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Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data, ability to repeat discredited memes, and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Also, be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor even implied. Any irrelevancies you can mention will also be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.

2 Responses to “The Evolution of the Electricity Grid”

1. lunartop Says:
   July 8th, 2011 at 12:59 pm

   I recall recently reading about the use of DC for a european supergrid, the argument however ran counter the suggestion in this video, they were saying DC was more efficient for long distant transmission – although the used the qualifyer “High voltage” so that maybe the key. Anyway here’s the article – http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/11/uk-netherlands-power-cable-britned

2. WaltFrench Says:
   July 11th, 2011 at 2:20 am

   Perhaps you’re an EE and understand all the omitted issues that generated that cute graphic with the tomato splats. Most readers, here, I suspect are not and do not.

   @lunartop, yes, direct current (DC) IS often preferred for many long-distance, high- and ultra-high-voltage power transmission systems. See the Wikipedia article for “Electric Power Transmission,” which touches on the many issues without requiring any math.

   But this is almost totally different from the issues affecting solar and semiconductors highlighted in the video. As in tens of thousands of volts versus less than five volts. Yes, the physics is physics but the relative impact of losses and costs are utterly different.

   I hope that Ritholtz.Com received adequate promotional consideration for presenting this investor relations piece, enough to justify the confusion of most readers/viewers.