Long-distance power

Ars Technica is reporting on a plan to run a very high-voltage cable from Iceland to the UK or mainland Europe. The plan would deliver 5B kilowatt-hours per year from Iceland's geothermal generating systems to a Europe that is seeking safer and more sustainable sources of energy. (Germany, in response to last year's nuclear catastrophe, is closing down its nuclear reactors.)



Other long-distance power connections have been in place in Europe for a while, but this would be the world's longest by far. Additional power transmission are envisioned, bringing solar power from North Africa to Europe.

The final construction schedule or costs haven't been published yet. The feasibility study, the article notes, found no major issues. One concern that may have been overlooked, however, one that could cause problems for the UK's bid to be the terminus of the Iceland cable.

This is the standard Iceland plug:

 

 This is the standard UK socket: