• ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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    2 days ago

    There already is underwater power line between Spain and Morocco. From what I remember Morocco is still not generating enough solar power for this to make sense so it was mainly used to import electricity from coal. It is basically exporting carbon emissions to Africa. I think it’s not that useful because you can already install solar panels in Spain so there’s not much incentive to move it outside of EU.

    There are also plans to create another like from Egypt I think but the distance makes it more problematic.

    • Hiro8811@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      There’s a incentive and that is efficiency but probably the security risk would be too high

  • gabelstapler@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    I remember the name Desertec, which planned the same thing some 20 years ago. But even back then the main issues were the need for a long HV transmission line and the political instability in northern Africa.

    In the meantime we should have learned that depending on energy from other countries (Russia, middle east) is a disaster waiting to happen.

  • becausechemistry@piefed.social
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    3 days ago

    The article doesn’t mention losses due to super long transmission lines. Like sure you can generate a kajillion watts of electricity in Algeria but if you can’t charge a cell phone with it once it makes it to Madrid then who cares?

  • CactusEcho@piefed.social
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    2 days ago

    This is the nordstream situation again.

    I have better ideas:

    • First they should make it mandatory for governmental and local administration’s buildings to have solar in their roof.

    • All the artificial lakes created by gravity dams that produce energy should be partially covered with solar panels.

  • KevinOnEarth@mstdn.io
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    3 days ago

    @EatingOnions
    I’m flabbergasted that they’re only coming round to this now.
    Africa is the naturally richest continent on the planet & this includes its very under-exploited solar energy resources.