If just 0.3% of the Sahara Desert was used as a concentrating solar plant, it would produce enough clean power to provide all of Europe with clean renewable energy. That is why 20 German companies are gathering next month to discuss plans and investments to carry out a 400 billion-Euro project proposed by the Desertec Foundation, to erect 100 GW of concentrating solar power plants throughout North Africa.
Instead of constructing the entire project in just one location, Desertec plans to scatter the plants throughout several politically stable countries. The power generated would be transported over high-voltage DC lines across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, where it would supply 15% of the energy demand.
Along with providing clean energy, this project also aims at providing fresh drinking water and farming the desolate desert region by building desalination plants that will use concentrated solar power to provide energy and waste heat to create freshwater from seawater.
Even though the project is still 10-15 years away from breaking ground, several major players are getting involved.
Read more at inhabitat.com.
Microsoft has launched the beta of its Hohm Energy Management application which is designed to help U.S. utility customers better understand their electricity and gas usage, receive recommendations, and start saving 5 percent to 10 percent on their bill. The program will eventually be offered worldwide and include water usage.
America is blessed with vast tracks of deserts – wide open spaces of soliltude – just waiting to serve the planet as host for solar power facilities of the future. Lockheed Martin’s new project in Arizona, called Starwood Solar 1, will be single, largest dispatchable solar power plant in the world. Dispatchable facilities store electricity for energy-on-demand.
The Environmental Protection Protection Agency has just published a list of the top American users of green power, which includes organizations that generate their own renewable energy, buy it from suppliers, or purchase offset credits to compensate for their traditional energy use. Read Kathy Harmon’s piece at 
