Future power delivery options for long-term energy sustainability

Mankind has continually pursued cheap and plentiful energy resources. For centuries the major energy resource was firewood, while for over the last one hundred years most of our energy has come in the form of fossil fuels. For example, the U.S. currently gets more than 75% of its energy from fossil fuels. But the reserves for these fuels are finite. The magnitude of the reserves, and when they will run out has been a subject for debate for many years. No one knows for sure when that day will come, or what type of price volatility and geopolitical unrest could accompany global fossil fuel shortages. For some fossil fuels, such as coal, reserves are sufficient for many decades of usage at current rates. But for others the time is growing short, with most experts predicting global oil production to peak in the next ten to twenty years. Over the next several decades it is likely the sources of energy will switch away for fossil fuels. But most likely new energy sources, such as expanded nuclear power and wind, require the use of electricity for transportation from the energy source to the consumers. Accommodating this potential for greatly increased electric energy flow may require new transmission technology. This panel session explores future transmission system options for greatly expanding the capacity of the existing grid.