INTRODUCTION OF DISH STIRLING SYSTEMS IN MOROCCO
PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR A MOROCCAN - GERMAN CO-OPERATION
Volker Häussermann
Postgraduate Program for International Affairs, Robert Bosch Foundation, Mettelberg 4, D-71540 Murrhardt, Germany,
Phone: ++49 (0) 171 44 27 132, E-mail: Volker.Haussermann@cdi.fr
Wolfgang Schiel
Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, Hohenzollernstraße 1, D-70178 Stuttgart, Germany, Phone:+49 (0) 711-68471-0,
Fax: +49 (0) 711 68471-66, E-mail: w.schiel@sbp.de
The future
energy consumption will double, up to the year 2020 (numbers from the IEA). Especially in second and third world countries, the enormous demand for energy will challenge decision makers all around the world to find new solutions. The limited amount of fossil resources and their impact on the environment do not longer allow to generate all the required energy from fossil fuels. An energy-mix which employs more and more renewable resources for the world energy supply has to be found. However, the density of energy with renewables is not the same as for fossil resources. Thus, in introducing renewables, the tendency is away from the large central power stations towards smaller and more decentralised power plants.
Morocco’s per capita energy consumption is only a fraction of the average in industrialised countries, but its demand is drastically increasing, especially in rural areas. However, Morocco’s balance of trade has a deficit of more than 30% and its foreign debts are constantly increasing due to its strong dependency on primary energy importation (more than 95%). Morocco’s single infinite energy resource is the sun or to a minor degree the wind, which is a deviate from solar energy, anyway.
Dish Stirling systems are small power generation sets 5kWel -25kWel (50kWel) which directly transfer the radiant energy of the sun into electricity. They represent a fairly simple technology which, due to its modularity, is very flexible and could be build as single stand-alone units or grouped together in medium size plants with outputs up to 10MWel. They are ideal for decentral applications. The technology of the system, with its steel parts, engine and tracking system is much comparable to that of cars but very much simpler. Thus the manufacturing and assembling of the system could be very well done by the local Moroccan industry.
A multiphase co-operation program for the market introduction of Dish Stirling systems with Morocco is proposed. First, a prototype will be installed in Morocco. Second, a demonstration plant with around 100 units will be erected. Third a production line for Dish Stirling Systems in Morocco will be initiated within a join-venture and then, in the long run a competitive production will be established.
For the realisation of the prototype, the Moroccans will be integrated into a current development program for a new generation of Dish Stirling Systems. Within this program, the financial aspects for the prototype, the education and supervision in the operation of this technology and the development of a future strategy will be performed. With a close co-operation and an intensive education program, the local acceptance and thus the local motivation for the implementation of Dish Stirling systems can be stimulated.
With the establishment of the Dish Stirling technology in Morocco, local employment could be created, the „Local Value Added" component increased and the dependency on primary energy import could be reduced. Only with an intense local involvement in such an electrification program, a sustainable development could be expected.
A success of the fairly simple Dish Stirling technology would improve the credibility of solar thermal power generation as an answer to global climate and environmental questions, as well as an answer to local unemployment and local trade deficits in many second and third world countries. The Dish Stirling System could be a step towards the future solar age.
This Paper describes how the Dish Stirling technology can be a great opportunity for Morocco. It explains why in particular this technology could play an important role for the economic situation of Morocco and how it could be implemented in Morocco.
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