will launch the first experiment to transport solar power from the south to the north of the Mediterranean. Since the Euro-Mediterranean projects, Medgrid and Desertec are both attempting to generate solar energy from deserts and complement each other, a MoU was signed on 24 Nov 2011 between Medgrid and Desertec Industry Initiative (Dii) to study, design and promote an interconnected electrical grid with the 400 billion euro ($536 billion) renewable energy "Desertec" project in North Africa. The plan is to build five interconnections at a cost of around 5 billion euros ($6.7 billion), including between Tunisia and Italy. The activities of Dii and Medgrid are covered by the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP), a political initiative within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). In March 2012 Dii, Medgrid, Friends of the supergrid and Renewables Grid Initiative signed a joint declaration to support the effective and complete integration, in a single electricity market, of renewable energy from both large-scale and decentralised sources, which shall not be played out against each other in Europe and in its neighbouring regions. The medgrid together with Desertec would serve as the backbone of the 'European Supergrid' and the benefits of investing in HVDC technology are being assessed to reach the final goal – the 'SuperSmart Grid (SSG)'. Consortium The consortium of twenty plus utilities, grid operators, equipment makers, financing institutions and investors include, Abengoa SA (Spain) Alstom SA (France) Areva SA (France) Atos Worldgrid (France) cdc infrastructure (France) EDF SA (France) GDF Suez SA (France) NEMO (Italy) Nexans (France) L'Office National de l'Électricité (ONE) (Morocco) Pan Med Trading and Investment (Jordan) Prysmian (Italy) Red Electrica Corp. SA (Spain) REN (Portugal) RTE (France) Siemens AG (Germany) Soitec (France) Taqa Arabia (Egypt) Terna SA (Italy) Tunur (United Kingdom) Walid Elias Establishment (Syria) The consortium is led by André Merlin, CEO of Medgrid. See also Supersmart Grid Desertec European super grid References External links Medgrids official website Proposed solar power stations Renewable energy in the European Union Proposed electric power infrastructure in Africa Proposed electric power infrastructure in Europe