When will power lines be a thing of the past?

Question

I know we have solar energy and wind power now, but when do you think that power lines will become a thing of the past? 2025?

Answer 1

You would think humans would have been smart enough to change this by now huh... We after all can travel to outer space and such..

Answer 2

Probably never (they'll just move underground).

Microwave power transmission will probably end up being used to transmit power from space down to Earth (using the fact that the sun doesn't set in Geostationary orbit to make it solar a useful baseload power source) but once the power reaches the rectena it'll be sent through an inverter and then out into the grid through normal power lines (the microwave process is less efficient than power lines, it would only be used because you can't run a cable into space, although a cable long enough might have enough resistance to make the microwave look good).

Beaming microwave power from space to Earth is accepted as safe to do (and the most commonly proposed design will result in the beam defocusing to harmlessness if it is pointed anywhere other than right at the receiver) and the beam will not actually be all that intense but beaming the power to your house would require that pretty much the entire planet be bathed in high intensity microwaves (of much higher intensity than what is used for mobile phones).

Some people also seem to think that having everyone generate their own power is a viable solution and whilst it would get rid of power lines there will still always be industrial concerns that need a lot of power (far too much for ground based solar or wind to supply) and the need to backup unreliable sources of power such as solar and wind means that to get off the grid those using such sources need to have something to keep them growing when the wind isn't blowing at night and then they also end up needing more generating capacity to charge the battery banks up when they can generate power so it isn't really such a good idea. From an efficiency point of view we're probably better off having centrally generated electricity.

Answer 3

The only way power lines could ever be eliminated is by eliminating centrally produced electricity. If the electricity is produced at point A, and you need it in point B, the most efficient way we have now is to run the electricity through the power lines. The only other way that is even remotely viable is to use a certain frequency of microwaves to beam the energy to a satellite which would then beam it to you. However, as this process works better just beaming down, i doubt it will soon become popular. So, you'd might as well get used to the long black cables threaded across the world.

Answer 4

Power lines will be a thing of the past a few moments after the United States Air Force drops BLU-114/Bs on them. The BLU-114/B is a special-purpose submunition for attacking electrical infrastructure. The BLU-114/B disperses many carbon filaments, which short out power lines and other electric infrastructure, such as transformers and switchgear. The efficacy of the BLU-114/B has already been proven in making both Serbian and Iraqi power lines a thing of the past.

Answer 5

The only way you'll get rid of power lines is when each house/business has its own generation. While there has been talk about transmitting power via microwaves, there are just too many problems with it - attenuation through the atmosphere (high losses) and the possibility of things (ie, airplanes) flying through the beam and cooking the contents.

There's no simple/inexpensive way to carry the power other than through overhead/underground lines.

Answer 6

Unless you want to install a huge battery bank probably never. They may move underground.

The grid acts like a huge capacitor in effect, without being hooked to it you dont have power when the wind dont blow and the sun dont shine ... so you either have to store it locally or supply/take from the grid ... being on the grid is a lot cheaper.

Answer 7

Never. Regardless of how the power is generated, it must be transmitted from the source to the user, so there will always be power lines.

Answer 8

If Nicola Tesla hadn't been stifled by money hungry individuals we would never have had power lines in the first place. As power prices increase his technology will be developed and it will be someone very brave to make it available to the public. Others have tried in the past and been dealt with severally never to be seen again.

Answer 9

Probably in another 5 to ill say 10 years . Take time to convert every one

Answer 10

WHEN THE CHEAP POWER COMPANY CAN AFFORD TO PUT THEM UNDERGROUND. MINE PROMISED ME THIS 5 YEARS AGO...