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Saharan sun to power European supergrid


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Vast farms of solar panels in the Sahara desert could provide clean electricity for the whole of Europe, according to EU scientists working on a plan to pool the region's renewable energy.

Harnessing the power of the desert sun is at the centre of ambitious scheme to build a €45bn (£35.7bn) European supergrid that would allow countries across the continent to share electricity from abundant green sources such as wind energy in the UK and Denmark and geothermal energy from Iceland and Italy.

The idea is gaining growing political support in Europe with both Gordon Brown and Nicholas Sarkozy recently giving backing to the north African solar plan.

Speaking today at the Euroscience Open Forum in Barcelona, Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission's Institute for Energy, said it would require the capture of just 0.3% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle Eastern deserts to provide all of Europe's energy needs.

In addition, because the sunlight in this area is more intense, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in northern Africa could generate up to three times the electricity compared with similar panels in northern Europe.

aeger-Walden explained how electricity produced in solar farms in Africa, each containing power plants generating around 50-200MW of power, could be fed thousands of miles across European countries by using high-voltage direct current transmission lines instead of the traditional alternating current lines. Energy losses on DC lines are far lower than AC ones where transmission of energy over long distances is uneconomic.

Scientists working on the project admit that it would take many years and huge investment to generate enough solar energy from north Africa to power Europe but envisage that by 2050 it could produce 100 GW, more than the the combined electricity output from all sources in the UK, with an investment of around €450bn.
jefftego

49 responses // Saharan sun to power European supergrid

  • Providing this is done responsibly this has potential to be an excellent solution. However, history would usually show that Europe tends to have a disproportionate relationship with Africa. We take/steal and it gives.

    I would hope that if this does happen, Africa benefits.
    recommended by  huntre
    Beta_Boy
  • This concept might be a win-win for Europe, the environment and the financially struggling north Saharan nations, who will lease their land and employ citizens to maintain the systems of collectors.

    Great idea.

    Bushit/Chaney would veto such a proposal in America.
    geneonlbk
    2 responses to this
  • That is fantastic...here in Texas, we get our fair share of Sunshine and heat, so these solar panels are becoming more and more interesting every day...times are tight as it is and the costs for them is still up there, but I can already see a more affordable and efficient version on the horizon...

    BFAM_RVS
    recommended by  huntre
    BFAM_RVS
  • its kind of funny that this happened to be posted with the other article on the sahara just below on the homepage..I'm all for new sources of clean energy, but I wonder, would these new structures in the sahara upset the ecosystem? All of a sudden there would be large amounts of shade where there normally isnt, and obstructions in the way of the wind, possibly disrupting the sandstorms that the other article claims to sustain life in the oceans?? just a thought..
    recommended by  huntre
    pirho338
    1 response to this
  • They have to try it to learn from it.
    Go for it!
    huntre
  • good point pirho338..it would have to be constructed to conform w/ the enviornment , not against it..
    inapickle
  • "could be fed thousands of miles across European countries by using high-voltage direct current transmission lines instead of the traditional alternating current lines. Energy losses on DC lines are far lower than AC ones where transmission of energy over long distances is uneconomic. "

    We need to do that with our grid here so we can use wind and solar to feed into the national grid.
    jefftego
    1 response to this
  • And where is Africa going to get their clean electricity? I'm glad Europe is going for clean energy but I hope it's not (yet again) at the expense of Africa.
    azalea
  • Ive heard 400 square miles of this stuff would power America.
    1779fleet
  • I would love to see this come to fruition and even more so I would hope that they do a lot more research and planning before it gets set into action. A project of this magnitude needs to be planned for a long time to ensure that there are as few and as small unintended consequences as possible.
    torybart
  • While America is sleeping Europe is Acting!
    stopnoise
  • Duh, why is that story interesting?

    I think it can be an example to America of the effort that is lacking in America in the quest for alternative energy sources.

    We need to get out from under the control of oil companies and have serious support of research and the technologies already available.

    America claims to be the forrunner in these areas, but only give lip service. Lets get real; remember Kennedy and his challange. Have we lost the self discipline to take on the hard problems?
    r8dmarshall
    1 response to this
  • So If this is done any solar or turbine energy that individuals produce is extra and can be sold to generate revenue for the state. That creates jobs, money and clean energy. A win-win
    ivxx
  • This is a good idea, but why hasn't this been done before? Instead of trying to grow crops their, just fill it up with panels!

    The inhospitable places on our planet can be used for renewable energy (wind, solar, wave ec...)
    rwylie
  • Thanks fleet
    r8dmarshall
  • I have reservations about using food plants to produce fuel for engines. Though the intention is admirable I believe it takes focus away from the alternative sources that could be backed and financed without decreasing the world's food production.
    I have been watching the Eco tech programs and find the progress in many areas very positive. I also have been wondering why there has not been more interest and support for these new technologies?
    I know most of these innovations have not been in the interest of the oil companies and the auto industry, but the oil could be better utilized in other products that are recyclable over and over saving energy and natural resources while decreasing the releasing of co2 and other climate changing gasses.
    If we are truly serious about the impending danger of "Climit Change/Global Warming" we need to put an all out research and production effort of these potentially planet saving technologies.
    In the news we are already seeing the domino effects of the biofuel surge around the world. There already have been strikes in Mexico and numerous other countries about the raise in prices and availability of the corn and other grains that are either being shifted to produce biofuel or not planted because of it.
    The transfer of food crop to bio fuel has other problems that only exacerbate the economic and environmental damage to the environment. It has been a too fast to jump on the band wagon without comprehensive research into the many side effects inherent in the process.

