THE PROSPECT OF THE SAHARA SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE IN ALGERIA AS THE FIRST STAGE OF THE SAHARA SOLAR BREEDER INITIATIVE AND A PROPOSAL FOR THE SECOND STAGE

• Published in: Current politics and economics of Africa Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 419 - 449
• Main Authors: Stambouli, A Boudghene, Benmessaoud, M T, Flazi, S, Yamaguchi, S, Itaka, K, Sumiya, M, Koinuma, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hauppauge Nova Science Publishers, Inc 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Clean technology; Economic development; Economic growth; Electricity distribution; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy policy; Energy research; Feasibility studies; Fossil fuels; Greenhouse gases; Infrastructure; Innovations; Mitigation; National development; Petroleum; Plankton; R&D; Radiation; Renewable energy; Research & development; Science; Silicon; Sobriety; Solar energy; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Teams; Technological change; Technology; Transportation; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Asia; Japan; Africa; Algeria
• ISSN: 1098-4070

Global energy consumption is projected to increase, even in the face of substantial declines in fossil energy intensity, at least 2-fold by mid-century relative to the present because of population and economic growth. Currently the world's growing thirst for oil amounts to almost 1000 barrels a second. The ever increasing world energy demand cannot be satisfied much longer with fossil fuels. Achieving solutions to energy problem that we face today requires long-term potential actions for sustainable development. In this regard, renewable energy (RE) resources appear to be crucial and the one of the most efficient and effective solutions for sustainable development. That is why a shift to a more sustainable mix by means of the use of RE sources, an increase of the energy efficiency, energy sobriety and greenhouse gas mitigation measures is needed. The development of technological innovation in the energy fields is central to the success of the energy paradigm shift worldwide. Among RE resources, solar energy is by far the largest untapped resource and major primary energy exploitable resource. Algeria has the highest average solar radiation per square meter of any country in the world and is an interesting case study in that it had quite a slow start in this field but is now forging ahead with RE -at least at the utilities level, boosted by government policy. Progress at residential level is not as fast, though. This has to be rectified for the country to meet the targets set in its National Development Plan. A broad range of intensive and promising research and development is being conducted, under the Sahara Solar Breeder (SSB) project concept, in order to produce technological options that can allow energy security, climate stabilisation and economic development from solar energy. In view of the intermittency of insolation, SSB project provides an especially attractive approach in which solar energy must be dispatched on demand to the end user using High Critical Temperature Supra Conductor (HTcSC) cables. The magnitude of such implied infrastructure transition suggests the need for massive investments in innovative energy research. Anticipated patterns of future energy use and consequent environmental impacts are comprehensively discussed in this article. Also, potential solutions to current problems are identified along with the adoption of the SSB project plan and activities. The relations between RE and sustainable development are described with practical cases of SSB energy policy and its portfolio directed towards continental and global clean energy supply with existing solar grade Silicon production from Sahara sand and diatoms technologies making photovoltaic (PV) a significant contributor within a portfolio of energy sources in the coming 10 to 50 years. An illustrative example of some developed SSB key innovative technologies is presented and more should be challenged together, Algerian and Japanese SSB research teams, to seek the paradigm shift in global energy production and transport system. In both cases, the research is emanating from the University of Sciences and Technology of Oran (USTO-MB) in line with Saida University.