#GREENFAIL: Hunting Unicorns In The Sahara. “Even if funding were plentiful, geopolitical problems make the plan seem like a pipe dream. Libya can barely govern itself, northern Mali is under the control of terrorists, and the rest of North Africa doesn’t look ready to protect vast swathes of solar panel-covered desert. Europe has its own problems too, of course, and constructing an ‘ultramodern’ renewable energy grid doesn’t seem to be on the top of its to-do list. Like other green initiatives, Desertec sounds good on paper and excites the imagination of progressive renewable energy scientists and politicians, but reality—whether political or financial—makes it nearly impossible. For the foreseeable future, the Saharan sun won’t be captured to power toaster ovens in Europe.”