Europe is considering plans to spend more than 5 billion pounds on a string of giant solar power stations along the Mediterranean desert shores of northern Africa and the Middle East.

An estimated 100 billion watts of power could be generated. Two thirds of it would be kept for local needs, the rest–around 30 billion watts–would be exported to Europe, enough to provide Europe with a sixth of its electricity needs and to allow it to make significant cuts in its carbon emissions.

At the same time, the stations would be used as desalination plants to provide desert countries with desperately needed supplies of fresh water.

Also see: TREC: Clean Power from Deserts