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Is it technically possible to have a global power grid, where solar generated on the sunny side of the earth can be used on the dark side, eliminating the need

by jlj 10y ago

Is it technically possible to have a global power grid, where solar generated on the sunny side of the earth can be used on the dark side, eliminating the need for energy storage?

tehabe 10y ago
Possible maybe, there was a project called Desertec, but it is pointless. The advantage of renewable energy is the possibility of a decentralised energy supply.
niftich 10y ago
Massive infrastructure costs, the need for political coordination, and transmission losses [1] make this scenario unlikely. [1] http://insideenergy.org/2015/11/06/lost-in-transmission-how-much-electricity-disappears-between-a-power-plant-and-your-plug/ http://insideenergy.org/2015/11/06/lost-in-transmission-how-...
- mikeyouse 10y ago
  Transmission losses aren't the restriction that many people imply. Modern HVDC lines have less than half the losses as compared to a similar-length AC line. There's a cable under construction from Scotland to England that will have a 2,200MW capacity, will run over 400km, and will have losses under 3%.[1] Brazil finished a 7,700MW line that runs 2,400km from a series of hydroelectric dams to major population centers with something like 8% losses. Sure, 8% of 7,700MW is a ton of energy lost, but 8% for moving power from the equivalent distance of Denver to NYC is pretty damn good. It's not out of the realm of possibilities to build a HVDC line from England to the US within the next decade or two. If you figure 6,000km and 1.5% losses per 1,000km, you might be able to keep the total loss below 10%. Run an 800KV line (or a pair of 800KV lines) and you could probably install a 15+ GW of transmission capacity. [1] - http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/world-beating-%E2%82%AC11bn-under-sea-cable-connect-england-and-scotland http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/world-beating-%E2%82%AC11bn-under...
deleted 10y ago
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by jlj 10y ago

Is it technically possible to have a global power grid, where solar generated on the sunny side of the earth can be used on the dark side, eliminating the need for energy storage?

tehabe 10y ago

Possible maybe, there was a project called Desertec, but it is pointless. The advantage of renewable energy is the possibility of a decentralised energy supply.

niftich 10y ago

Massive infrastructure costs, the need for political coordination, and transmission losses [1] make this scenario unlikely. [1] http://insideenergy.org/2015/11/06/lost-in-transmission-how-much-electricity-disappears-between-a-power-plant-and-your-plug/ http://insideenergy.org/2015/11/06/lost-in-transmission-how-...

mikeyouse 10y ago
Transmission losses aren't the restriction that many people imply. Modern HVDC lines have less than half the losses as compared to a similar-length AC line. There's a cable under construction from Scotland to England that will have a 2,200MW capacity, will run over 400km, and will have losses under 3%.[1] Brazil finished a 7,700MW line that runs 2,400km from a series of hydroelectric dams to major population centers with something like 8% losses. Sure, 8% of 7,700MW is a ton of energy lost, but 8% for moving power from the equivalent distance of Denver to NYC is pretty damn good. It's not out of the realm of possibilities to build a HVDC line from England to the US within the next decade or two. If you figure 6,000km and 1.5% losses per 1,000km, you might be able to keep the total loss below 10%. Run an 800KV line (or a pair of 800KV lines) and you could probably install a 15+ GW of transmission capacity. [1] - http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/world-beating-%E2%82%AC11bn-under-sea-cable-connect-england-and-scotland http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/world-beating-%E2%82%AC11bn-under...

deleted 10y ago

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