Foundation Member said today.

A collective of German firms including Munich Re, Siemens and Deutsche Bank have pledged their support for the project which involves the creation of a 'solar technology belt' across the Middle East and North Africa through the use of specially configured mirrors to harness the intense energy of the desert sun.

"The use of fossil fuels is a threat to our natural living conditions. The DESERTEC project, by contrast, could potentially supply us all with unlimited environmentally sustainable, clean and affordable energy within the next 10 years,” HRH Prince Hassan said.

Additionally, HRH Prince Hassan noted that the partnerships that will be formed across the regions as a result of the DESERTEC project will open a new chapter in relations between the people of the European Union and West Asia – North Africa (WANA).

"DESERTEC now provides an opportunity for both Europe and the WANA region to form a 'community of water and energy' for the human environment, which will increase human security and future prosperity,” HRH added.

HRH also emphasised the need for the development of a 'long term' international energy policy to include an institutional framework that goes beyond the current 'go green' approach. Such a policy should offer new incentives for the management and protection of common resources, and move away from the US dollar-crude oil link as the essential benchmark of economic growth.

"Changes to international energy policy will also need to take into account the increased industrialisation of the WANA region and the need to meet the energy demands of the fast growing population in this region."

About the DESERTEC Foundation

The DESERTEC Foundation was established by members of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) Network with support from His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal and the German Association for the Club of Rome. The TREC-Network, which developed the DESERTEC Concept, serves as the primary ambassador and promoter of the project. TREC was founded in 2003 by an initiative of the Club of Rome, the Jordanian National Energy Research Centre (NERC), under the Chairmanship of HRH Prince Hassan, and the Hamburg Climate Protection Foundation with the aim of achieving fast climate, energy and water security by a joint effort of the EU-WANA regions.