[derriz]

In general, yes, more interconnection and better transmission can only be good.

But in the specific example I gave, the finances just don't work. Underwater HDVC is just too expensive and panels are too cheap - even with the value of the uncorrelated intermittency.

And even if the numbers could be made work financially, I can't see European countries lining up to become dependent on fixed infrastructure in politically unaligned and/or unstable countries like Algeria or Libya - especially given recent experience with Russia. Securitywise, Nord Stream has shown that underwater infrastructure is vulnerable to attack and difficult to protect/guard.

[coryrc]

Winter solar in Northern Europe, when it produces 10-15% of summer, is not displacing the winter heating load supplied by fossil fuels. North African solar could do that.

[trompetenaccoun]

Keep in mind the political instability in NA and geopolitical risks.