Electricity power transmission is indeed one of the major issues with the idea of covering a large portion of Desert with solar panels and Here’s why,

1. Distance to Energy Consumers

Most Deserts are far from the regions that would most need the electricity, like Europe or densely populated urban centers in Africa and the Middle East. Transmitting electricity over long distances leads to:

• Energy Loss: No matter how advanced the transmission technology, there will always be some loss of electricity as it’s transmitted over long distances. Even with high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, which is the most efficient for long distances, energy losses are unavoidable, though they can be minimized.
• High Infrastructure Costs: Building thousands of kilometers of transmission lines across different countries, terrains, and potentially even bodies of water (like across the Mediterranean to Europe) is extremely expensive and requires complex engineering. The investment needed to build and maintain this infrastructure is immense.

2. Security and Maintenance

The transmission lines would pass through multiple regions, many of which could be unstable politically or socially. Securing and maintaining these lines could be difficult, especially if the regions are prone to conflict, terrorism, or other forms of unrest. Any damage to the transmission lines could result in power outages that could affect millions of people.

3. Grid Integration

The electricity produced in a desert would need to be integrated into the power grids of various countries, each with its own energy policies, infrastructure, and regulations. This could be a logistical and regulatory nightmare, requiring significant international cooperation, something that is not always easy to achieve.

4. Cost of Energy Storage

Since solar energy is intermittent (it’s only generated during the day), you would need large-scale energy storage solutions to provide power during the night or cloudy periods. Storing and balancing such vast amounts of energy for a continental or global scale adds another layer of complexity. If the energy can’t be stored and transmitted efficiently, it risks being wasted.

5. Alternatives Closer to Demand Centers

Many countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are investing in renewable energy sources closer to where the electricity will be used. Offshore wind farms, local solar projects, and other renewable technologies can meet much of the energy demand without the need for such long transmission distances. This makes more localized energy generation often more efficient and practical.

Conclusion

While long-distance electricity transmission is technically possible, the costs, energy losses, and logistical complexities make it a significant obstacle. The issue is not just technological but also political and economic, with complex international coordination needed to pull off such a massive infrastructure project.