EU plans a power supergrid to protect from Russian energy blackmail

[Norge]

Power supergrid plan to protect Europe from Russian threat to choke off energy

A supergrid of power supplies to protect Europe’s energy from the threat of a Russian stranglehold will be announced today.

The building blocks of the proposed supergrid would be new cables linking North Sea wind farms, and a network patching together the disparate electricity grids of the Baltic region and the countries bordering the Mediterranean, according to a blueprint drawn up by the European Commission and seen by The Times.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5142622.ece

The beginning of the end for Russia.

[Lord Consul]

I doubt the plan will ever get off the paper. Specially now, with a steep crisis going on.

[imb39]

Some form of energy independence will be needed from Russia. Having seen how it is prepared to use energy dependency to dictate to other nations, I think Europe is potentially very vulnerable.

[CivFan]

I have my doubts about this working, but it is nice to see nations like Russia that abuse their influence over energy get put in their place.

[Lord de Lyonesse]

Some form of energy independence will be needed from Russia. Having seen how it is prepared to use energy dependency to dictate to other nations, I think Europe is potentially very vulnerable.

My thoughts exactly. +rep for you =-)

[Carach]

Some form of energy independence will be needed from Russia. Having seen how it is prepared to use energy dependency to dictate to other nations, I think Europe is potentially very vulnerable.

indeed, even the guys that hate the eu cant really argue with these plans.

looks like a pretty expensive undertaking though, and will it ever get further than paper?

Only Brits think this is about Russia

yes, because no other european states have been ticked off by the russians of late..

The russian problem is just yet another reason why these plans cannot be hindered

[Heathen Hammer]

I'd love to see them actually try it and suffer miserably when it doesn't work.

[God-Emperor of Mankind]

Not a bad idea, infact a good idea.
However getting it to work is another issue.

[Pallantides]

Lets hope it works.

[Yorkshireman]

I'd love to see them actually try it and suffer miserably when it doesn't work.

You'd hate to see a group of nations gain some independance over their future energy supplies ? Why ?

[Heathen Hammer]

You'd hate to see a group of nations gain some independance over their future energy supplies ? Why ?

Because this project's purpose is to impress Medvedev, not to gain independence on energy supplies. They are having partnership talks with Russia soon, so probably they want to get a better deal from them by scaring them.

[Mikelus Trento]

I'd love to see them actually try it and suffer miserably when it doesn't work.

Not too hard to lay some wire and hook it up.

[Holger Danske]

I'd love to see them actually try it and suffer miserably when it doesn't work.

Just like when the Russians suddenly awakes one day to find their reserves gone... pwn'd... (although it will take some time)

[Heathen Hammer]

Lol this reminds me of how Khrushev tried to "overproduct West" by growing corn in huge proportions for Soviet economy to be more "independent".

[danzig]

Lol this reminds me of how Khrushev tried to "overproduct West" by growing corn in huge proportions for Soviet economy to be more "independent".

Yes but he was an barely literate moron with a temper...somehow I think EU politicians are a bit more brighter.

[Panzerbear]

The beginning of the end for Russia.

I wouldnt hold your breath, if I was you.

The proposals come a day before an EU summit meeting with Russia in France, which is designed to reopen talks on a pact covering economic and energy links after the crisis in relations caused by the war in Georgia in the summer.

aaaaaahhhh... and I was wondering why the hell would they bring up this nonsense right now? the energy talks, almost forgot...

[shadyrome]

Why not just build alot of nuclear powerplant... Since natural gas and nuclear works the same? i think

[Axeman]

*whispers* look at his sig , he is obviously a baby eating marxist commie.

Good idea nevertheless.

[Viking Prince]

Ideas are always poppng up using the words 'Super Grid'. All seem to be a way for billions of euros to be spent on a particular industry. I kinda like this:

Saharan sun to power European supergrid

excerpt:

Vast farms of solar panels in the Sahara desert could provide clean electricity for the whole of Europe, according to EU scientists working on a plan to pool the region's renewable energy.
Harnessing the power of the desert sun is at the centre of ambitious scheme to build a €45bn (£35.7bn) European supergrid that would allow countries across the continent to share electricity from abundant green sources such as wind energy in the UK and Denmark and geothermal energy from Iceland and Italy.

[wilting]

We could power the whole planet from Solar generation in the Sahara. Just because something favours particular interests doesn't mean its a bad idea.