(IEC: Geneva, Switzerland) -- The leading experts in the field of ultra high voltage (UHV), are to begin defining the technical and safety specifications for this promising new technology that is set to help deliver the world’s increased electrical energy demands. UHV could offer a solution to the need for more electricity in a space-restricted world. Countries active in this technology include Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States.
The International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) will join forces to develop international standards for ultra-high voltage to ensure the safe and efficient use of this technology in areas likely to include reliability and maintenance. They will also define the tests for measuring electromagnetic radiation from power lines.IEC and CIGRE agreed on the joint work at the July 18-21, 2007, international conference on UHV held in Beijing, China, which was attended by the world’s leading experts on this technology.
One of today’s challenges is to supply growing demand for large amounts of electrical energy efficiently and with a minimal impact on the environment. Electricity can be generated thousands of kilometers away from the urban populations to whom it needs to be delivered and during transmission it loses energy.
UHV generally means AC voltages of 1,000 kilovolts or higher, or DC voltages of 800 kilovolts or higher. It’s a highly efficient means of transmitting large quantities of power over a transmission line. This is because higher voltage on the line means lower current and therefore less energy being lost from the Joule effect (lower voltage means higher current, which means greater heating of the transmission line, which means energy lost as heat).
For more information, visit www.iec.ch/news_centre/release/nr2007/nr1707.htm.
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