A team of economists and engineers from China, Turkey and Nigeria has published a proposal based on simulations to build a sub-Saharan Africa electrical grid across 12 countries. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group outlines which countries would be involved, factors that would be used to build such a grid, and estimated costs.

A proposal to build a sub-Saharan Africa electrical grid across 12 countries::A team of economists and engineers from China, Turkey and Nigeria has published a proposal based on simulations to build a sub-Saharan Africa electrical grid across 12 countries. In their paper published in the journal Scientific …

  • AstralJaeger@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    The distance is still a killer for that, it would either require to build an AC line from Morocco to Spain, a highly politically charged region or a high voltage dc line from Tunisia to Italy, which is quite the distance to cover.

    • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      Indeed, there are huge issues with that idea, but at least now there’s a plan to take a step in that direction. Who knows if we ever get there though.

      • AstralJaeger@lemmy.worldEnglish
        41·
        1 year ago

        The main issue with this plan, in my opinion, is that there (atleast seem) to be no redundant links. African countries barely manage to share borders, not to talk about rivers and resources, for the sake of safety this system should have atleast 2 links to different neighbours.

        • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          That’s certainly an issue, but I guess you have to start somewhere. If political chaos and turmoil doesn’t ignite all the cables and towers, they absolutely need to expand it later.

    • Serpent@feddit.ukEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      There is a project “Xlinks” to build an HVDC cable from Morrocco to the UK for this purpose. Who knows if it will succeed but it does have real backing.

      • AstralJaeger@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        Thats one hell of a distance, I really need to look more of these projects. But in my corner of europe people like to block these projects even tho they are so important