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Solar and wind resources are massively abundant
around the world. However they are often located far from load centers, where
we work and live. High voltage transmission lines link these energy resources
across deserts, mountains and political borders. Today, you can drive by
these remote solar and wind "farms" that produce no greenhouse gases, have no security
risk and are cheaper than fossil fuels.
 The US Dept. of Energy National Renewable
Energy Lab released its 2018 Interconnection Seams Study, saying these
east-west grids would pay dividends over many decades. "All of that
transmission capacity would allow for the development of the highest-quality
and lowest-cost renewable resources, with fewer geographic limitations."
For every $1 invested, we get 2.5 times that
back!
While this is a Unites States map, the same
advantages are available on every continent. China is currently developing
their vast solar resources in the Gobi Desert and wind potential of the
Mongolian Plateau — transmitting clean electricity via HVDC and HVAC lines to
the population centers in the east. Similar evidence is found in the European
and Australian power grid development.
This is big infrastructure crossing multiple
jurisdictions — and therefore hard to do politically. Yet this
technology enables us to share the benefits of cleaner, reliable and cheaper
power. Smaller nations like Iceland, Norway, Costa Rica and Uruguay already do
this to achieve 95%+ renewable power for all of their citizens. We can too!
In Partnership for the Planet,
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