The huge project to build a 555 billion dollar renewable energy “belt” in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, funded largely by German companies, moved another step forward a few days ago. Twelve European companies join together to collaborate on the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII), which will create a solar thermal power plant network in the deserts of North Africa targeting the power to satisfy fifteen percent of Europe’s electricity requirements. The DESERTEC concept, developed by the TREC Initiative of the Club of Rome, describes the perspectives of a sustainable power supply for all regions of the world with access to the energy potential of deserts. It will produce 100 GW electricity. DII participants: ABB, ABENGOA Solar, Cevital, Deutsche Bank, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, MAN Solar Millennium, Munich Re, M+W Zander, RWE, SCHOTT Solar, SIEMENS.