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The Problem with Solar Energy in Africa

Real Engineering · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Renewables, batteries & storagePower grid, heating & buildings

What it is

Real Engineering looks at why Africa's abundant solar potential is hard to turn into usable power, especially for Europe. It covers the transmission, infrastructure and economic obstacles, and the pivot from concentrated solar to photovoltaics.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Linked whenever commenters ask whether Sahara solar could power Europe, as a clear explanation of why it is impractical.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “Here's a great video from Real Engineering”

    Covers pros and problems of Saharan solar for Europe.

    datameta, 2021-11 · Recommendation · in “Colorado 'solar garden' is a farm under solar panels”

  2. “Real engineering has a good video about this”

    Explains why desert solar is hard to deliver.

    Sebb767, 2022-04 · Recommendation · in “ThorCon: Cheap, reliable, CO2-free electric power”

  3. “the Sahara definitely gets enough sun, but transmitting the power into Europe would be hard.”

    Sahara gets enough sun but transmitting power to Europe is hard.

    Taikonerd, 2022-06 · Recommendation · in “One-night stands will be illegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar”

  4. “A very good video from Real Engineering explains that no, not really”

    Explains why importing North African solar to Europe is not practical.

    sofixa, 2024-10 · Recommendation · in “Singapore OKs 4,300km subsea cable for importing electricity from Australia”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: solar power, sahara, power transmission, renewables, europe energy

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