Plans are currently underway to establish large solar arrays in the African Sahara to create and transfer energy to Europe. One such plan has the potential of producing up to 15% of Europe’s energy needs – a significant chunk that could result in less environmental impacts. Hopefully the plans consider the social equity aspect. As these solar fields are installed, the companies should make sure that the local government/people also benefit from the energy source. The article lightly touches on this possibility but it seems it really should be focused on more.
Implicitly, there’s a similar debate rumbling beneath the surface here in the United States: Democrats like Harry Reid and Al Gore have talked up the need for a “electric superhighway,” large new high-voltage transmission lines that would deliver power from yawning solar plants in Arizona or giant wind farms out in North Dakota straight to cities and population centers.
Tags: africa, environment, europe, sahara, society, solar array, solar field