5 ms·

Generation is cheap. It's the distribution where the overhead is. Most of the electricity is lost in transmission. We must get wireless transmission working.

jeffreyrogers 9y ago
Wireless is not going to solve anything. The lowest loss method for long distance transmission is high voltage DC.
- quickthrower2 9y ago
  Edison, is that you?
  - jeffreyrogers 9y ago
    Ha, there used to be buildings in NYC that had DC power until relatively recently. AC is easier to work with since you can step it up and down easily, but DC has lower transmission losses over long distances.
- dredmorbius 9y ago
  DC or AC?
  - jeffreyrogers 9y ago
    DC, but the equipment to convert from AC to DC and vice-versa is expensive so it doesn't get used as much.
    - quickthrower2 9y ago
      We convert a lot of AC back to DC to use modern appliances: Computers, Phone Chargers and LED lighting. Although I am guessing down stepping DC voltage is also expensive to do efficiently.
trevyn 9y ago
Could you explain what you mean? Wireless transmission does work (especially on the industrial scale), and has losses of its own.
kalcode 9y ago
Wouldn't that result in even more lost in transmission?
mjh2539 9y ago
> Most of the electricity is lost in transmission. False. "The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) losses average about 5% of the electricity that is transmitted and distributed annually in the United States.1" https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=105&t=3 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=105&t=3
- xstartup 9y ago
  I am not talking about the US. In developing countries, transmission loss/theft are the biggest reason they've long powercuts.
  - AnimalMuppet 9y ago
    Well, the article was talking about a US utility. So people might be forgiven for importing that context into your comment.
sharemywin 9y ago
or local generation.
- jeffreyrogers 9y ago
  But you still have to store it in that case. Unless you're using non-renewables, but transporting them around seems less efficient than just centralizing the generation.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

jeffreyrogers 9y ago

Wireless is not going to solve anything. The lowest loss method for long distance transmission is high voltage DC.

quickthrower2 9y ago
Edison, is that you?
- jeffreyrogers 9y ago
  Ha, there used to be buildings in NYC that had DC power until relatively recently. AC is easier to work with since you can step it up and down easily, but DC has lower transmission losses over long distances.
dredmorbius 9y ago
DC or AC?
- jeffreyrogers 9y ago
  DC, but the equipment to convert from AC to DC and vice-versa is expensive so it doesn't get used as much.
  - quickthrower2 9y ago
    We convert a lot of AC back to DC to use modern appliances: Computers, Phone Chargers and LED lighting. Although I am guessing down stepping DC voltage is also expensive to do efficiently.

trevyn 9y ago

Could you explain what you mean? Wireless transmission does work (especially on the industrial scale), and has losses of its own.

kalcode 9y ago

Wouldn't that result in even more lost in transmission?

mjh2539 9y ago

> Most of the electricity is lost in transmission. False. "The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) losses average about 5% of the electricity that is transmitted and distributed annually in the United States.1" https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=105&t=3 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=105&t=3

xstartup 9y ago
I am not talking about the US. In developing countries, transmission loss/theft are the biggest reason they've long powercuts.
- AnimalMuppet 9y ago
  Well, the article was talking about a US utility. So people might be forgiven for importing that context into your comment.

sharemywin 9y ago

or local generation.

jeffreyrogers 9y ago
But you still have to store it in that case. Unless you're using non-renewables, but transporting them around seems less efficient than just centralizing the generation.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]