Where+are+things+at?

Today, plans for this transcontinental energy system are still in its toddler stages. Desertec is by and far the company that has gathered the most attention, investors and pretty pictures like the one below, taken from their sister site Dii [16]:



There are a lot of regulations that need to be created in the very near future for much of this system to be fruitful. Dii-Gmbh is an offshoot of Desertec that has been tasked to 'pave the way', prove the project's feasibility and to create long-term plans inclusive of investment guidance. That being said there are plenty of scientific journals discussing the feasibility of this transnational renewable energy supply chain as well as nation-specific studies that look at the economic and political climates for large-scale solar and wind power stations. Though there are several roadblocks to implementation it should be noted that, should this unfold even remotely like what the scientific journals claim it could, there can be more water and energy for the developing world, emissions offset by renewable energy sources and a better, more integrated energy grid that can maximize decentralized energy sources.

To keep up to date on the happenings and possibility of Europe being tied into a renewable MENA energy system I suggest you look into scientific journals, followed by DLR and Desertec (note they're likely optimists), and of course, use common sense in evaluating these possibilities.