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There are many renewable energy projects already going on, including large solar power stations in the Sahara desert that feed into the EU grid via submarine ca

There are many renewable energy projects already going on, including large solar power stations in the Sahara desert that feed into the EU grid via submarine cables. E.g.: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-energy-egypt-europe-sahara-b2199482.html https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-energy-egypt-europe...

Retric 4y ago
The point is 2022 installs have been business as usual rather than in response to spiking energy prices. This crisis was predicted 11 months ago with the invasion and they are already forecasting issues next winter that’s a long time fast track stuff.
- jiggawatts 4y ago
  Solar installations are limited by production capacity of the panels. There may be no significant options available for fast tracking. Germany did complete some energy projects in record time, such as the construction of a new LNG facility to enable more gas imports by ship.
  - Retric 4y ago
    Global production capacity is on the order of 200 GW, that dwarfs the deficit from reduced natural gas imports from Russia. And that LNG facility was my point, that’s far less useful once Russia’s pipelines open up again. It’s a massive investment with limited long term gain on top of also paying higher natural gas prices.
    - r00fus 4y ago
      There is the possibility that Russian gas lines never open up (in the near future). Ukraine war is likely going to turn out to be a massive political realignment.
    - kergonath 4y ago
      > And that LNG facility was my point, that’s far less useful once Russia’s pipelines open up again. It’s a massive investment with limited long term gain on top of also paying higher natural gas prices. It is strategic. Sometimes you do need to pay more to keep some options open and diversify your sources. The last year has shown how foolish it would be to get back in bed with Russia. Buying their gas is fine, getting dependent on it is not.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
- philipkglass 4y ago
  The point is 2022 installs have been business as usual rather than in response to spiking energy prices. Installs accelerated significantly: https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-reveals-eu-solar-power-soars-by-almost-50-in-2022 https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-r... "New report reveals EU solar power soars by almost 50% in 2022" SolarPower Europe’s annual progress report for solar power reveals that the EU installed 41.4 GW of solar in 2022, up 47% from the 28.1 GW installed in 2021. ...
  - Retric 4y ago
    47% sounds like a major boom but 2021 installs where also up 34% over 2020. So no the EU didn’t suddenly change policies in 2022 to bring a lot of new generation online, just continued the same long term trend.

Retric 4y ago

The point is 2022 installs have been business as usual rather than in response to spiking energy prices. This crisis was predicted 11 months ago with the invasion and they are already forecasting issues next winter that’s a long time fast track stuff.

jiggawatts 4y ago
Solar installations are limited by production capacity of the panels. There may be no significant options available for fast tracking. Germany did complete some energy projects in record time, such as the construction of a new LNG facility to enable more gas imports by ship.
- Retric 4y ago
  Global production capacity is on the order of 200 GW, that dwarfs the deficit from reduced natural gas imports from Russia. And that LNG facility was my point, that’s far less useful once Russia’s pipelines open up again. It’s a massive investment with limited long term gain on top of also paying higher natural gas prices.
  - r00fus 4y ago
    There is the possibility that Russian gas lines never open up (in the near future). Ukraine war is likely going to turn out to be a massive political realignment.
  - kergonath 4y ago
    > And that LNG facility was my point, that’s far less useful once Russia’s pipelines open up again. It’s a massive investment with limited long term gain on top of also paying higher natural gas prices. It is strategic. Sometimes you do need to pay more to keep some options open and diversify your sources. The last year has shown how foolish it would be to get back in bed with Russia. Buying their gas is fine, getting dependent on it is not.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
philipkglass 4y ago
The point is 2022 installs have been business as usual rather than in response to spiking energy prices. Installs accelerated significantly: https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-reveals-eu-solar-power-soars-by-almost-50-in-2022 https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-r... "New report reveals EU solar power soars by almost 50% in 2022" SolarPower Europe’s annual progress report for solar power reveals that the EU installed 41.4 GW of solar in 2022, up 47% from the 28.1 GW installed in 2021. ...
- Retric 4y ago
  47% sounds like a major boom but 2021 installs where also up 34% over 2020. So no the EU didn’t suddenly change policies in 2022 to bring a lot of new generation online, just continued the same long term trend.