Why should Arabian countries, which, in some cases, have gigantic gas and oil reserves at their disposal, be interested in solar power exports?
If one uses oil and gas oneself, it cannot be sold. When the oil price hit 150 dollars per barrel in the summer of 2008, it was double the costs of energy from a concentrating solar collection field. Gas and oil-producing countries can hence spare their valuable sources of fossil energy. Climate protection focuses primarily on avoiding the combustion of fossil energy sources. This naturally means reducing global consumption as well as exploiting and exporting coal, oil and gas. Solar power exports open a real economic alternative for many producing and exporting countries of oil, gas and coal. Increasing drinking water shortages in North Africa, Southwest Asia and worldwide will require enormous additional energy supplies for sea water desalination in the medium term. These supplies of energy can only be supplied by solar-thermal power plants in a safe, economical and environmentally friendly manner.