    Please give critical examination to all ot the factors involved in such a far reaching issue.

    Sincerely, David H. Marshall
    R8dmarshall
    2008
    r8dmarshall
    1 response to this
  • investing in solar power obviously demands a significant amount of money but is ultimately an enormous payoff on many levels. i can't quite understand why the U.S. still hasn't made greater efforts in utilizing this abundant, natural energy source.
    orangeseverywhere
  • I am appalled that Europe would be taking this step towards green energy. Their relationship with Africa has never been the best. Isn't taking their other resources i.e diamonds enough. Every time their is a story about Africa is either about warmongers or child starvation.
    I do not even consider Africa selling the rights to doing this a good idea, they will get short changed. Europe should rather help by using this energy to figure out how to make Africa have better running water and electricity in African countries so that they can have basic amenities instead of the EXTRA SOLAR ELECTRICAL power that Europe would get. If you see it this way also it's as if during the G8 summit some countries looked the other way i.e Europe look the other way about Iraq and the U.S. looked the other way about Europe's solar energy plan.
    Africa (and the rest of the world) take a stand and speak out. And if you sell this solar energy capability then make sure you know that the solar power value is unlimited and that the Sahara keeps on getting larger through the years.
    currentlyreading
  • I agree that Europe needs to make an equatable agreement for the land use in Africa. They also should use local labor where ever possible. Part of the agreement could be to support the infrastructure there for clean water research, construction and transport. It should be a simbiotic arangement.

    The African Government should care enough for it's own people to insure a fair arrangement

    r8dmarshall
    r8dmarshall
    1 response to this
  • I agree oragnes. America is remis and the cause is in the white house with it's connection to the oil and corporate sleeping quarters.

    But that is no excuse for our being gross consumers of electricty.

    Have you seen the gross lighting from space satelites?
    r8dmarshall
  • It can provide clean electricity to all of Europe, and shade for dung beetles.
    CarlosIsDown
  • lets just hope no one do tries to hold this power hostage
    say no to SPEC
    cheakywillie
  • i applaud this... its like sm1 said b4 me... a win-win situation...

    jobs for africans, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY for the EU....

    America.. WAKE UP
    kewal91
  • good post... valid comments...
    jjmaster
  • Yes, putting solar panels over the vast African deserts is a LONG over-due idea. BUT, will a single African make a dime off it? And will all Africans share in the power grid?
    tomofnorthcal
  • Imagine if half the houses in this country had photo
    voltaic panels on them? We could telll the Saudis
    goodbye, and there would be peace on earth, at last.
    raybee
  • Wow, Europe is so much smarter then the America.
    crimson_thoughts
    1 response to this
  • We could do the same thing in death valley ca the area is not good for anything else except to make electricy
    TexasPatriot67
  • Progressive vision and deeds are needed now!
    The sun the wind cannot be monopolized...
    The current centralized power cultures want
    more oil, coal, nuclear etc.

    This is a disaster, as we the people have known for some time. We have to proliferate the way for science to continue to develop decentralized power and culture!
    rube
  • WAY COOL! I've been waiting for something like this to happen! Let's hope they help electrify some African nations with that African sun.
    benjaminV
  • Good concept but hope to see AFRICA benefit from this. So many there do not even have electricity at all. I hope this isn' t being done to once again take advantage of the people there. It is enough they are having their land taken to grow fuel, and are being forced to plant Monsanto fake food seeds. And just what then will Europe do to help Africa with its water crisis? As for America, we could do the same in the Mojave.... this just proves it.
    JanforGore
  • I wonder how much water/resources it will take to clean them as the lights dim in Europe after a Saharan sand storm ?
    Purdey
  • Solar wind or water, it's all good!
    schmedly
  • I do think that its a really good idea, but ive heard that concentrated solar power plants like the one in the south of spain (im not sure exactly where it is..) are more economical for the amount of area they use. Wouldnt this mean that you could generate more electricity for less damage to the natural ecosystem. Also, im not sure how much the tower itself would cost but over all i think it could be cheaper and quicker to build as it is only surrounded by mirrors...
    funksoulbrother
  • if only we could do the same thing in the desert southwest
    jakerohde
  • This is an amazing idea, if it was for me, and had the money:
    1. I would create or push a Sahara canal to push water into the dessert.
    2. Create the biggest grid of Solar Power.
    3. Make fake beaches, Hotels... It is always summer in the Sahara. (At night you can stay in your room).

    The biggest problem on this is Money and Sand Storms. I want to see how they handle that.
    petarro
  • This is not new news. I recall scientists publishing articles and essays about this decades ago. It's time for the world to WAKE UP and do something about the energy crisis. It is time for renewable projects like this one to become a reality and to not sit on them for another couple decades.
    alexhansen
  • I would hope that investors in this scheme will also consider that, since the land does not belong to them, they provide electricity to the country surrounding the project. It might just provide more opportunities to those who need it the most.
    Rosedarpam
  • neato
    electricsquiral