When desalination is described as both energy-intensive and a carbon-intensive process, does this not put pretty stiff caps on the idea of migrating desalination from current energy types to solar? What energy sources are being used in the design of solar or the nacent desalination technology, the sourcing of materials, the manufacturing, transportation and installation of hardware and all the related industries, and isn't it more about economic growth?

Energy constraints are caused by growth objectives, population growth (and the potential problems caused by climatic variation.) Would arid, energy rich regions not develop a vulnerability through increasing capacity through increasing infrastructure. Not to say that diversification isn't a good idea, just that redunancy and optionality would benefit more with less growth.

I wonder whether much of the renewable industry's projections actually come close to meeting their stated goals. Net-zero is being prioritized without the rationale required to develop the technology and impliement it on these grand scales, without the input energy costs and long-term energy reductions being well thought out. Net-net more energy is going to be utilized, unless it is done very, very well of couse.

I could be wrong. But some of these ideas of urbanization in deserts seem less sustainable.

Thanks for sharing the link, some interesting links to follow through to in the article.

TL:DR

In other words, with solar power rising and oil becoming less important, and with its demographics in a favorable position, the Middle East is primed for an economic and political reinvention. The green energy transition may not be quite as momentous an event for the Middle East as the Industrial Revolution was for Europe, but it’s still going to be a big deal.

Half a century from now, the desert may bloom, and the region may be a powerhouse of green energy, industry, and software, rather than the playground of oil sheikhs, warlords, and hyper-religious madmen. I know it’s a bold prediction, but stranger things have happened.