The wind energy industry was initially encouraged to provide employment in the relatively poor North Sea regions of Germany. In the last 10 years, however, it has emerged  as a major business providing most competitive prices of electricity even when operated under marginal European wind conditions. The trade winds that blow along the Atlantic coast from Morocco to Senegal represent the largest and most productive wind potentials available on Earth. Because of the erratic nature of winds, however, wind energy cannot be integrated locally on any significant scale unless far-ranging, more advanced energy technologies are considered. The Sahara Wind Energy Development Project is looking at ways in which these large trade wind resources could be used to benefit both North Africa and Europe.

By Khalid Benhamou, Sahara Wind Inc., Morocco