We've already talked about the Desertec Project on Renewbl for few times in the past. Now we have First Solar joining the initiative as an Associated Partner to demonstrate the potential of PV solar technology to provide energy on a vast scale by harnessing the desert sun.

First Solar is the first pure PV company to join Desertec, which aims to provide a significant portion of the electricity for the Middle East and Northern Africa as well as Europe by 2050 via a network of solar and wind energy sources.

As an Associated Partner of Desertec for an initial period of three years, the company will contribute utility-scale PV expertise in Desertec working groups and prepare the ground for reference projects and a roll-out plan.

First Solar has some experience in utility-scale solar power plants in desert conditions, as it has built such projects in the United States and United Arab Emirates and is preparing the way for a 2 GW solar power plant in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia.

[source: First Solar]