More Firms Join Desertec Solar Project ($550 billion solar project, N. Africa)

[jpak]

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/more-firms-join-desertec-solar-project/

Desertec – the ambitious $550 billion dollar project to generate electricity for Europe and North Africa through large solar collectors arrayed in the Sahara desert – took a step closer to reality this week with the announcement that the Arizona-based solar manufacturer First Solar had joined the project.

”We believe that North Africa is ideal for renewable energy technologies,” said Pia Alina Lange, a spokeswoman for First Solar in an e-mail message. Ms. Lange said the company would contribute utility-scale photovoltaic technology and expertise as part of the project.

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Earlier this month it was also announced that more companies had joined the project.

”Five companies from Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, France and Italy will join the Desertec solar power project that aims to supply 15 percent of Europe’s power by 2050,” said Paul van Son, the chief executive of Desertec, in an interview with Reuters. Details of these companies have yet to be announced.

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[bananas]

1. Solar Thermal Power in North-Africa: How Much Land to Power the World?

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/solar-thermal-power-photos-how-much-world-europe-germany.php