energytransmission

Energy transmission refers to the movement of energy from a source to a load. It encompasses the bulk transfer of energy through various media and mechanisms, including electrical power lines, mechanical drives, thermal conduction, and wireless methods. In common usage, the term often describes the long-distance transfer of electrical energy from power plants to consumers via transmission and distribution networks.

Electrical energy transmission uses high-voltage networks to reduce losses over long distances. Generated electricity is stepped up to high voltage by transformers, transmitted over overhead or underground lines, and stepped down at substations for distribution. Losses arise mainly from resistance (I^2R losses), dielectric and corona losses, impedance, and reactive power. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) links and synchronized grids improve efficiency and stability for long distances and underwater cables. Modern grids rely on monitoring, protection relays, and control schemes to maintain reliability.

Mechanical energy transmission moves kinetic or potential energy via gears, shafts, belts, or couplings; common in machinery and propulsion. Thermal energy transmission is the transfer of heat by conduction, convection, and radiation, governed by temperature differences and materials' properties. Wireless energy transmission uses electromagnetic fields or acoustic methods to transfer energy without direct contact, including inductive coupling, resonant inductive systems, and microwave or laser-based approaches.

Policy, standards, and safety regulations govern installation and operation of transmission systems. Efficiency improvements focus on conductor materials, insulation, grid interconnections, and advanced power electronics, along with developing more flexible and resilient networks to accommodate variable generation from renewables.