wiredInUSA - April 2012
wiredInUSA - April 2012
Asian super grid targets Mongolia
Desert solar energy could be powering
homes in Russia, Japan, and China under
plans by Desertec and backed by the
Japanese Renewable Energy Foundation
(JREF). The two organizations have partnered
to promote the creation of a new electricity
grid to connect solar power from deserts in
Mongolia and China, to cities across East
Asia, including fast-growing markets like
Vietnam.
“Technologies to harness solar and wind
energy have improved dramatically in the
last few years,” said Dr Tomas Kåberger,
chair of JREF executive board.
“Combined with modern power
transmission technologies, renewable
energy can support the long-term
economic prosperity of the region.”
According to the US National Renewable
Energy Laboratory and the Mongolian
National Renewable Energy Center,
Mongolia has a potential renewable
energy capacity of 2.6 million megawatts.
Bloomberg estimates this figure to be seven
times that of all the world’s operational
nuclear reactors.
The Gobi Desert is estimated to be the third
largest potential source of solar energy
in the world and also experiences steady,
strong wind speeds making it ideal for both
technologies. “Establishing an Asian super
grid will be challenging and require a
high-level of international collaboration,
but its benefits make it worth the effort,”
said Kåberger.
The grid would use special transmission
lines that lose low levels of power, allowing
electricity to be distributed over thousands
of kilometers.
JREF was formed in the wake of the
Fukushima nuclear accident to promote
the development of renewable energy in
the country.
ASIA
&
AFRICA
NEWS
Picture : Alessandro Paiva
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ASIA / AFRICA NEWS
