CSP: Doing it with mirrors?

http://environment.guardian.co.uk/energy/story/0,,1957908,00.html

Scientists say the global energy crisis can be solved by using the desert sun
Ashley Seager
Monday November 27, 2006
The Guardian (c)

"In the desert, just across the Mediterranean sea, is a vast source of energy that holds the promise of a carbon-free, nuclear-free electrical future for the whole of Europe, if not the world."

"Two German scientists, Dr Gerhard Knies and Dr Franz Trieb [Email: franz.trieb@dlr.de], calculate that covering just 0.5% of the world's hot deserts with a technology called concentrated solar power (CSP) would provide the world's entire electricity needs, with the technology also providing desalinated water to desert regions as a valuable byproduct, as well as air conditioning for nearby cities.

"Focusing on Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, they say, Europe should build a new high-voltage direct current electricity grid to allow the easy, efficient transport of electricity from a variety of alternative sources. Britain could put in wind power, Norway hydro, and central Europe biomass and geo-thermal. Together the region could provide all its electricity needs by 2050 with barely any fossil fuels and no nuclear power. This would allow a 70% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from electricity production over the period."

See also
http://www.dlr.de/tt/med-csp

MED-CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
for the Mediterranean Region -
The complete report can be downloaded as pdf

http://www.dlr.de/tt/trans-csp
http://www.menarec.org/