4 ms·

Loss of power during distribution is not a problem that needs solving, power losses due to transmission in conventional grid are mere 5%. [1] https://en.wikipe

Loss of power during distribution is not a problem that needs solving, power losses due to transmission in conventional grid are mere 5%. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission#Losses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission#Lo... Considering how costly and inflexible all superconductors are, I don't see why they would help.

chrisco255 7y ago
Those losses are on a per 100 mile basis. 2-5% per 100 miles of line (not as the crow flies mind you). Superconductors would make a huge difference if they could build a room temperature superconductor.
- Already__Taken 7y ago
  Exactly, when people mention losses saved by superconductors they don't mean to improve the current grid. It's to route power from the always sunny side of the planet.
  - xorfish 7y ago
    HVDC is already below 3% per 1'000km. So connecting Europe to the Sahara is around 5% with current technology
    - chrisco255 7y ago
      No. Sorry the Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Sahara (as well as several countries) and you can't do this practically by any means. Europe doesn't own the Sahara.
      - xorfish 7y ago
        The main problem with installing solar in the Sahara and transporting it to Europe is the political instability of the region. Laying cables across a sea or ocean is already routinely done.
        lostlogin 7y ago
        We all manage with oil. The key has to be getting the resource without making the region worse, which hasn’t been the case with oil.
        chrisco255 7y ago
        There's communication cables laid across the sea. There's no examples I know of High Voltage transmission with enough power to operate Europe. It's not only the instability of Sahara, but laying a cable across the sea for the transmission of enough energy to power Europe would require defense of the cables. A submarine could otherwise attack the grid and take Europe offline. This is unpractical on a lot of levels and hand-waving this as a reasonable solution is silly.
        xorfish 7y ago
        So your point is exactly my point? The technology isn't a problem. Superconductors wouldn't solve anything. It is a political problem.
        chrisco255 7y ago
        You can't run Europe on a single 1000km line running out of the Sahara over the Mediterranean. Period. Not only would a sea cable need to follow the surface of the bottom of the ocean (therefore the line would be much longer), it would experience significant power loss as it gets stepped down from higher voltages as it distributes across Europe. It's not technically feasible at all. You would lose anywhere from 20-50% from transmission. No joke. Resistance happens. A superconductor would fix this problem. You wouldn't have to send power over dangerously high voltages to save power.
        xorfish 7y ago
        You would probably start with one cable and increase it over time. HVDC cabels are already routinely build undersea. There is a 700km long cable under construction between the UK and Noreway. The longest HVDC connection is over 2000km long in Brazil. Superconductors have a maximum current, if you go above that current, the superconductor will gain resistance and the heat will destroy it. So you would still use high voltage transmission.
- duckymcduckface 7y ago
  The 5% is quoted further in the article for overall grid waste. The per mile basis is purely there to compare why higher voltages for the Samer power lead to less waste.

chrisco255 7y ago

Those losses are on a per 100 mile basis. 2-5% per 100 miles of line (not as the crow flies mind you). Superconductors would make a huge difference if they could build a room temperature superconductor.

Already__Taken 7y ago
Exactly, when people mention losses saved by superconductors they don't mean to improve the current grid. It's to route power from the always sunny side of the planet.
- xorfish 7y ago
  HVDC is already below 3% per 1'000km. So connecting Europe to the Sahara is around 5% with current technology
  - chrisco255 7y ago
    No. Sorry the Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Sahara (as well as several countries) and you can't do this practically by any means. Europe doesn't own the Sahara.
    - xorfish 7y ago
      The main problem with installing solar in the Sahara and transporting it to Europe is the political instability of the region. Laying cables across a sea or ocean is already routinely done.
      - lostlogin 7y ago
        We all manage with oil. The key has to be getting the resource without making the region worse, which hasn’t been the case with oil.
      - chrisco255 7y ago
        There's communication cables laid across the sea. There's no examples I know of High Voltage transmission with enough power to operate Europe. It's not only the instability of Sahara, but laying a cable across the sea for the transmission of enough energy to power Europe would require defense of the cables. A submarine could otherwise attack the grid and take Europe offline. This is unpractical on a lot of levels and hand-waving this as a reasonable solution is silly.
        xorfish 7y ago
        So your point is exactly my point? The technology isn't a problem. Superconductors wouldn't solve anything. It is a political problem.
        chrisco255 7y ago
        You can't run Europe on a single 1000km line running out of the Sahara over the Mediterranean. Period. Not only would a sea cable need to follow the surface of the bottom of the ocean (therefore the line would be much longer), it would experience significant power loss as it gets stepped down from higher voltages as it distributes across Europe. It's not technically feasible at all. You would lose anywhere from 20-50% from transmission. No joke. Resistance happens. A superconductor would fix this problem. You wouldn't have to send power over dangerously high voltages to save power.
        xorfish 7y ago
        You would probably start with one cable and increase it over time. HVDC cabels are already routinely build undersea. There is a 700km long cable under construction between the UK and Noreway. The longest HVDC connection is over 2000km long in Brazil. Superconductors have a maximum current, if you go above that current, the superconductor will gain resistance and the heat will destroy it. So you would still use high voltage transmission.
duckymcduckface 7y ago
The 5% is quoted further in the article for overall grid waste. The per mile basis is purely there to compare why higher voltages for the Samer power lead to less waste.