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Sahara Wind moderates “Power-to-X for a cross-regional energy transition” at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Brussels, February 17 2020

Is there a missing international link in the European Green Deal? Is it the right framework for a Power-to-X and Hydrogen ramp-up? Can EU climate targets be leveraged in the context of a Euro-Mediterranean energy transition? By answering these questions in a Workshop Panel organized at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Brussels, a lively debate ensued. It involved the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) as well as European industrial operators and their Morocco applied research (IRESEN) and Tunisia counterparts, in the presence of Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Sahara Wind at COP25 in Madrid, December 2019

Showcasing Success of Renewable Energy Technologies Working Together, Sahara Wind was invited by the REN Alliance to present Global Wind Energy achievements. REN Alliance is a coalition of five renewable industry organizations regrouping Hydro, Solar, Wind, Biomass and the Geothermal sector. Its aim is to demonstrate how renewables can work together in different local, national and regional contexts to meet the world’s energy needs. Sahara Wind attended COP25 on behalf of the World Wind Energy Association.

Sahara Wind at MEDays, November 13-16 2019

The MEDays 2019 Forum on "The global distrust crisis: facing subversion and uncertainties” from 13th to 16th November 2019 in Tangier – Morocco, gathered over 4500 participants with several heads of state to assess the current state of play in global affairs. As a ‘Forum of the South’ of the Institut Amadeus focused on the African continent the “Global Energy Governance” workshop and the panels on "Energy & Power: Connecting the Continent, Improving Security, Financing Projects” have amongst others, been moderated by Khalid Benhamou, CEO of Sahara Wind.

Sahara Wind at the Paris Peace Forum, November 11-13 2019

The Paris Peace Forum is the annual international meeting for all actors of global governance initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron. As a global platform for governance of project, the Paris Peace Forum looks for solutions that help minimize international tensions: cooperation to fight climate change and resource scarcity, institutions to channel power rivalries and administer global public goods, justice to assuage grievances, and regulation to address inequalities and abuses of power. To reinvent contemporary cooperation with 140 countries represented, this high-level event gathered over 7000 participants amongst which 33 heads of state and governments.

‘The Sahara Wind project Atlantic trade winds powering Africa’s 1st Multi-Gigawatt regional transmission infrastructure’ presented at the Energy Law Group’s 6th Energy Event in Copenhagen

The Energy Law Group’s 6th Energy Event looked at the Sahara Wind project phased roll-out. During the ‘Energy and mining in Africa | Opportunities and challenges’ workshop, Sahara Wind demonstrated how transformative wind-desalinated agriculture, carbon-free iron-ore and phosphate processing are likely to provide a scaled, operational balancing to Africa’s 1st Multi-Gigawatt HVDC transmission infrastructure. Created in 1993, the Energy Law Group offers market leading advice to corporations, banks, state entities, regulators and institutions operating in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Sahara Wind presented at the Millennium Fellowship Initiative at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir, July 12-13 2019

Organized by the Moroccan Millennium Leaders Association (MML) with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP Group), the first edition of the Global Energy Initiative brought together more than 100 young people from 12 regions of Morocco. Coached by opinion leaders, institutional officials and managers in a series of workshops under the theme of "Collective Intelligence for Sustainable Development", participants initiated this inclusive leadership program aimed at the South, based on shared and mutual support values.

Sahara Wind at the EU Sustainable Energy Week Policy Conference in Brussels, June 18-20 2019

In order to decarbonize the European steel industry responsible for 30% of the EU’s industrial emissions, 400 TWh of additional renewable electricity will be needed. This capacity is close to that of an entire country like France. Pioneering electrochemical technologies in Mauritania whose main economy relies on iron-ore exports, the Sahara Wind project provides a unique setting for the carbon-free transformation of iron-ore into steel. The European Sustainable Energy Week (#EUSEW19) enabled lively discussions over these issues. Sahara Wind provided its contribution for achieving the EU’s ambitious deep decarbonization goals by 2050, to meet the Paris agreement’s objectives.

Sahara Wind at the North Africa Renewable Energy Summit 2019, June 24 in Casablanca, Morocco

Sahara Wind’s scaled-up access to the Atlantic Trade Winds presented at the North Africa Renewable Energy Summit 2019. Feeding North African load centers from the Sahara trade wind-blown Atlantic coastline will require a High Voltage Direct Current Transmission line. The scale of Sahara Wind’s 1300 km point to point HVDC line enables regional industries to transition into a carbon-free age. From fertilizers to steel, renewable wind-hydrogen can sustainably transform the regions’ phosphates and iron-ore deposits. By pioneering these technologies in support of Morocco and Mauritania’s energy transitions, Sahara Wind moderated the NARES2019 opening sessions. Backed by recent International Energy Agency studies, Sahara Wind’s regional clean business cases were also presented during this event.

'Deep impact: Sahara Wind's transformative access to the Atlantic Trade Winds' presented at the 2nd International Congress on Desert Economy at ENCG-Dakhla

The phased deployment of Sahara Wind’s HVDC line will sustain the expansion of the region’s cities and agriculture irrigated by wind-desalination plants. Cutting edge electrochemical technologies introduced by Sahara Wind are being tested in pilot projects. As a result, local mining operations can be upgraded into high-efficient CO2-free fertilizer and steel industries. Recently published climate models suggest that increased surface friction of thousands of wind turbines from Sahara Wind’s multi-Giga-Watt project could affect the trade winds. This can lead to a twofold precipitation increase in the Sahel. The impacts of Sahara Wind's transformative access to the Atlantic Trade Winds were discussed at ENCG-Dakhla during the 2nd International Congress on Desert Economy, on April 17-18th 2019.

Sahara Wind at Berlin's Energy Transition Dialogue 2019, April 09-10th

The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) gathered 50 ministers and state secretaries and over 2000 guests from 100 countries. Stakeholders of the energy sector, industry, science and civil society shared their experiences and ideas on a safe, affordable and environmentally responsible global energy transition. Stressing the importance of a local ownership of the energy transition process, Sahara Wind joined the open panel on ‘Energy diversification and technology as drivers of stability and peace’ of Day 2 at #BETD2019.

Sahara Wind at the Panel discussion over Morocco’s economic strategy and outlook on February 19th 2019

The Euromoney Morocco Conference explored the strategic financial implications of Morocco’s ‘pivot to Africa’. During the 1st panel discussion, Sahara Wind provided insights over key assets likely to shape the region’s economic future. While Policy-makers, business people, financiers and investors were positive on the opportunities; education, training and social inclusion were cited as drags to bring Morocco towards its 2030 goals. Capital markets, financial inclusion and digitization also need to accelerate to deliver economic growth across wide segments of the population.  Morocco was nevertheless praised for its energy and commitment to a multi-lateral model of development, regional leadership/integration and its economic and political stability which make it stand out in the region.

‘Sahara Wind: a business case for Clean Water, Energy, Steel and Global Food Security’ presented at Sorbonne University in Paris

At the invitation of the Sorbonne-Energy Law Student’s Association, the Sahara Wind project was presented on February 07th, 2019 at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. This event opened a lively discussion over North Africa’s energy transition and its implications on water and electricity access on a continental level. The leveraged transformation of resources available on the Sahara Atlantic coastline and their impact on world food security were also addressed.