I recently ran across a discussion on another list that is relevant here. Quoting:
Quote:
From: Rahul Tongia <tongia.cmuATgmail.com>
Date: April 14, 2009 6:36:43 AM EDT
To: daveATfarber.net
Cc: ip <ipATv2.listbox.com>, [...]
Subject: Re: [IP] Re: The Smart Grid and Cybersecurity
Dave and David,
It's critical to get the issues of boundaries right.
Electricity T&D (transmission and distribution losses) in the US are only about 8%, or slightly lower, in the US. One has to be careful whether one is including conversion losses in *producing* the energy (in that case, the efficiency of a power plant is only some 30% for coal). Or, whether we are factoring in utilization losses. Lights, motors, etc. waste much of their energy.
For a REALLY NICE visual on energy flows, please see LLNL's work:
https://eed.llnl.gov/flow/images/LLN...y_Chart300.jpg
http://www.nap.edu/reports/energy/im...w_enlarged.gif
In terms of Distributed Generation, yes, it would cut down T&D losses but that is not enough to justify the loss of scale. In-between options may be better - not individual homes and not mega power plants. Of course, individual systems make a LOT of sense when we think of co-generation (combined heat and power). Netherlands leads the way with such systems. The drivers for DG aren't just losses, but system stability, security, and more.
Rahul
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The two visuals he links to are really nice graphics showing inputs and outputs in terms of energy and percentages produced and consumed by various routes. Well worth looking at!
Xenophon