Editing Energy development (section)

== Transmission ==

[[File:Pipeline-small image, seen from below.jpeg|thumb|right|An elevated section of the [[Trans-Alaska Pipeline System|Alaska Pipeline]]]]

While new sources of energy are only rarely discovered or made possible by new [[technologies|technology]], [[distribution (business)|distribution]] technology continually evolves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/energy/content/international/United_States_Energy_2007.png|title=News|work=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922062127/https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/energy/content/international/United_States_Energy_2007.png|archive-date=2010-09-22}}</ref> The use of [[fuel cell]]s in cars, for example, is an anticipated delivery technology.<ref>Fuel Cell Materials Technology in Vehicular Propulsion: Report. National Academies, 1983.</ref> This section presents the various delivery technologies that have been important to historic energy development. They all rely in way on the energy sources listed in the previous section.

=== Shipping and pipelines ===

{{See also|Pipeline transport}}

[[Coal]], [[petroleum]] and their derivatives are delivered by boat, [[Rail transport|rail]], or road. Petroleum and natural gas may also be delivered by [[pipeline transport|pipeline]], and coal via a [[Slurry pipeline]]. Fuels such as [[gasoline]] and [[Liquified petroleum gas|LPG]] may also be delivered via [[aircraft]]. Natural gas pipelines must maintain a certain minimum pressure to function correctly. The higher costs of ethanol transportation and storage are often prohibitive.<ref>
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v40_1_07/article08.shtml
 | title = Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Biomass, Solving the science is only part of the challenge
 | access-date = 2008-01-06
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130702051754/http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v40_1_07/article08.shtml
 | archive-date = 2013-07-02
 }}</ref>

=== Wired energy transfer ===

[[File:Two transmission towers.jpg|thumb|[[Electrical grid]] – pylons and cables distribute power]]

{{main|Electrical grid}}

Electricity grids are the [[electrical network|networks]] used to [[Electric power transmission|transmit]] and [[Electricity distribution|distribute]] [[electric power|power]] from production source to end user, when the two may be hundreds of kilometres away.  Sources include electrical generation plants such as a [[nuclear reactor]], coal burning power plant, etc.  A combination of sub-stations and transmission lines are used to maintain a constant flow of electricity. Grids may suffer from transient [[Power blackout|blackouts]] and [[power outage|brownouts]], often due to weather damage. During certain extreme [[space weather]] events [[solar wind]] can interfere with transmissions. Grids also have a predefined [[carrying capacity]] or load that cannot safely be exceeded. When power requirements exceed what's available, failures are inevitable. To prevent problems, power is then rationed.

Industrialised countries such as Canada, the [[United States|US]], and Australia are among the highest per capita consumers of electricity in the world, which is possible thanks to a widespread electrical distribution network. The US grid is one of the most advanced,{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} although [[infrastructure]] maintenance is becoming a problem. [https://web.archive.org/web/20041014214845/http://currentenergy.lbl.gov/ CurrentEnergy] provides a realtime overview of the electricity supply and demand for [[California]], [[Texas]], and the Northeast of the US. African countries with small scale electrical grids have a correspondingly low annual per capita usage of electricity. One of the most powerful power grids in the world supplies power to the state of [[Queensland]], Australia.

=== Wireless energy transfer ===

[[Wireless power transfer]] is a process whereby electrical energy is transmitted from a power source to an electrical load that does not have a built-in power source, without the use of interconnecting wires. Currently available technology is limited to short distances and relatively low power level.

Orbiting solar power collectors would require wireless transmission of power to Earth. The proposed method involves creating a large beam of microwave-frequency radio waves, which would be aimed at a collector antenna site on the Earth. Formidable technical challenges exist to ensure the safety and profitability of such a scheme.