xgreen

Heard Enough about Alternative Energy? Think Energy Efficiency

Increasing voltage on an AC transmission system has the same effect as increasing the voltage on a DC link. The power loss in watts follows the same principles. However, long AC transmission lines, DC lines have this too, have an inductive component which increase VAR loss, VAR loss is only realised in DC systems with a change in current flow.

Not only is the equipment for an HVDC system expensive and big it is also much more costly and difficult to maintain. AC transmission systems are widely used and therefore replacement parts are easily available, expertise is a phone call away, and downtime is limited.

I agree, losses due to transmission put a damper on our electrical supply, however, one way to dramatically reduce loss due to transmission is to generate the power where it is needed, referred to as distributed generation.

Having said all that, conservation is THE BEST ANSWER! The negawatt revolution.

Written in 1989, this article - www.ccnr.org/amory.htm..., has just as much relevance today as it did then!

Alternative Energy ETFs’ Wild Solar Powered Ride

can you recomend some ETF's that are more focused on wind and geo-thermal? what about some ETF's that invest in companies who are creating more efficient technologies for lighting?