Unsurprisingly, States in the Middle East have been pursuing solar power projects with Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and more recently Saudi Arabia, planning projects all around the Gulf.
In Europe, where the sun is less regular, alternative renewable sources are being funded; hydro-electric plants in Scandinavia and the European Alps, onshore and offshore wind farms in the Baltic and North Sea and marine energy and biomass power facilities.
Projects such as Desertec, which is being planned by a consortium of European governments, non-governmental organizations and industrial corporations, is the sort of scheme that if the grid goes ahead could power homes on both continents. Representatives such as Peter Buhler, CEO of AEW Energie, Wayne Johncock, Head of Strategic Planning & Enterprise of Centrica/British Gas, Ireneusz Kulka, VP of Energa, Andy Muhlheim, Head of Information & Communication Technology of Swissgrid and Christian Chapus, Senior Manager of EDF will also be attending a NG Utilities Summit EU (hosted by GDS International) to discuss the benefits of a mass European smart grid.
When it comes to integrating renewables into a super-grid, there are many issues to deal with. The problem with putting clean energy onto any existing grid, without it being adequately integrated with other forms of power or optimized as a reliable first-tier energy source, would act as 'grid congestion' and has been the main barrier to full utilization. On top of that, potential renewable variability could cause reliability challenges at relatively high levels of distribution.
However a new super or smart grid could change that. In fact, it has the potential and the aim of providing 15 percent or more of Europe and the Middle East's electricity needs with solar power by 2050.
With renewable energy projects sprouting up all over both continents, the chances of getting all our power needs from clean technology is becoming more and more likely and would ease concerns over current energy supplies.
Earlier in the year, a study from international consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers stated that Europe and North Africa could achieve "complete independence" from fossil fuels by 2050 and that all the technologies necessary were already in place. Only time will tell if a European smart grid will become a reality.
Editor's Note: This article was kindly supplied by digital news provider, Next Generation Online.
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