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They are doing this in the UK, a high voltage DC line is being connected to Northern Africa where power where about 2.5-5GW of power will be produced. Its very

They are doing this in the UK, a high voltage DC line is being connected to Northern Africa where power where about 2.5-5GW of power will be produced. Its very viable economically but I also think we have more than enough roof space for solar panels and surround sea for offshore wind to meet our power needs for the foreseeable future. Even if a commercial installation is half the price per KWh the economics still work out personally. The reason is a combination of taxes, profits and substantial business overheads that make personal Solar substantially cheaper than the current grid power which is all tied to gas prices. I am about on average 9p a KWh over the life of a Solar system which I can export for 15p currently and buying from the grid is 45p through the day. Its a substantial saving yet wholesale prices are hovering on average around the same 9p. The overheads of the grid and businesses are most of the cost and substantial.

derriz 3y ago
You're talking about Xlinks? They are nowhere near doing it. They have been talking about it since 2018 and trying to get investors to give them money but despite favourable press and interest from politicians, a heavyweight board, nobody who has looked at their business plan has stepped up to the plate to back the project. Desertec is the other one which has raised nothing despite touting a similar idea since 2008. Xlinks is going nowhere - in fact the founder, Simon Morrish, seems to be mostly spending his time on other projects these days. Even their website claimed last year that the £16B project could be profitable if a CFD at £48/MWh (CDF is a type of contract electricity suppliers bid for in UK auctions to win 15 year contracts to supply electricity). Unfortunately local solar pv, on-shore and off-shore wind auction prices in the last auction round were all lower than this. Regarding local subsidies and supports for rooftop solar, of-course it can make sense for an individual. My point is that on aggregate, it does not make sense - if the government is going to spend $X to encourage the production of solar PV, then supporting rooftop solar provides a poor return on the subsidy. And the difference is more than half the price - typically the multiple is 3 or 4 times cheaper.

derriz 3y ago

You're talking about Xlinks? They are nowhere near doing it. They have been talking about it since 2018 and trying to get investors to give them money but despite favourable press and interest from politicians, a heavyweight board, nobody who has looked at their business plan has stepped up to the plate to back the project. Desertec is the other one which has raised nothing despite touting a similar idea since 2008. Xlinks is going nowhere - in fact the founder, Simon Morrish, seems to be mostly spending his time on other projects these days. Even their website claimed last year that the £16B project could be profitable if a CFD at £48/MWh (CDF is a type of contract electricity suppliers bid for in UK auctions to win 15 year contracts to supply electricity). Unfortunately local solar pv, on-shore and off-shore wind auction prices in the last auction round were all lower than this. Regarding local subsidies and supports for rooftop solar, of-course it can make sense for an individual. My point is that on aggregate, it does not make sense - if the government is going to spend $X to encourage the production of solar PV, then supporting rooftop solar provides a poor return on the subsidy. And the difference is more than half the price - typically the multiple is 3 or 4 times cheaper.