Comments on: World Bank to Invest in North African Solar

By: Bruce Rhodes

Bruce Rhodes — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:12:58 +0000

Thank you Mr. Jim miller. If energy is not produced locally then it is not sustainable. Empower your local communities to produce their own power. Local food, energy,and self sustainability my be the cure for many of our on this planet.

By: Jim Miller

Jim Miller — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:55:58 +0000

These plants use a huge amount of fresh water. I wonder where in N. Africa they intend to get it. Also, these undersea cables are subject to damage from ship’s anchors and from terrorists attacks. Little or nothing is said about using most of the electrical energy to improve the quality of life of the N. Africans. The net effect is to make the North African countries, colonies of Europe — again. The concentrated solar thermal technology is very interesting and potentially useful — if in the right hands and used for good purpose.

By: Ron Wagner

Ron Wagner — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:21:00 +0000

I wonder how much graft is involved in these deals. Looking back to the oil for food shenanigans. Who audits these deals? Where does the money come from, originally. Taxpayers.

By: Mike Maybury

Mike Maybury — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 09:36:30 +0000

Carl, we need critical appraisals like yours. Whatever is done must be for the lowest cost relative to the quality etc. However, I think that the infrastructure and cabling is all part of the project.

In the article above reference is made to the ‘relatively new’ technology. I understand that plants have been working for over 10 years in USA, Spain etc. for over 10 years. Some store the heat in molten salt, enabling the generators to work round the clock. The reliability of sun in the Sahara appears to be a bonus, and other sources of energy can be plugged into the system, thereby reducing risks, and possibly costs.

By: carl nelson

carl nelson — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:03:40 +0000

$5.5 billion for 900 megawatt looks like $6/w to me. I can buy rooftop home PV for less than that. Zero misplaced, either by you or me?

By: Mike Maybury

Mike Maybury — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:19:59 +0000

This is a start! But we need to grow this project at a much faster pace. This $5 billion is about 1% of the final amount required.

In order to grow ourselves out of the current world recession, creating more jobs, and reducing fossil fuel use in the area, I think that we should invest ten times as much annually. We will reach the target much sooner than 100 years then.

If we aim to reach the capacity of 100 GW within one generation, we would really give a boost to other alternative energy schemes Europe-wide and Africa-wide. It will also give the opportunity for Aprican countries to cooperate and build a grid for energy, water and transport throughout the continent over the next two generations.