Why do we transmit electrical power at high voltage?
Transportation of electrical energy at higher voltage is mainly employed to increase the efficiency of the system and minimize energy losses that take place during transmission.
Here are the key reasons for this practice:
Profitability and Energy Dissipation and Its Minimization
Minimized Resistive Losses
When electric energy is transmitted through the conductors some of it is always converted to heat energy because of the resistance of the wires.
This loss is in a quadratic function of the current, often characterized by I²R losses, and therefore at higher current levels the losses are considerably higher.
Electrical energy can be transmitted at low currents through high voltage; this helps to prevent for the resistive losses.
Lower Current
High voltage also make it possible to have low current with a same amount of flow of power.
For instance when voltage has been raised the current falls in direct ratio to the original voltage and hence lowering of energy dissipation because of the resistance in the conductors.
Economic Advantages
Reduced Infrastructure Costs
High voltage transmission also makes it possible to use thin and light wires given the fact that the current is low.
This not only reduce the material cost for the wire but also reduce the transmission tower capacity which can be designed to bear less weight.
Therefore, the costs of constructing the power lines infrastructure and that of maintaining the structures are reduced in the long run.
Increased Power Transmission Capacity
High Voltage Supply (HVS) has the capability of transmitting larger amount of power over large distances with low power losses.
This capacity is useful in linking the areas where power is generated and developed from for instance the renewable energy sources to the density centers (or) the urban areas where such power is required.