Scientists are developing a form of solar power that could provide clean energy across North Africa, the Middle East and eventually Europe. It's called Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP. This report from Monica Whitlock:

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CSP scientists are hoping to develop especially the Sahara - the world's largest hot desert. CSP mirrors across only one per cent of the Sahara, they say, would meet the electricity needs of the whole world - with no pollution and no greenhouse gasses.

The first CSP tower is already producing, at Seville in southern Spain, where Europe almost touches the Maghreb. Similar projects are planned in Morocco, in Egypt, and the Gulf States. Eventually, the idea is to export electricity to Europe. Algeria is already in talks with Germany about selling clean, green power.

The projects will of course take huge investment. CSP scientists hope that European countries will take the lead and forge new partnerships with Africa, seeing their own future at stake.

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a breakthrough
a new and important development

stacks
layers

intensifies
increases the power of

a single plant
one factory by itself

meet the electricity needs
produce all the necessary electricity

huge investment
a very large amount of money

take the lead
see the importance of the project and be the first to contribute money

forge new partnerships
make new business partners

seeing their own future at stake
realising that the project can protect their own future

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