4 ms·
The main issue is that ultra high voltage transformers are large, expensive, have long lead times (12-36 months!), and are built almost entirely in China. You'
by beckingz 6y ago
The main issue is that ultra high voltage transformers are large, expensive, have long lead times (12-36 months!), and are built almost entirely in China.
You're correct though, that the entire energy industry skews old and is at risk of losing a lot of knowledge as talent retires.
The real risk is squirrels and trees though. Flora and fauna do not play well with transmission equipment.
- antsar 6y ago> long lead times (12-36 months!) I was skeptical, but this seems right (at least circa 2012). Here's a source: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/Large%20Power%20Transformer%20Study%20-%20June%202012_0.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/Large%20Power%20Tran... (summarized in the Concluding Remarks section)
- mepiethree 6y agoyeah, squirrels are going to kill us all someday. here's a fun map of all the power failures caused by squirrels, as documentation of WW3 https://cybersquirrel1.com/ https://cybersquirrel1.com/