China's MILLION VOLT Energy Superhighway

Smart grids delivering renewable energy across continents will be a crucial advance, but they will also require extremely long electricity transmission distances. Our existing power lines are becoming more and more inefficient as those distances grow. China is tackling the issue by switching from AC to DC power and ramping up the output to a truly eye-watering 1.1 million volts. An environmental breakthrough or a bid for global energy domination?

Video Transcripts available at our website

Help support this channels independence at

Or with a donation via Paypal by clicking here

Download the Just Have a Think App from the AppStore or Google Play

Interested in mastering and remembering the concepts that I present in my videos?

Check out the FREE DiveDeeper mini-courses offered by the Center for Behavior and Climate. These mini-courses teach the main concepts in select JHAT videos and go beyond to help you learn additional scientific or conservation concepts. The courses are great for teachers to use or for individual learning.

Check out other YouTube Climate Communicators

zentouro:
Climate Adam:
Kurtis Baute:
Levi Hildebrand:
Simon Clark:
Sarah Karver:
ClimateTown:
Jack Harries:
Beckisphere:
Our Changing Climate :

Research Links

Bloomberg NEF

Nature Article

Power Technology Article

ABB

China's Strategy

Mekon River Threats

MIT Article

ElectroBoom

#UHVDC #climatecrisis #actnow

[Mayangone]

25 years ago, when I was working on gathering facts on transmission in Asia, there were several HVDC transmission lines already in use. At one time EPRI was experimenting with transmission lines of 1300 KV. I couldn't find any reason why the Chinese shouldn't be building 1100 KV-DC lines in Yunnan or Xinjiang or elsewhere, as line losses are less than AC. Spending $200-300 billions in infrastructure improvement is way better than wasting $6 trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[rohitp]

I absolutely love how informative and structured your videos are, free of unwanted shenanigans so many channels put into their videos. One of my favourite channels on YT. Liked and subscribed. Cheers bud!

[AaronDear]

Nice to have a civil channel on YouTube from time to time.

[Aermydach]

Meanwhile in Australia, our energy market regulator is too bogged down in red-tape and corruption to adapt the grid for renewables. I suspect fossil fuel lobbying has something to do with that.

[azzadpersad]

Sir, listening to you is like taking a good breath of clean fresh air from my countryside. Thank You.

[sigmacentauri]

Renewable energy is an economic weapon, and I support the renewable energy arms race.

[redmeatvegans]

You did a shout out to Electro Boom!!!! One of the funniest ways to learn about about electricty.
I did not know that DC could be sent over long distances more efficiently than AC. Cool!

[akm]

The province of Manitoba (Canada) put a DC transmission system into use in the early 1970's to bring power to southern Manitoba (where the people are) from northern Manitoba (where the hydro power is). It's been in use for over 40 years, now.

[yolo_burrito]

Another issue with AC (especially very high voltage) is unwanted induction on neighboring structures like pipelines and antennas.

[PTEPoliticsTechandEconomy]

It’s very impressive how China is improving its renewable infrastructure. They have the right idea about investment in infrastructure projects during covid because these projects will improve its economy and when Covid is over they will be in line for a huge growth margin

[g.c]

When it comes to issues related to human survival, I actually trust China more than US. Especially after seeing how US handled COVID. So I say, let's get behind initiatives that will benefit the planet! We are running out of time...

[omrinaude]

I have lived in China for the last 3 years. I have never seen such infrastructure development. China simply operates on the next level. Awesome!

[jfjoubertquebec]

Bonjour!
Québec uses 735 000 volts lines to transmit hydroelectricity over thousands of km. I'm starting to understand the strategy. Fascinating topic thank you!

[manjsher]

As a humble subscriber all I can offer is my Ty for delivering the information.

[carrdoug]

Thanks for sharing this important story. The U.S. has been operating the 500KV Pacific Intertie for over 30 yrs, and has, according to a Google search, 20 HVDC lines of varying sizes. One reason you don't see more of these lines is they have been only cost effective over very long distances and at high load capacity because of the high cost of conversion/transfer gear. Glad to see there are many projects in the works globally.

[ashoakwillow]

Clearly, local generation of renewable power is the gold standard when practicable; Apart from transmission losses, anything like a wire or tube is vulnerable to any number of accidental, deliberate or natural events.

[Forbes]

People asked me how it feels when you stick your finger in an electrical outlet? To be honest, it Hertz.

[luciavalente]

Love your channel and how you present the information. Thank you. You are indeed a treasure.

[LarryWu-esnc]

Great report and speech, learn many new things from this video, thank you.

[Adrian_Nel]

Thanks Dave, so glad to hear that China is reducing coal use.