Saharan Sun Enough To Power Europe
The creation of solar farms in the Sahara desert could produce enough energy to meet all of Europe’s energy needs. Power could be generated either through photovoltaic cells or by using the sun’s heat to boil water and power turbines.
Scientists at the ESOF 2008 are also proposing a ’supergrid’ that could transmit electricity along high voltage direct current cables and potentially allow countries to export their wind energy during periods of surplus, as well as import energy from other sources. The grid proposal, with its ability to transmit power from different sources, eliminates the criticism of the instability of renewable energy. If there is no wind or sun in Europe, there certainly will be in the Sahara and the grid could potentially be able to transmit that energy to where it is needed.
4 comments:
I am just a bit concerned that in their rush to solve Europe's energy problem, they are proposing to build farms on land that does not belong to them and not talking about sharing the benefits with the Africans whose land they are using. If the Europeans can get their minds around that issue, they might be on to something.
There is a new world wide web emerging right before our eyes. It is a global energy network and, like the internet, it will change our culture, society and how we do business. More importantly, it will alter how we use, transform and exchange energy.
Enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. There is no energy supply problem, there is an energy distribution problem -- and the emerging solution is a new world wide web of electricity.
For more information, see http://www.terrawatts.com
Why is there no discussion by the Europeans about how they will share this bounty? The African continent is the darkest in our world and yet the Europeans once again want to steal resources. If sharing the resource is what they have in mind, then I can support this idea but if there is no intention to make Africa a better place then the Europeans should go back to the drawing board with their colonialist intentions.
Have to agree with Greg who first pointed this out.
@Greg and Deb
Fair point, there should be work done to make sure this energy is in fact shared with Africa.
But still, baby steps.
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