TREC was founded with the goal of providing clean, cost efficient energy for EU-MENA as soon as possible and based on economic cooperation between the countries in the region. TREC sees the power from deserts as a supplement to European sources of renewable energy and as a means of speeding up the process of cutting European emissions of CO2 and increasing the security of European energy supplies. For people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) this would mean plentiful supplies of clean electricity, jobs, earnings, an improved infrastructure, potential for the desalination of sea water, and several potential benefits (e.g. for agriculture) from the shade provided by solar (fresnel) collectors.

TREC has been involved in the conduct of three studies which have evaluated the potential of renewables in MENA, the expected needs for water and power in EU-MENA between now and 2050 and issues relating to the construction of an electricity transmission grid connecting the EU and MENA (EU-MENA-Connection). Those three studies were commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conversation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) taking the lead. These ‘MED-CSP’ and ‘TRANS-CSP’ studies were conducted between 2004 and 2006. The ‘AQUA-CSP’ study covering aspects of solar desalination was completed towards the end of 2007.

Satellite-based studies by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have shown that, by using less than 0.3% of the entire desert area of the MENA region, enough electricity and desalinated seawater can be produced to meet the growing needs of these countries and of Europe. Power generation from wind energy is particularly attractive in Morocco and in areas around the Red Sea. Solar and wind power can be transmitted throughout the region via High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission lines, and to Europe with transmission losses up to 15%. The new Union for the Mediterranean, including many countries in MENA, is interested in this kind of cooperation.

Greenpeace International recently issued its report "Global Concentrating Solar Power Outlook 2009" which shows that the DESERTEC Concept "Clean Power from Deserts" is feasable worldwide.

"We now are delighted to say "CSP has taken off", is about to step out of the shadow of other renewable technologies and can establish itself as the third biggest player in the sustainable power generation industry. CSP does not compete against other renewable energies; it is an additional one that is now economically viable.", said Sven Teske, Renewable Energy Director from Greenpeace International and co-author of the report.