Medgrid

MEDGRID Project
DurationJuly 2010 – till date
Goal"To develop an Euro-Mediterranean electricity network of 20 GW generating capacity, primarily from solar and wind farms stretching across the MENA region; with 5 GW being devoted for exports to Europe"
OrganizationMedgrid
EstablishedJuly 2010
Estimated completion2020—2025[1]
Estimated budget€5 billion[1]
(US$6.6 billion)
Key peopleAndré Merlin,[2]
CEO of Medgrid
Shareholders and partnersSee consortium

Medgrid project, created at the end of 2010 in Paris, is a large industrial project planned in North Africa, which aims to promote and develop a Euro-Mediterranean electricity network that would provide North Africa & Europe with inexpensive renewable electricity, mostly from solar.[3] The goal is to install 20 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity, with 5 GW being devoted for exports to Europe.[4][5]

The Medgrid project was envisioned by a consortium of twenty plus utilities, grid operators, equipment makers, financing institutions and investors, mostly European.[6][7]

On 24 Nov 2011, a MoU was signed between Medgrid and Desertec Industry Initiative (Dii) to study, design and promote an interconnected electrical grid with the 400 billion euro ($536 billion) renewable energy 'Desertec' project in North Africa.[8][9][10][11] The medgrid together with Desertec would serve as the backbone of the 'European Supergrid' and the benefits of investing in HVDC technology are being assessed to reach the final goal – the 'SuperSmart Grid (SSG)'.[12][13]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MEDG13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MEDGRID-O-01 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Abengoa signs Medgrid agreement in Paris". energetica-india.net. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2011.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Medgrid to Study Developing a Mediterranean Power Grid for Solar Energy". 10 December 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Medgrid – the new French Desertec". renewablesinternational.net. 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference MEDG04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference MEDG05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Huge medgrid joins giant solar desertec plan". greenprophet.com. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  9. ^ "EU Commission welcomes Desertec and Medgrid cooperation on solar energy in North Africa and the Middle East". Europa (web portal). 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Medgrid Co developmental plan with Desertec project Secretary" (PDF). dii-eumena.com. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Arab Spring a short-term problem for solar-Medgrid". Reuters. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  12. ^ "Desertec and Medgrid: Competitive or compatible?". social.csptoday.com. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Survey paper 2: A European Supergrid: Present State and Future Challenges Authors: S. Cole, K. Karoui, T.K. Vrana, O.B. Fosso, J.B. Curis, A.M. Denis, C.C. Liu" (PDF). pscc-central.org. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.