Sunny future empowers Europe
BBC News
Desertec, a consortium of 12 European businesses, plans to build a huge network of solar power plants and transmission grids across the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East to supply power to Europe. The first stage will start in the Sahara, focusing sunlight using parabolic mirrors to heat water that will drive steam turbines and produce electricity all year long.
So what?The massive project aims to supply 15 percent of Europe's power needs by 2050. After an initial investment of $400 billion to build power plants and a grid of energy efficient cables, the power generated will essentially be free courtesy of the Sun.