2020 INSTITUTE

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ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Energy Sources:

Windpower
Biomass
Coal
Geothermal
Hydropower
Nuclear
Solar
Cold Fusion
Super Conductivity
Tidal

SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

Things To Know:  This is one innovation that has the ability to very dramatically change all of our lives.  Everything that uses electricity loses some of that electrical power due to heat generated from resistance.  If one takes away the resistance, one takes away the energy loss.  Across the board, almost every aspect of our modern world could become more energy efficient with superconductivity.  Currently, the concept is only feasible using extremely cold temperatures to cool electrical wires or devices.  Research is still ongoing, however, the room-temperature superconductor has unfortunately not yet been invented. 

Greased Lightning:  Before the electricity gets to most homes, it has to go through miles of cable.  This cable has the same resistance problem that allows the small strands of wire in your toaster to heat up.  These strands were actually designed for maximum resistance, which is much easier than designing for minimum resistance.  An energy loss of between five and twenty percent of the initial power fed into the system is normal.  For any consumer and producer, these losses are unacceptable on a long-term basis.  Fortunately, scientists are already on the case.  Superconductivity means a lack of impedance for individual electrons trying to move from point A to point B.  For now, no impedance in a wire results from near zero molecular motion in the wire body due to a specialized frozen cable.  The main focus is now on 2^nd phase technology.  This technology operates at the same temperature as liquid nitrogen, and is "relatively" easy to maintain.  The ideal is to eventually have affordable room-temperature super conductivity. Those interested in buying super conductive wire or just wanting to learn more should consult the following sites: http://www.intermagnetics.com/, www.nexans.com/dyn/site.php3?page_id=31, http://superconductors.org/, http://www.csr.umd.edu/, http://www.vjsuper.org/

Please advise the 2020 Institute if you feel we've left out any must see statistics or new technologies in this area or if you feel we've inadvertently misrepresented anything on this page.

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