Comments on: From finite to renewable energy

By: Anne-Coralie

Anne-Coralie — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:52:21 +0000

Hi!
You may be interested by this article that I read today. It’s kind of a try on “Who wants to be an engaged ecologist?” :
http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2009/07/17/j-ai-teste-pour-vous-l-ecologie-au-quotidien_1220104_3244.html

By: Anne-Coralie

Anne-Coralie — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:33:32 +0000

Erm… I sincerely hope you’re right and that this project will solve the problem of energy on the Earth, generating a huge cooperation and friendship in the world. Because solving the problem of energy would almost mean solve the source of most wars and conflicts on this planet… However I keep being sceptical and… Let’s hope it’ll work!

By: ojdo

ojdo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:49:52 +0000

Anne-Coralie wrote:

But at that time, when the countries of North Africa will dispose from their own solar technology and needs, there won’t be enough place for them!

You slightly underestimate the amount of energy that can be produced there: this image (included on the foundation page on desertec.org) gives a clue how much surface would be needed to generate 100% of the electricity consumed by Europe or the world. As I wrote: reduction of energy consumption is crucial in Europe, especially in areas where still much potential is not used (like mobility and heating); but the world's deserts could deliver more than enough energy for everyone.

By: Anne-Coralie

Anne-Coralie — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:56:29 +0000

Of course Germany consumes 25 times more than Morocco! But saying that you have to take in consideration the reasons why the consumption is as low… I mean, in Morocco, I suppose that the conditions to access things requiring energy, like even light in small village, is not as spread as it is in Germany! Not everybody has a laptop, or hot shower! Of course laptop is not vital, but many things missing over there are… So, we have to hope that those country will soon or later be able to develop and offer its inhabitants those things requiring energy. According to this article from Le Monde.fr this will last around 20 years. But at that time, when the countries of North Africa will dispose from their own solar technology and needs, there won’t be enough place for them!

I would suggest that the wiser solution would be to share this energy, helping the countries in North (and South Africa) to develop themselves, furnishing, as you said, employment and formation, and in the same time that Europe reduces its own use of energy (because a lot of energy is also wasted in the old continent!) to balance this energy problem. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to discuss this, because everybody would have access to education, energy as they need, and everything…

I’d also love to vote for renewable energy with closed eyes, but I want to keep them open to check if really everybody is profiting from it, not a small privileged minority…

By: ojdo

ojdo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:34:08 +0000

I think the television oversimplify the whole process: If there are 12 big companies which invest in Sahara countries, many employments will be created there. Furthermore, while the energy of those big solar plants will primarily be exported to Europe, I doubt this will be 100%. A small percentage would already contribute much to the consumption of the North-African countries. See this list of countries by electricity consumption: Germany for example consumes about 25 times more electricity than Morocco.

By: Anne-Coralie

Anne-Coralie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:07:13 +0000

Wow… What an interesting article! Though I believe You’re too optimistic. I’m afraid there are much more interests playing a role in that big game which is energy, and that some people are deciding for the rest of the planet what is good and what is not; those same people see their own interests in a very short time, without being clever enough to take everybody’s interest in consideration, and the humanity as a whole.

I heard about this DESERTEC project too. As You said, deserts are the best place for such a project, but I see a real problem in it as long as Europe – well, actually it’s Germany, right? – is building such a thing in the Sahara. The first part of the problem I see in it is : because they are building it not in Europe, which means that the energy will have to be transported. This means financial and ecologic cost. But, what is in my opinion worse, is the second part of the location’s problem: it’s the human cost: the Europeans are building it outside of their continent, with not much concern for the people living there. Would it also be for the ones living there and for the Europeans, I wouldn’t be that critical. But as far as I understood it, it is planned to be used for the Europeans, and not Africans. Which doesn’t make that much sense for me… Or did I miss something? My source for this was : http://www.mdr.de/mediathek/themen/5869299.html