The Role of Reconductoring in Deploying Renewable Energy at Scale
The widespread adoption of renewable energy isn’t an easy feat. Tech advancements, affordability, and increased environmental awareness must coexist to make clean energy at scale a viable option.
Reconductoring can improve existing structures and make this happen more quickly. Industry professionals are working on the faster, more cost-effective deployment of renewable power through reconductored transmission lines. Learn how this will impact the future of large-scale green energy.
The Current State of the U.S. Electrical Grid
When it comes to the bare numbers, the United States still continues to rely on fossil fuels for the vast majority of its electricity generation. A recent report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration stated that as of 2022, the electricity was generated from the following sources:
- The biggest source of electricity in the United States was natural gas, which was the fuel source for 39.8% of kilowatthours generated;
- Coal-based electricity made up 19.5% of kilowatthours generated, and the use of coal as a fuel source has continued to decline since its peak in 2008;
- Nuclear power accounts for 18.2% of electricity generated;
- Renewables – including wind, hydro, solar, biomass, and geothermal – make up a, perhaps surprisingly, 21.5% of electricity generated. The use of solar and wind-based electrical sources has climbed significantly since 2002. In particular, solar-based power contributed only 1 billion kilowatthours in 2002 but now contributes 146 billion. Wind-based power climbed from 7 billion killowatthours to 435 billion in the same timeframe.
Clearly America is shifting to cleaner energy sources over time. However, in order to be successful in this endeavor, significant updates must be made to the electrical grid to handle both new types of energy and also increasingly large electrical demands.
How Rewiring Facilitates the Transition to Cleaner Power
Transitioning away from using traditional fossil fuels for power takes extensive planning. Instead of looking to new land acquisition and materials gathering for renewable energy deployment, it’s possible to upgrade existing structures. This is not only better for the environment, it facilitates quicker transmission of clean power.
The current electric grid utilizes an established interconnected network of power lines and transformers. Power from generators and power plants is distributed to this vast network, allowing electricity to flow to residential and commercial destinations. While the competition between power suppliers is fierce, it’s possible to disrupt this environmentally toxic cycle.
If renewable energy projects, like solar parks and wind farms, are located near this established network, the existing structures can be reconductored to transmit clean energy. Not only does this make use of the current transmission network, but it also makes for more efficient transmission of renewable power. Installing advanced conductors can provide a quick way to double power capacity while staying interconnected on the main grid. It’s estimated this type of reconductoring can provide 80% of the transmission needed to reach 90% clean energy by the year 2050.
Cost-Effectiveness of Reconductoring
What’s more, transmission grid upgrades can save money. Climate goals are hard to reach when federal funds are being spent on the pricy acquisition of land and obtaining permits to dig. Plus, if land is being used and habitats are being cleared out in excess for clean energy infrastructure, this can negate the positive impact of the clean energy initiatives. Luckily, using the existing network can reportedly save more than $140 billion over the next 10 years.
Upgrading the nation’s antiquated power grid is a more cost-effective way to transmit energy than to build entirely new structures. The existing power grid is mostly comprised of lines and transmitters reaching the end of their 50-year life expectancy. Instead of building an all-new network, advanced conductors can solve the renewable energy conundrum of how to distribute the power — while upgrading a system that is due to be faulty in the near future anyway.
While renewable energy is inherently cost-effective, consumers and businesses alike face hefty, up-front investments. They also often need to supplement renewable power with traditional. While tax credits and incentives can motivate some to participate in clean energy, it’s not enough. Integrating green power into the existing grid can offer a quick turn-around on investment and lead to more widespread adoption.
Increased Renewable Resilience
In addition to replacing outdated electrical wiring and transmission, reconductoring also allows renewable energy to be more resilient. The conductor upgrades can include smart tech that supports security and safety during storms and outages. Homeowners and business owners can control the energy usage in their buildings when operating on a smart grid. This type of insight into power distribution can decrease the chance of outages — and mitigate the negative effects when outages do occur. Further, the materials used in newer structures are more resistant to the elements and can withstand inclement weather like fires or flooding.
Enhanced Efficiency
Advanced conductors, sometimes called superconductors, also have higher capacity and can carry higher voltages. The current infrastructure is incapable of carrying the loads that renewable energy initiatives would require. This necessitates a change in materials, and upgrading existing structures is the fastest, most efficient way to make this change.
For example, Rhode Island Energy is reconductoring to allow the transmission of offshore wind power. All electricity in the state is mandated to be from renewable energy sources by 2033, and reconductoring is the only way to make this possible. Construction on existing power lines allows power from wind turbines offshore to make it to the entire grid. This is just one example of the ways that reconductoring can speed up the widespread deployment of clean energy.
Creating Sustainable Jobs
Another big incentive for reconductoring the electrical grid is an economic one – it can create high numbers of jobs and boost local economies by doing so. Research conducted by the Americans for a Clean Energy Grid discovered that, when looking at electrical grid projects in Wisconsin and Minnesota, small projects generated 42.5 jobs for every mile of wires laid, while larger projects created 11.5 jobs for every mile. They also discovered that each dollar spent resulted in a $1.50 return on investment.
Electrical grid revitalization may also be a part of major climate change combatting initiatives, such as the American Climate Corps. This initiative, among other goals, aims to grow the number of individuals in the country who have specialized experience in green energy. In addition to providing necessary clean energy, programs such as this can also help revitalize local economies and provide opportunities for individuals who may not have otherwise had access to this type of job training.
This is particularly important to help move the United States away from the use of fossil fuels. One of the major concerns is that many workers who were trained in the energy industry to work with these “dirty” fuels may become unemployed due to their lack of knowledge on new types of energy. Programs such as the American Climate Corps can help alleviate these fears.
Moving Toward a Modernized Energy Infrastructure, Responsibly
With clean power incentives in place and an efficient way to deploy the energy, the nation is poised to replace traditional energy. As tech advances, energy professionals will have greater insight into how to best serve consumers. This involves taking an in-depth look at how the upgraded conductors are performing and adjusting as they are implemented.
While reconductoring is a much faster, more cost-efficient way to disseminate clean energy, it’s not without its hurdles. A holistic approach involving proper land usage, materials sourcing, energy distribution, and more will be the key to a truly modernized, responsible energy infrastructure.
About the Author
Amanda Winstead is a writer focusing on many topics including technology and digital marketing. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.