Global Green Green: A Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure To Solve Climate Change

Nov 03, 2010- Global Green Grid

Imagine a Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure stretching from China to Australia. The vision is big. So is climate change.

The system would distribute solar, geothermal, wind and wave energy. Natural gas and hydro could provide 'load-balancing.' Coal-fired power would be used for contingencies.

A hemispheric 'common carrier' energy distribution system would be comprised of high-voltage direct current power lines, large-scale natural gas pipelines and fiber optic cables.

The result would be a frictionless regional energy network.

Construction and maintenance be funded by a hemispheric carbon levy, universally applied and uncompromised by exceptions and giveaways.

The result would be a multi-decade shift from high-cost, high-emission energy sources.

The market could then pick the lowest-cost, lowest-emission power sources, solving climate change and underpinning future wealth generation.

The benefits would be huge:

1. Lowered Asian greenhouse gas emissions through a shift to low emission energy.
2. Lowered regional energy costs through increased cross border trade.
3. Better investment price signals through market aggregation.
4. Greater energy security through supply diversification.
5. Increased economic growth through expanded rural electrification.
6. Increased geopolitical security through deepened multilateralism.

Best of all, recycling carbon monies into regional infrastructure achieves two objectives at once.

Poor infrastructure is holding Asia back, slowing its emergence as the world's largest economic bloc.

A Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure provides one solution to many problems.