In 2025, the need for energy is at its highest point ever. Long-standing lifestyle choices like lighting, air conditioning, and appliances are electricity-intensive and have carried over from generations past. However, new generations have added onto this electricity load with new lifestyle choices like computers, cell phones, and internet routers. Because the modern lifestyle is so dependent on energy, the amount of power being demanded has hit its highest point in the history of the US. Moreover, the power demand is only expected to grow by a whopping 50% within just 25 years. So, how well-equipped is the US to handle the growing power demand?
At present, the US power grid is between 4 and 7 decades old. Similarly, as much as 70% of transmission lines are reaching the end of their service life and 55% of residential transformers are in the same boat. This means that not only is the infrastructure unable to accommodate the future anticipated levels, but it is increasingly unlikely that it will be able to even handle its current output in 25 years’ time.
One factor that is holding the power production back is simply the inefficiency of the current transformers. At present, around 5% of all electricity distributed across the grid was lost. Using 2025 power production, that would mean around 202.45 Terrawatt Hours, which is enough power to cool over 100 million homes.
Fortunately, new transformers are the perfect replacement for aging infrastructure. Not only are they more efficient than their predecessors, but they were also built to handle a higher power capacity due to forecasted power demand.
Ultimately, the US’s future is being powered forward by tons of electricity. To make sure that the grid can accommodate the electricity needs of tomorrow, action must be taken today. Upgrading transformers is the best way to ensure the grid is able to accommodate the power demand of the future.
Source: ELSCO