sicetaitsimple wrote:NCSH wrote:Indeed, we should all know this gimmick when it comes to solar energy: what (how much) can be done with (about) a million km2 in the tropics?
However, this has been hammered out for decades for photovoltaics (notably Désertec ...), biofuels, ...
.....
Again and again, you have to harp on!
What continues to amaze me (because we have already spoken about it) is this "relentlessness" in talking about tropical zones.
PV (for example) also produces, albeit less, in temperate zones. But if it is used without going through the hydrogen vector, or even worse e-fuels, it will ultimately have a much better efficiency.
But I want to listen to the "gimmick"? So what to do on a million km2 in the tropics? With technically realistic solutions and figures, of course?
Let's talk again.
Sorry for not responding immediately.
The starting point for the reasoning was the discovery, in 2016, of the cost of electrical energy produced from photovoltaics in the tropics: $25/MWh.
Five years later, in April, some media, including in France, circulated a new figure of 10 $/MWhee, or 1 c$/kWhee. It should be able to be found.
Few comments and studies have drawn conclusions from this in France, at least publicly. In Europe, it's something else...
In particular, we can cite the reports present on the wire
Recycling of CO2 into synthetic fuel what could the Technical University of Lappaarenta have done concerning the cost of the massive production of Hydrogen (Sept 2021), then the cost of kerozene (Sept 2022)...
i.e. 1.5 €/kg H
2 in 2030 and 0.75 or even 0.6 in 2050. The same for kerozene or diesel at 1.25 €/litre in 2030, 0.65 in 2050.
Since last year, when we get information on channels outside France, we can notice the multiplication of industrial projects, generally carried by many multinationals, including French ones.
Thus there are more than 20 projects in Chile (in the south with wind power at 2/2.5 c$/kWhé, but also in Denmark), in the north in the Atacama desert for solar power. In Australia, Saudi Arabia, ...
It is from green Hydrogen (therefore by non-fossil principle) to produce derivatives such as Ammonia, Methanol, or even hydrocarbons.
To this can be added the interest shown by certain large mining companies in primary steel processed in the tropics.
Similarly, we can observe the multiplication in Europe of massive photovoltaic production projects: several gigafactories in Germany, at least one in France at Fos-sur-mer (5 GWC/year, expandable to 15 by 2030, oddly named Carbon ).
An even more gigantic Chinese project of 100 GWp has been announced, almost as much as has been installed in each of the last few years.
Also in France, McPhy recently converted to high-powered alkaline electrolysers, after 20 years of trying to unclog hydrides...
You really have to be an ostrich not to see this proliferation of projects in the tropics; I say that when talking about people who want to see how the future will be reorganized...
There must be economic benefits if so many multinationals are already pulling the plug...
Because it is a specialty in France, to be overtaken by major changes: despite the Calculation Plan of the 60s/70s, we missed the hardware...
Energy efficiency was the pretext for organizing a new form of Inquisition. What will count now will be the cost, especially as carbon taxes will become widespread.
And in terms of cost, solar is already unbeatable!