Red Sea Heliohydropower: Bab-al-Mandab Sill Macro-Project

Abstract

Macro-engineering has purposely developed, and is currently applying, proved construction and operation technologies and modern management techniques to effectively connect the various natural and anthropogenic components of certain Earth-biosphere regions. “Industrial metabolism” is an apt metaphor to describe the mobilization and control of materials and energy through industrial activities. Predictive geomorphology involves the assessment of the “Anthropic Force”, the combined effect on the Earth’s surface, direct and indirect, of humankind’s planned and unplanned industrial activities (Haff 2003). Twenty-first century technology enables us to move earth materials, and to create artificial constructions at an unprecedented scale—from the miniscule scale of Land Art to vast Macro-engineering mega-projects. In the near-term future it will become possible to divide suitable sea gulfs from the world-ocean through the building of appropriate physical barriers (dams) in order to create economically feasible power-drop macroproject sites.