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I think we'll some form of power link going from UK -> US during our lifetime, maybe via Iceland/Greenland so we can utilise the excess geothermal energy from I

by gehsty 7y ago

I think we'll some form of power link going from UK -> US during our lifetime, maybe via Iceland/Greenland so we can utilise the excess geothermal energy from Iceland.

3JPLW 7y ago
What makes you think that's a possibility? Power transportation over long distances is lossy and thus very expensive.
- jawns 7y ago
  It is lossy _now_ and very expensive _now_. I think what the poster was saying was such barriers may be surmountable in time.
  - gehsty 7y ago
    I work in subsea power cables, AC transmission is not efficient, HVDC transmission is efficient for long distances. India has HVDC links 1500km long. I don’t understand the ‘lossy’ description, any energy transfer loses energy, when dealing with utilities it is either acceptable or not. HVDC is proven long distance transmission technology. There is a subsea hvdc link in the early planning stage between Iceland and the U.K. I think it is more likely the financing of the project is not arranged yet than the technology. The cost of these links is generally cheaper than a new build power station of a similar capacity, so when you can transfer excess generation it becomes cost effective to build.
- gehsty 7y ago
  AC Power transmission is not efficient over long distances without rectification. HVDC Power transmission already has links >1500km onshore. Offshore links are more expensive to build but I don’t think there are massive difference in losses (to the point where they are not worth building anyway). European countries are already connected by subsea HVDC links 500km long. There is a planned cable between Iceland and the U.K. the costs of construction are offset against currently wasted generation, so they can be built at a comparable cost to modern renewable energy, and then they open up an energy trading market that will add to the money made through generation.

by gehsty 7y ago

I think we'll some form of power link going from UK -> US during our lifetime, maybe via Iceland/Greenland so we can utilise the excess geothermal energy from Iceland.

3JPLW 7y ago

What makes you think that's a possibility? Power transportation over long distances is lossy and thus very expensive.

jawns 7y ago
It is lossy _now_ and very expensive _now_. I think what the poster was saying was such barriers may be surmountable in time.
- gehsty 7y ago
  I work in subsea power cables, AC transmission is not efficient, HVDC transmission is efficient for long distances. India has HVDC links 1500km long. I don’t understand the ‘lossy’ description, any energy transfer loses energy, when dealing with utilities it is either acceptable or not. HVDC is proven long distance transmission technology. There is a subsea hvdc link in the early planning stage between Iceland and the U.K. I think it is more likely the financing of the project is not arranged yet than the technology. The cost of these links is generally cheaper than a new build power station of a similar capacity, so when you can transfer excess generation it becomes cost effective to build.
gehsty 7y ago
AC Power transmission is not efficient over long distances without rectification. HVDC Power transmission already has links >1500km onshore. Offshore links are more expensive to build but I don’t think there are massive difference in losses (to the point where they are not worth building anyway). European countries are already connected by subsea HVDC links 500km long. There is a planned cable between Iceland and the U.K. the costs of construction are offset against currently wasted generation, so they can be built at a comparable cost to modern renewable energy, and then they open up an energy trading market that will add to the money made through generation.