6 ms·

Global power transfers don't work due to losses. The physics doesn't work out.

Reason077 4y ago
Tell that to the proposed EuroAsia link (Greece-Cyprus-Israel) [1], or the proposed Australia-Singapore link [2]. Interconnector are getting longer and longer with each new generation. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector [2] https://www.powerengineeringint.com/smart-grid-td/td-infrastructure/building-an-australia-singapore-power-link/ https://www.powerengineeringint.com/smart-grid-td/td-infrast... The electrical loss through HVDC cable is approximately 3% per 1000 km of cable, far less than with AC grids. The physics do work out, the only real barriers are economics and politics.
- candiodari 4y ago
  Exactly, just like always before: only interconnects through oceans work because otherwise one government is entrusting its fate to another. In the best case that ends with countries paying tax to other countries' governments, in the worst case that ends in war.
  - atlasunshrugged 4y ago
    Or it ends with a third government cutting the cable and massively disrupting the other two
worldwideants 4y ago
Can I return this Tesla resonator or at least exchange it for the powerwall?
kwhitefoot 4y ago
A 3000 km HVDC interconnect loses only 10%. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current The physics works out just fine. Where did you get your information from? See also: "On the technology front we have covered significant ground in the past two decades. We have raised power capacity from 50MW to more than 1,400MW â€“ enough to power several million households. We have enhanced voltage levels from 80kV to 525kV, thereby increasing distance capability from 70km to over 1,000km. And at the same time we have continually brought down transmission losses which are now at less than 1 percent." https://eepower.com/news/abb-doubles-hvdc-capacity-and-celebrates-20th-anniversary/ https://eepower.com/news/abb-doubles-hvdc-capacity-and-celeb...
boshomi 4y ago
HVDC enables long-distance transmission with low losses: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331959599_A_comprehensive_review_on_the_benefits_and_challenges_of_global_power_grids_and_intercontinental_interconnectors https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331959599_A_compreh... https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/building-a-2-billion-subsea-solar-power-cable-from-chile-to-china-1030989814 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/building-a-2... (2 billion seems too cheep)
ben_w 4y ago
Global power transfer (~2e7 meters) with current standard HVDC cables would lose 64%, which is still worth doing. The cables are designed for crossing relatively small bodies of water such as the Mediterranean or the North Sea, and can be tweaked for more efficiency if the goal is to cross the Pacific Ocean, but even without that, it would still work.
robocat 4y ago
There are many ways electricity can be converted to transportable chemical energy. We just haven’t yet done so cheaper than petroleum yet. The physics works fine, the economics not so fine (yet).

Tell that to the proposed EuroAsia link (Greece-Cyprus-Israel) [1], or the proposed Australia-Singapore link [2]. Interconnector are getting longer and longer with each new generation. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector [2] https://www.powerengineeringint.com/smart-grid-td/td-infrastructure/building-an-australia-singapore-power-link/ https://www.powerengineeringint.com/smart-grid-td/td-infrast... The electrical loss through HVDC cable is approximately 3% per 1000 km of cable, far less than with AC grids. The physics do work out, the only real barriers are economics and politics.

candiodari 4y ago
Exactly, just like always before: only interconnects through oceans work because otherwise one government is entrusting its fate to another. In the best case that ends with countries paying tax to other countries' governments, in the worst case that ends in war.
- atlasunshrugged 4y ago
  Or it ends with a third government cutting the cable and massively disrupting the other two

worldwideants 4y ago

Can I return this Tesla resonator or at least exchange it for the powerwall?

kwhitefoot 4y ago

A 3000 km HVDC interconnect loses only 10%. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current The physics works out just fine. Where did you get your information from? See also: "On the technology front we have covered significant ground in the past two decades. We have raised power capacity from 50MW to more than 1,400MW â€“ enough to power several million households. We have enhanced voltage levels from 80kV to 525kV, thereby increasing distance capability from 70km to over 1,000km. And at the same time we have continually brought down transmission losses which are now at less than 1 percent." https://eepower.com/news/abb-doubles-hvdc-capacity-and-celebrates-20th-anniversary/ https://eepower.com/news/abb-doubles-hvdc-capacity-and-celeb...

boshomi 4y ago

HVDC enables long-distance transmission with low losses: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331959599_A_comprehensive_review_on_the_benefits_and_challenges_of_global_power_grids_and_intercontinental_interconnectors https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331959599_A_compreh... https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/building-a-2-billion-subsea-solar-power-cable-from-chile-to-china-1030989814 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/building-a-2... (2 billion seems too cheep)

ben_w 4y ago

Global power transfer (~2e7 meters) with current standard HVDC cables would lose 64%, which is still worth doing. The cables are designed for crossing relatively small bodies of water such as the Mediterranean or the North Sea, and can be tweaked for more efficiency if the goal is to cross the Pacific Ocean, but even without that, it would still work.

robocat 4y ago

There are many ways electricity can be converted to transportable chemical energy. We just haven’t yet done so cheaper than petroleum yet. The physics works fine, the economics not so fine (yet).