Bremen, Germany. KAEFER Isoliertechnik participates in one of the most ambitious projects for securing a sustainable energy supply in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa: It is among the world’s first companies to be named “Associated Partner” by the Desertec Industries (Dii). This joint venture plans to establish a regulatory framework for investments into renewable energy technologies and international power grids. Dii wants to supply the EUMENA region (Europe, Middle East and North Africa) with power produced from sun and wind energy sources in desert regions. The goal is to produce sufficient power to meet about 15 percent of Europe’s electricity requirements by 2050. At the same time, Dii wants to provide a significant boost for the economies of the producer countries.
The underlying idea was developed by the Club of Rome, which has concerned itself with major questions regarding the future of humanity since the club’s inception more than 40 years ago. To advance the concept, the club’s German branch launched the DESERTEC Foundation in 2003. Last year, twelve major corporations and the DESERTEC Foundation joined forces to start the Desertec Industries. The joint venture now pushes for implementation of the idea.
In addition to the shareholders, a limited number of companies can join Dii as “Associated Partners”. To do so, they must support the concept of DESERTEC, add relevant know-how and help to fund the Initiative. KAEFER was selected on the basis of its outstanding expertise in the field of insulation technologies – a very important area for the Initiative as the power is harnessed under extreme weather conditions in the desert and the energy has to be transmitted over thousands of kilometres while keeping power losses as low as possible.
“KAEFER is also an ideal partner for Dii because we have already implemented many projects in the Middle East and Africa,” emphasises Peter Hoedemaker, Chairman of KAEFER’s Group Executive Committee. The group is represented in more than 45 countries. “In addition, we are very experienced in the field of solar power. Moreover, sustainability and responsibility are the foundations of our business development.” The company’s official vision aims “to eliminate the energy waste”.
The DESERTEC concept includes building a decentralised network of solar and wind power plants in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Many facilities could be located near coasts, making it possible to utilise excess energy in seawater desalination plants which provide water for agriculture or other uses. In this way, DESERTEC offers an integrated solution to several global problems of the coming decades: climate change, shortage of water and diminishing fossil fuels.
The shareholders of the Desertec Industries are convinced that the project’s main challenges will not be of a technical or financial nature. Instead, the main focus is on the political and regulatory framework: Governments will have to provide the required legal certainty and investment protection, because the generated power will travel across borders – just as in oil pipelines. The Desertec Industries is optimistic that political solutions will be possible, since everybody benefits significantly from this initiative.
KAEFER is the world’s largest independent provider of complete insulation solutions. In 2009 KAEFER generated revenues of €1.2 billion. KAEFER’s core business is carried out in its Industry, Offshore, Shipbuilding, Construction and Aerospace divisions. Headquartered in Bremen, the company has operations in over 50 countries, a current workforce of around 17,000 and is led by Peter Hoedemaker (Chairman of the Group Executive Committee).
