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Miracle or mirage? The promise and peril of desert energy part 2

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:28 authored by Christopher Cooper, Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool
Consisting of two parts, this article explores the history and challenges facing the Gobitec project, an ambitious proposal to build a multibillion dollar solar power system in the Gobi desert to export electricity throughout Northeast Asia. The first part of our study detailed the primary methods of data collection involved—research interviews, site visits, and a literature review—as well as the history of the Gobitec concept and its close relation to the Desertec concept in North Africa and Europe. Part 1 also discussed the “promise” of very large solar systems in deserts, namely improved security of supply and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, this part of our study finds that such projects also face a list of serious – and perhaps insurmountable – technical, economic, political, and social barriers. It concludes by drawing implications for large-scale energy projects and energy policymaking more broadly.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Renewable Energy

ISSN

0960-1481

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

50

Page range

820-825

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-01-19

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