which reminds me of a piece I wrote back in November 2009 titled ELEXI (ELectricity EXport Industry), exactly 10 year ago now, just as @MEIunimelb was starting
It's amazing how things transpire.
But there is another model.
The energy business model is built on resources being transported to the site of production, and so we ship our resources like coal, uranium-ore and natural gas to where the energy is needed. Until recently there has been little thought of exporting electricity.
With the greatest solar resource in the world located in our own deserts, our potential for renewable energy production is vast. Australia’s electric power consumption equates to the annual solar energy falling on a 10 km square patch of our deserts.
The world is increasingly wanting Australian Uranium.
Shipping electricity is not trivial, or cheap.
Electron superhighways could also prove a key to more equitable energy distribution. Over half the world’s population has no access to electrical power.
Providing affordable electricity to countries like East…
And for the economic rationalists - it could be the smartest way of adding value to our own, already fortunate, circumstances!
Maybe now is the time to rethink how we service the energy needs of our region.