Europe Plans Solar Power Project

The European Parliament is considering plans to fund a £5bn energy project using solar power stations built along the Mediterranean desert shores of Northern Africa and the Middle East.

Backed by Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, the project could provide the EU with a sixth of its electricity needs - and cut carbon emissions, writes the Observer newspaper.

The generators, each fitted with thousands of huge mirrors, would transmit electricity by undersea cable for distribution across Europe and its member nations.

Developed by the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Corporation, the project is supported by engineers and politicians in Europe as well as countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Europe would provide initial funds for developing the solar technology and for constructing prototype stations.

By staff writer