Green energy providers face a potential shortage of transmission cables | FT Rethink

The rapid growth in renewable energy capacity is driving demand for long-distance transmission cables. These can carry energy ashore from distant, deepwater wind farms, or transfer it between countries. But as the FT’s Rachel Millard explains, analysts believe we could be facing a cable shortage by the second half of this decade, and getting plugged into grids could prove a greater challenge than generating the power itself.
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[@TomMcinerney-g9b]

Both US & China have had a lot of curtailment for more than 5 years (minimum). U.S. grid is aged, and limited in capacity: we need more regional grid ties, and also long distance HVDC to allow intermittent sources to interconnect, and feed distant population centers.

[@TheHuntermj]

Why not provide power to Spain and France from Morrocco and then use Fench and Spanish renewables to supply England?

[@rolandnelson6722]

That’s most likely what will happen. Feigning an inability to co-operate is the first rule of the biggest industry of earth. Arse covering.

[@Withnail1969]

And who would pay for the enormous expense of that, if it were actually feasible? All for what, power that only works in daytime if you're lucky?

[@pip0rz]

brexit? :-)

[@CleverContrarian]

Brexit!

[@patrickdegenaar9495]

Brexit makes stupid decisions possible.

[@richardconway6425]

Surprised that the issue of copper was not mentioned. Surely this demand will see a surge in copper prices, and supply issues, if all these new cable factories start up.

[@Paul-yh8km]

That would be because modern AC and HVDC transmission cables use Aluminium as the conductor.

[@willymvesta7396]

Why is these resources being exported outside Africa, however not use within the continent. Coraption is the reason, and the people buying the resources "offshore" are profiting.

[@FlameofDemocracy]

It is far easier to send energy via pipelines or ships, as hydrogen or ammonia. Power lines also should be upgraded to composites, over steel cables. Doing so would double the throughput of electric high tension lines. See the recent UC Berkeley paper in this regard, to at least reduce the risks and sustained losses incurred from curtailment.

[@Philocui1018]

Yes

[@gregvanpaassen]

What composites? Transmission cables are already mostly SCAW (steel cored aluminium wire). Making transmission cables more expensive seems like a bad idea.

[@FlameofDemocracy]

@@gregvanpaassen Find the paper. Billions more can be made per year, with upgrades. It has already been modeled.

[@Withnail1969]

We don't use steel cables, we use aluminium with steel as reinforcement to stop them stretching too much.

[@richardcampbell7255]

The key is dramatically increasing efficiency by reducing waste of energy and resources. Eliminating forced car dependency key. Need massive investment in electric rail and bus service plus accessible walking and cycling infrastructure.

[@Paul-yh8km]

EVs reduce total energy consumption. But you are right, the fewer the cars the easier energy and emissions reduction is.

[@dannydoj]

Not without government subsidies. Suits the socialist mindset but renewables as a whole energy approach is economically difficult, adverse to the economically disadvantaged and polluting the environment with non biodegradable materials.

[@NORFUM]

I CAN OUTRAP EMINEM