|
|
|
|
Global
Issues >> Overview>>Benefits
of GENI
Benefits of GENI
Linking inter-regional energy grids:
- Connects nations into a common economic framework
(economies of scale).
- Avoided costs:
- Reduces demand for fossil fuels, extending
the life of our global oil supply and other
non-renewable fuels.
- Reduces the cost of additional capital
investments for generation equipment and
its maintenance.
- Reduces the cost of additional capital
investments for transmission facilities
and its maintenance.
- Provides new markets for electricity sales
for areas with excess capacity.
- Allows for purchase of cheaper power from neighbor
utilities, saving utilities money, and increasing
investors' returns.
- Brings needed income to developing nations,
for development and debt repayment, through
the export of excess renewable energy.
- Allows cheaper power to be delivered from
distant locations, often displacing imported,
expensive fossil fuels (it is less expensive
to move electrons than fuel).
- Offers mutually beneficial projects where
military-industrial corporations can be converted
to civilian initiatives while maintaining full
employment.
Extending grid systems:
- Reduces the need for thermal generation (coal,
oil, gas).
- Reduces pollution caused by burning fossil
fuels (greenhouse and acid rain gases).
- Means utilities will eventually only run their
most efficient and economical generators.
- Makes available cheaper renewable energy from
sources thousands of miles away, displacing
polluting fossil fuels.
- Makes electricity an export commodity for
developing nations - replacing the cutting and
selling of trees, reducing the loss of topsoil
and rainforests, and slowing the spread of deserts.
Expanding electric energy networks:
- Connects neighboring nations into a continuous
trading relationship, helping to minimize reasons
for local/regional conflicts.
- Provides instantaneous electricity to all
connected nations - benefiting the economies
of first world nations and supporting the economies
of developing countries.
- Allows electricity flow from areas of excess
capacity to areas of demand - a situation that
is constantly changing on our rotating planet.
- Connects old enemies and developing world
economies. Trading partners rarely go to war;
it's not good business to shoot your supplier
or customer.
- Increases reliability and quality of power
for connected nations and regions.
- Indirectly stimulates national and local economies
by improving quality of health care and education,
and providing opportunities for "re-spending"of
newly created disposable funds otherwise spent on
higher energy costs.
- Increased experience and political comfort
with international cooperation and negotiations.
Hunger & Overpopulation
Nations with enough energy for societal needs
have a steady population - a condition predicted
for third world countries when adequate energy
becomes available.
Adequate energy and electricity:
- Provides the infrastructure for a clean water supply
(pump, filter, and purify), refrigeration, and essential
medicine (childhood vaccines).
- Supports all elements of the food delivery system:
irrigation, transport, manufacturing and packaging,
refrigeration, and waste recycling/reuse/disposal.
- Creates a proportionate reduction in infant mortality
rates and, subsequently, in birth rates. Hunger no
longer is a society-wide issue. Large families are
no longer needed as a means of social security.
Utility and Operator Efficiency
While all transmission lines must first be justified
economically, many additional benefits exist for grid
system management and reliability:
- Load sharing between utilities
- Emergency back-up of power from neighboring utilities
- Peak power savings through daytime power exchange
- Deferral of additional capacity requirements
- Increased system reliability
- Improved frequency and voltage control
- Ability to retire older environmentally unsound
generation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
