[dangjc]

One other issue with the Sahara is that you still have to transport that energy to where it will be used. It's been difficult already to build transmission within the US between a few states. Crossing the Mediterranean and getting the energy across southern Europe (which is sunny and doesn't need it) to cloudier northern Europe would be a lot of permitting. If they can convert the Sahara electricity to liquid fuels, it might actually fit with trade patterns better.

[kwhitefoot]

Spain and Morocco are already in the process of building a big solar array in Morocco and a third link across the Strait of Gibraltar (400 kV AC, 700 MW).

https://www.ree.es/en/press-office/news/press-releases/2019/...

It's not especially difficult either from a permit point of view or technically, this is well proven in Europe. See for instance:

https://www.nationalgrid.com/national-grid-ventures/intercon...

"Europe’s electricity system currently has more than 400 interconnectors and is the world’s largest interconnected grid. Currently Europe has around 93 GW of cross-border transmission capacity with a further 23 GW in construction/advanced permitting by 2025"

https://www.schroders.com/en-us/us/institutional/insights/wh...