Author Archives: Hamza Hamouchene

About Hamza Hamouchene

Dr Hamza Hamouchene is an Algerian campaigner, writer, researcher and a founding member of London-based Algeria Solidarity Campaign (ASC) campaigning for peaceful democratic change in Algeria, and Environmental Justice North Africa (EJNA). He previously worked for Global Justice Now on issues of climate, food and trade justice. His writings appeared in the Guardian, Counterpunch, New Internationalist, Red Pepper, Jadaliyya, openDemocracy, Pambazuka, El Watan, Maghreb Emergent and Huffington Post.

Desertec: What Went Wrong?

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A plan to power Europe from solar power plants in Sahara desert, popularly known as Desertec, seems to have stalled, but several large North African solar projects are still going ahead despite local concerns. Where did the Desertec project go wrong, and can desert solar power yet play a role in a democratic and sustainable future? If you use social media, you may well have seen a graphic going around, showing a tiny square in the Sahara desert with the caption: ‘This much solar power in the Sahara would provide enough energy for the whole world!’ Can this really be true? It is … Continue reading →