Government has good idea shock

[Diver]

And anyway, won't the northern African countries need much of the energy for themselves? Their populations are increasing all the time.

Er! I thought they were dying off in a massive Aids epidemic?

Or is that media scaremongering again?

Oh! North

[wobbegong]

So, the plan is to replace one energy source supplied from a group with a grudge and hostile intent against the west with another source supplied from an off-shoot of the same group with a grudge against the west.

Agreed. It's not a technological problem so much as a geopolitical one.

[TheBigYinJames]

Mmmmmmmmmmm... pumped storage in a desert...

Doesn't have to be liquid. They've developed pumped gas energy storage which is pretty efficient too.

[TimberWolf]

You don't even need that, just giant water tanks or reservoirs so some of the electricity produced during the day can be used to pump the water "uphill" and this can be released back down through turbines to generate eleccy at night.

(Not sure how efficient that is though, or practical given the vast scale of a project like this if it's to power dozens of European cities.)

Pretty respectable IIRC, though I forget the actual percentage. I've posted a link before to some Cambridge University professor's work that looked at energy sources in great and interesting detail and can post a link again if you're interested. The only downside to him is that he's heavily into CO2 emissions, which occupies a lot of his effort and work.

The interesting thing about pumped storage is that payback can be significantly greater than 100%, when combined with tidal power. No doubt you can figure out why.

[OwlHoot]

Batteries people, batteries. Capacitors, that kind of thing. It's not rocket science.

You don't even need that, just giant water tanks or reservoirs so some of the electricity produced during the day can be used to pump the water "uphill" and this can be released back down through turbines to generate eleccy at night.

(Not sure how efficient that is though, or practical given the vast scale of a project like this if it's to power dozens of European cities.)

And anyway, won't the northern African countries need much of the energy for themselves? Their populations are increasing all the time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, dozens of thorium reactors are the solution (for the foreseeable future), and the government better get started fast before all the experts die of old age! All this renewable energy stuff is just pissing about on the margins.

[zathras]

Giant mirrors floating in space isn't rocket science?

Getting them up there might be!

[TheBigYinJames]

Batteries people, batteries. Capacitors, that kind of thing. It's not rocket science.

Giant mirrors floating in space isn't rocket science?

[ace00]

They do realise that the sun doesn't shine at night, when we need the lights?

Or have I just pointed out a slight problem with this cunning plan?

Batteries people, batteries. Capacitors, that kind of thing. It's not rocket science.

[Weltchy]

They do realise that the sun doesn't shine at night, when we need the lights?

Or have I just pointed out a slight problem with this cunning plan?

To cure this oversight, the anglo-french venture is proposing a massive solar mirror be built in space to reflect light from the sun onto the desert during night time, therefore creating 24 hours of sunlight.

However, expect [INSERT FAVOURITE TERRORIST ORGANISATION HERE] to attempt a sabotage / takeover attempt, therefore threatening the world with a Dr Evil-esque "Laser Beam".

Cue Jame Bond theme tune....

[KentPhilip]

They do realise that the sun doesn't shine at night, when we need the lights?

Or have I just pointed out a slight problem with this cunning plan?

But there is a 3-hour time zone difference though.

[HairyArsedBloke]

So, the plan is to replace one energy source supplied from a group with a grudge and hostile intent against the west with another source supplied from an off-shoot of the same group with a grudge against the west. No doubt it will turn out that large solar arrays are just as much danger to people or the environment that burning oil.

Sill, I suppose it’s better than encouraging or allowing the moving of vital parts of the operations of businesses out to foreign countries that are politically unstable, have a history of corruption and with weak recruitment processes that may hire people with a grudge; that simultaneously exposes businesses to potential interruption or fraud; and dismisses the indigenous workers thereby loosing knowledge and tax revenues. Thankfully, we don’t have a government that would do such a thing.

[ace00]

One small problem, the Sahara is not British or French (unless they still own Algeria). Invasion time again?

Nay-sayer. The Sarkozy trains comin' through & we need you to get on board.

[Pondlife]

Solar power from Sahara will keep Europe’s lights on

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4381687.ece

European politicians are discussing ambitious plans to harvest the energy of the Saharan sun, connecting a vast network of solar panels to electricity grids across the continent. According to The Guardian, the project, estimated to cost up to £35.7 billion, is backed by Gordon Brown and President Sarkozy of France.

Surely some mistake?

have they included sales tax this time?

[TheBigYinJames]

Surely some mistake?

One small problem, the Sahara is not British or French (unless they still own Algeria). Invasion time again?

[ace00]

Solar power from Sahara will keep Europe’s lights on

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4381687.ece

European politicians are discussing ambitious plans to harvest the energy of the Saharan sun, connecting a vast network of solar panels to electricity grids across the continent. According to The Guardian, the project, estimated to cost up to £35.7 billion, is backed by Gordon Brown and President Sarkozy of France.

Surely some mistake?