Just been looking at an interesting alternative idea.

Iceland has an unused potential hydro electric capacity of vast size, [ 26-31 TWh / year ] which the government there wants to export to Europe.
They also have 14TWh / year of unused geothermal.

The idea is this; instead of running a bit of bell wire [Linked Image] to Sweden and all points south, make aluminum from bauxite instead using hydro-geo power. This would be shipped in 20,000 ton cargos to Europe/N. America where the electrical energy in the aluminum would be reconverted. All 280GWh of it.
BTW 'Google Earth' is a good way to get an idea of the distances involved.

Aluminum represents 6.4 kWh of electricity per pound of the metal. It's a safe non toxic cargo.

Once the electricity has been created and fed into the Grid, the aluminium hydroxide waste-product, ( ie bauxite sludge ), formed in the reaction is shipped back to Iceland and made into ....er...aluminum! The sludge is high value, because it is pure. The preparation of raw bauxite for the smelters involves costly removal of impurities like iron and silica.



Hey! Can we run cars on aluminum wire?

"Fill 'er up! 200 lbs of #6!"

Alan

delete duff link

[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 08-21-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 08-21-2006).]

Wood work but can't!