Normally, for long transmission, you get the voltage WAY up. losses in the wire are due to current. Power is power that is, the simplest electrical expression is Pin = Pout. Power in a wire is i2R. That i2 is what gets you on transmission lines. So, you want to get the current as low as possible for a long distance where R is going to go up linearly instead of current going up to the square. Getting the voltage up lowers the current which dramatically lowers the current in the transmission lines.
I could see how wind will fluctuate. That said, think of your car's electrical. Your engine speed fluctuates too. The battery will, essentially smooth that out. One would think that:
Wind and solar are not completely clean...considering their manufacture and disposal and that can have other unintended environmental impacts. Nuclear has the potential for the greatest, longest lasting power generation. It does have, at present, the side-effect of what to do with the spent rods and how they behave when things don't work as planned. There are sufficient examples of what that is a strong concern. There are other reactor types that can be explored that can address those concerns, however.
I could see how wind will fluctuate. That said, think of your car's electrical. Your engine speed fluctuates too. The battery will, essentially smooth that out. One would think that:
- The wind farms are smart enough to catch the wind reasonably well (and automatically rotate to catch the wind the best.
- The choice of location is such that there is normally a good supply of wind and that its average output is reasonably well known over a period of time.
- That the design of putting the power on the grid is well thought out to minimize fluctuations and be at a suitable voltage to work with the infrastructure.
Wind and solar are not completely clean...considering their manufacture and disposal and that can have other unintended environmental impacts. Nuclear has the potential for the greatest, longest lasting power generation. It does have, at present, the side-effect of what to do with the spent rods and how they behave when things don't work as planned. There are sufficient examples of what that is a strong concern. There are other reactor types that can be explored that can address those concerns, however.
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