Remix.run Logo
renewiltord 5 days ago

Where could it be? The places with abundant energy are where these things establish. US is about at the lower limit. Korea, Taiwan, Japan. China has SMIC and Huawei. But Europe doesn’t have enough energy to run air conditioning. They’d struggle to add more industry. India has power shortages. Africa isn’t reliable. Australia? South America too unstable.

jajuuka 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

That's a good point. I don't think it's a good idea for corporations to come in and set up stable energy sources to then hoard it themselves. Would be similar to Amazon setting up shop in Cartolandia. And long time investment plans like China's Belt and Road Initiative don't necessarily benefit the host country as much as it benefits the builder.

Branching out supply chains and industry is a big problem to solve effectively because it touches so many different pieces.

ginko 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

>But Europe doesn’t have enough energy to run air conditioning.

That's just silly.

ggreer 5 days ago | parent [-]

It's not that dire, but energy costs in the EU are quite high compared to the US. US retail prices for electricity average 13 cents per kWh.[1] The EU's average is around 28 cents per kWh.[2] The only EU countries with advanced fabs are Germany and Ireland. In Germany, retail electricity is 35 cents per kWh. Ireland is almost as bad at 31 cents per kWh. Industrial plants tend to pay lower rates and can supplement their grid consumption with things like on site solar, but that's also true in the US.

1. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.ph...

2. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/d...