Comments on: New ‘gold rush’ buzz hits Germany over Sahara solar

By: scheng1

scheng1 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:13:21 +0000

It’s a bold project. I worry about the political instability too.If ever unrest breaks out, it is a financial as well as economic disaster, since any group that takes over the control of this project is practically holding Europe hostage.

By: Rachel Lever

Rachel Lever — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:27:09 +0000

Far from over-selling this, its problem so far is under-expectation. Physically, this has the potential to power the whole of Europe for far less investment and running cost than any other available technology or fuel. And it’s tried and tested, been in use since the 1980s. And as the interview stresses, it benefits the hosting regions just as much, both in income and energy provision, so it’s a political win-win. There are also local by-products such as desalinated water and irrigation: maybe the Sahara can even be re-greened as a carbon sink. The problem has been the opposition of the oil and nuclear lobbies, and also an absurd nationalism, so in UK we’re told that we don’t have the sun for it here. In all the publicity I’ve seen, even from the environmental lobby, CSP is listed (if at all) in among a bunch of far less effective measures, and usually somewhere down the end of that list. On the plus side, it seems that China is on the case now, so if our leaders don’t get on with it, watch out for the Chinese CSP installers and manufacturers.

By: farnaby

farnaby — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:43:04 +0000

Good Idea. I’ve been advocating it for some time, but I don’t have the power or influence to make it happen. They could combine the solar and wind power with tidal power (Atlantic coast – especially for pumping water) and with desalination and solar greenhouse technologies for Northern African and Southern European countries. It should also promote self-sufficiency for local people in those places – not economic exploitation of them by others. That is to say, the technology must be controlled by the people. If it doesn’t do this, the project won’t achieve it’s full potential.

By: Nikkei 225

Nikkei 225 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:50:34 +0000

They’ve finally seen the light, there is so much potential for solar power in the world, this is the Sahara but just imagine how many more vast deserts there are on this planet and all the green energy that they could generate.