In 2007 a plan has been laid out to that would benefit both North Africa and Europe. The plan starts in northern Africa in coutries such as Morocco, Algeria and Libya where an immense array of solar cells is to be deployed in the Sahara desert. The electric power produced by the cells will then be conveyed to Europe via undersea cables. Some residual power will be available to the countries hosting the solar cells for desalinization of sea water, thus providing said countries with much needed fresh water.
The plan seems to address and exploit some interesting aspects. Mostly it taps into the endless supply of solar power available in the desert. Lets also consider that the weather in the desert is almost always sunny. The land in the african desert is cheap while very expensive in Europe.
Another more technical aspect of solar cells in the desert is the fact that at night the desert also radiates heat back into the atmosfere, heat that could be absorbed by the newest spray on and converted into electric power providing a steady supply even at night.
