3 ms·

Why can't we just have cross-continent UHVDC cables to counteract that issue?

• sofixa 5y ago
  Because shit happens and there's resistance ( electrical). There are cables between the UK and France, and UK and Norway, and there was a fire at one of the UK-France cables, rendering it inoperable for months. And depending on faraway places for energy is dangerous, as for instance Germany is discovering now with Russia. Do you imagine Europe depending on Algeria and Morocco solar, for instance, and France pissing them off with some (neo/ex-)colonial matters ( like for instance, France recently lowered quotas for Algerian citizens entering the country, and Algeria was (rightfully) pissed), and them cutting the cables.
  • vardump 5y ago
    > ... and there's resistance ( electrical). Aren't the UHVDC losses just 1,5% per 1000 km? 16% for 10000 km, though, but that might still be economical in some cases. Sure, shit does happen. Like with everything. Perhaps it could be mitigated with an insurance or multipath? Political risk is another matter, of course. But we do have gas pipelines crossing such boundaries as well, so surely it's doable?
    • matkoniecz 5y ago
      Europe has repeated political issues with Russian gas pipelines used by Russia as a political threat.