Up to 70% of electricity is lost in transmission through the power grid...?

Question

... so why don't we create more incentives for locally based micro-renewable generation projects?

Some plus points:
- If we're responsible for generating our own power, it would probably make us far more responsible in our consumption.
- Communities are often atomised, people isolated from their neighbours; creating an important common purpose would foster co-operation and help rebuild communities - that's how they got formed in the first place.
- If neighbourhoods were organising and taking on such responsibilities, then they might gain the confidence to take on other roles - e.g. custodianship of their green spaces and other heritage.
- Such initiatives could go a long way to reversing the trend for bigger, more centralised government, and help counter the power of multi-national energy brokers.

Ay, there's the rub: Power's crucial to their power.

Will they let us?

Do we need their permission?

Whaddya think?

The idea would be for a mixture of renewables within one neighbourhood - solar, wind and biomass, plus better insulated houses and more efficient applicances.

And to the respondent who questioned the loss of electricity through the grid, it's well established - the power companies were forced to admit it can be "up to 60% in some instances" before a parliamentary inquiry.

I agree the wind generators on retail sale are Mickey Mouse - I'm suggesting communities purchase several Proven, state-of-the-art mini-turbines and have them strategically placed through the neighbourhood, with solar panels on every roof, and ground heater and/or biomass in every backyard. That would help with some economies of scale, especially if an enlightened and truly green government incentivised the process with progressive grants.

Answer 1

Hi,
Goodly question.
Some losses do occur in power transmission, due to resistance of conductors, thus giving off thermal energy. Your local sub-station transformers will be oil cooled, as they too prodice a fair bit of heat in the process.
It is estimated that for every 1kW produced at the power stations hooked up to the National Grid, about 10-15% is lost in transmission, depending on where you live, so about 850 - 900 W actually arrives. Which is not bad.
Unless we spend billions on super cooled conductors, such be the unavoidable physics.
I assume therefore that you refer to losses occuring after delivery to a property.
As you say, there's the rub.
Par Ex. This little office upstairs at home has it's radiator turned off, as the heat generated from this computer, monitor, printer, scanner, router, along with the TV, lighting, sound system, and especially the set-top digibox, which is almost too hot to keep your hand on produces such an ambiant temperature that I often have a window slightly open
I am wasting electrical energy, but what to do ?
To mellow my guilt, I am installing a micro-hydro power system at our local water mill, and feed back a bit of energy onto the grid.
OK, it will only be about 20 - 30 kW, depending on the time of year, but there wull be no water extraction, it will power up the electrical requirements of the restored mill, which now even has a disabled lift for four floors, but when the doors are shut to visitors, will spin the outgoing meter nicely.
At home I have doubled the loft insulation, bunged in as many low energy long life light bulbs as is feasible, microwave food if the electric oven is not required, and even installed a digital read-out of the current wattage being used, with a family game of how low can we get it !
I agree that wind is a bit hopeless, unless done a very large scale. Solar is never going to pay for itself in our lifetime, however one can improvise.
A freind of mine has bolted a black painted old radiator to the roof of his allotement shed, and rigged up a shower in shed No.2. Works a treat.
If the lights finally go out in the UK, well I don't think that many folks would be able to cope.
I am used to power failures, having lived in the Mid-East for many a year, so I had paraffin lamps, gas bottles for the cooker, and a battery bank for the TV etc via a static invertor.
The supermarkets and petrol stations would pack up.
The implications are endless.
I shall endeavour to install more hydro systems.
All the best,
Bob

Answer 2

The 70 percent energy loss always goes to heat.
So, you have another one of the global warming sources.
I worked at Bell Labs and we fought the heat problem for all the time I was there. The heat from your TV, your refrige, your light bulbs, and as you say just the wires in your home can't be easily stopped.
Gold and silver wire are cooler than Copper and Aluminum wire but that is not the answer. Electron beams may be an answer to wire energy loss and that is where I'll stop.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, most forms of power generation involve economies of scale that make that impractical. One exception is solar. It makes more sense to generate solar power at the source, than to generate it centrally and distribute it through a grid. Solar is expensive, and not always as available as you'd want, but suplementing conventional power with private Solar (or, community wind power perhaps), might be viable for those with the cash to do something like that just 'cause it's cool.

Answer 4

The mickey mouse electric wind generators on sale at a large national store are a complete waste of money. £1000 for a 1 kilowatt return, that's if it's windy, and hoping it never brakes down or costly servicing....... you'd never get a return for your cash....rip off Britain.
I have 3 solar panels and they heat water to 80c, but I was given them for free as they had been incorrectly installed by a firm and never worked properly. If you paid for a professional solar panel system, you'd probably get ripped off too...... it'll be like the double glazing scams again etc etc

Answer 5

I agree with the point that if everyone created their own power then they would be more caring about consumption. But to be honest how practical is that really i mean how efficient would it be!!

I study electronics and dont understand the first point are you talking about transformers cos they dont loose any electricity!!

Answer 6

would be a great idea but not practical . Not just the cost but the space for alternatives. not to mention we dont have neighbourhoods any more just houses with people in. We can dream.

Answer 7

Ahh, you have some bad information there.

Electricity losses are around 7.2%, NOT 75%

Answer 8

I do my part by using a Clapper.