From AC to DC: Going green with supergrids
DC is far more efficient: at the same voltage, it suffers much lower transmission losses than AC. This is because in a DC line the direction of the current is constant, whereas in an AC line it reverses 100 or 120 times a second. This induces small currents in the transmission line insulation, and this energy is then lost as heat. Because of this, HVDC has long enjoyed a niche role transporting large amounts of power efficiently over unusually long distances. Full Story »
Posted by Dwight Rousu
I would like to see how much would be gained by putting DC wiring in houses and using DC power from solar panels to power computers and LED lighting without transformation losses. Building codes might need to be revised.