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Electricity TransmissionThe U.S. electric transmission grid consists of more than 200,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. These lines carry electricity from its generation point (power plants, wind turbines, dams, etc.) to areas where electricity is needed. Electricity travels at nearly the speed of light, arriving at a destination at almost the same moment it is produced. Reliable and affordable electric service depends on robust transmission systems to reach end-users.The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Electric Transmission and Distribution (ETD) Program works to find solutions to our nation’s electricity transmission and distribution challenges. As our country’s demand for electricity continues to increase, our power distribution system must be expanded and upgraded to meet the needs of a growing population with an ever increasing dependence on energy resources in this digital age. ORNL’s ETD program works directly with the Department of Energy’s Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution (OETD). Following the Northeastern Power Outage of August 14, 2003, the issues addressed by this DOE office have received considerable attention. ORNL has several research facilities, including national user facilities that perform research related to electricity transmission and distribution challenges. Specific R&D areas include: high-temperature superconductivity systems, transmission reliability, system controls for high-voltage applications, and electricity storage. Please contact ORNL’s ETD program for more information. |
