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Arguments against the Supergrid
It is perhaps incorrect to describe the following as an argument against the Supergrid as a whole - rather than seeing it as a way of viewing transmission at present. The arguments are well set out and in excellent detail on the Desertec website. (Link).
The idea is that the AC grid that we presently have should be seen as either a lake or a cascade of electricity. In this analogy the fact that water(electricity) is put in one end does not require that same water (electricity) to be removed from the other end. Thus if the Mediterranean benefits from power from the Sahara power from sources closer to (say) the United Kingdom would be made more available through a series of generators in between allof whom would have a bias further north as a consequence..
This view seems fair when one takes into account present generating capacity and systems. In the present climate (ie dominated by (non-renewables) capacity close to needs, renewables will free up other capacity closer to locations where those renewables are not available.
That said, seems to us this kind of argument works only if there is water coming into the lake from all directions and at similar levels to demand. That is the case at the moment, however Europe's future renewable energy supply may not emerge with this shape. Renewables are scattered - the South for concentrated solar, the coast (north and West for Tidal and Wind) and the North for Hydro. Demand seems centred on population and industry - away from the sources. Demand and supply are transient and often intense - this needs matching.
What is vital is that electricity can be freely and easily moved. It will then remain affordable for all and a free market will be guaranteed.
In short we are concerned that the lake analogy may work for the present, but would not work in when a torrent is taken from one end and a trickle goes in at the other.
This is not to deny the theory - it may well be that analysis of these factors results in a hybrid system. Such a system is not a million miles away from that posited by those advocating a SuperSmartGrid.
A free market will inevitably result in the cheapest possible electricity within that market. The multiplicity of renewables if they can be moved to the most wiling buyer will encourage substantial investment - from which all will benefit. Few countries (at least within the western EU) have no renewable resources that can at the appropriate times be exported. The resultant stability of an effective pan european grid coupled with the ability to export (for example tidal power from Scotland or wind from the Atlantic Coast) at times when demand is low will ensure the best possible use of surpluses.
In short the Grid is a common good and should be recognised as such.
Costy is of course a major issue. It has to be remembered that any major costs are likley to be incurred some years hence after treaties and agreements have been concluded. In addition, for Europe costs will be shared between the 27 participants in the EU and also over a period of say 20 years. The truth is that no one has any realistic idea of the cost except that it may well be rather less than people imagine. DC cables are smaller and more manageable than AC - the real cost will lie in the converter stations which as currently designed take space and are capital intensive. In addition the existing grid needs to be able to take the increased loads so considerable thought needs to be given to this area.
There seems little doubt that intelligent technology that allows careful use of electricity, as well as feed in systems from small users has a huge place in the future. An experiment (South Bend Pilot) is currently underway in the United States to try out aspects of smart metering. It seems likely that a combination of more sophisticated controls that (for example) can reduce peak demand from optional sources and allow for example feed in from car batteries at peak times and the Super Grid, will prevail. It still will be important to move large amounts of electricity long distances - but how much and how far needs careful thought if resources are not to be wasted.