[HN Gopher] Reconductoring: An easy way to expand the grid
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       Reconductoring: An easy way to expand the grid
        
       Author : 0xbadcafebee
       Score  : 19 points
       Date   : 2024-02-23 20:52 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (heatmap.news)
 (TXT) w3m dump (heatmap.news)
        
       | eppp wrote:
       | Easy is not a word that I would use to describe reconductoring.
       | It is a hard job that requires a ton of planning and in a lot of
       | cases removes redundancy from a substation while its being done.
       | It isn't simple or stupidly easy or any other kind of easy. Why
       | would someone write such an out of touch mass of words.
        
         | Analemma_ wrote:
         | I think the point of the article was not that reconductoring is
         | simple, but that it's _easier_ than building new transmission
         | capacity given the insane NIMBY vetocracy that makes such
         | construction essentially impossible. It 's a political fix,
         | rather than a technical one.
         | 
         | Personally my preferred solution would be permitting reform
         | such that transmission capacity is approved and built by-right
         | and NIMBYs can go pound sand if they don't like it, but you
         | have to deal with the political landscape you have, not the one
         | you want.
        
         | fghorow wrote:
         | I have no insight on the ease of reconductoring, stupid or not.
         | 
         | I do know that permitting a new transmission line route --
         | parallel to an existing route of insufficient capacity -- is
         | severely constraining the further development of a known,
         | existing geothermal resource. I was quoted a delay of 10-ish
         | years for that permitting process by one of the higher-ups in
         | the geothermal company involved.
        
       | TrueSlacker0 wrote:
       | "Ask any climate wonk what's holding back clean energy in the
       | U.S. and you're likely to get the same answer -- not enough power
       | lines. "
       | 
       | I have never read about problems with not enough power lines, its
       | always about all other other factors related to inconsistent
       | production. A power plant given coal or natural gas or other
       | fixed inputs produces a set amount of power. But 1 huge
       | unexpected wind gust and lines can blow, and someone please
       | monitor all those pesky clouds around the solar production
       | because we need at least 5 minutes to get the coal plant
       | producing.
        
         | epistasis wrote:
         | > But 1 huge unexpected wind gust and lines can blow, and
         | someone please monitor all those pesky clouds around the solar
         | production because we need at least 5 minutes to get the coal
         | plant producing.
         | 
         | Neither can a single wind gust bring down the power lines, nor
         | can a coal power plant ramp up in five minutes.
        
       | jahnu wrote:
       | Here's a great hour long discussion on reconductoring
       | 
       | https://www.volts.wtf/p/one-easy-way-to-boost-the-grid-upgra...
        
       | thelastgallon wrote:
       | ".... part of the problem is just a lack of awareness and comfort
       | with the technology. But the bigger issue is that utilities are
       | not incentivized to look for cheaper, more efficient solutions
       | like reconductoring because they profit off capital spending."
        
       | exabrial wrote:
       | > Congress is still debating how to reform permitting processes
       | 
       | Imagine the government making something easier, less expensive,
       | and faster, rather than adding yet another hurdle.
        
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       (page generated 2024-02-23 23:00 UTC)