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Technology

Advances in technology are the world’s best bet for meeting increasing energy demands while also protecting the environment.

 
 
 

Advances in technology are the world’s best bet for meeting increasing energy demands while also protecting the environment. The energy industry constantly improves on existing technology or innovates new methods to extract, create, and use energy—always with the aim of using less to do more. As the world’s population grows and less developed parts of the globe become more technologically advanced, the energy industry’s commitment to new technology makes it possible for more people to have access to electricity while keeping the environment safe and healthy.

Delivering Energy

New technology is being used to update the world’s energy grids. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the country’s energy grid loses about 5% of all electricity transmitted annually. More efficient high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables are being developed to reduce the amount of electricity lost and expand power grids’ capabilities. According to the US Department of Energy, HTS cables may be safer and more environmentally sound than traditional cables. These cables use liquid nitrogen as a coolant instead of the dielectric oil used in many conventional high-voltage cables. These cables are being used around the world, with success in the US, China, and Korea, among other countries. The technologically advanced cables are currently more expensive than traditional copper cables, but experts say the cost will go down as more HTS projects are put into use. By improving the efficiency of moving electricity over long distances, less total energy will be needed to power everything we use. Accordingly, scientists and engineers are working to streamline the electricity grid, modernizing transmission cables with new materials that allow electrons to move more easily, producing less waste.