4 ms·

> My vision of the future has all power lines buried. Singapore already has already achieved this. It's actually quite pleasant to not have any overhead lines.

by leecb 5y ago

> My vision of the future has all power lines buried. Singapore already has already achieved this. It's actually quite pleasant to not have any overhead lines. They are currently replacing the main electricity distribution cables that run under roads, and replacing them with a system that runs in tunnels 60m underground. This depth is necessary to avoid other systems like the subway(MRT) that run at shallower depths. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/deepest-tunnels-spore-start-carrying-electricity-end-2018 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/deepest-tunnels-spore-...

baxinho0312 5y ago
Works for distribution networks for households in the cities, but but for high voltage transmission lines.
breck 5y ago
Fascinating. Thanks for the link! I remember from a visit to Singapore a decade ago the fantastic subway and all the underground malls, but had no idea how advanced their tunnels were. Thanks!
lorenzhs 5y ago
This is not some magical high-tech vision that only exists in Singapore. It's been this way for many decades in built-up areas of most of Western Europe -- mostly it's just overland high-voltage lines that are above ground. My grandfather used to tell the story of how his American visitors were always curious where the power in his house came from (this was probably in the 60s or 70s) and amazed when he showed them the connection in the basement. It amused him to no end. 82% of Germany's power lines are buried: https://www.iwr.de/ticker/lange-leitungen-82-prozent-der-stromnetze-sind-in-deutschland-unter-der-erde-artikel1101 https://www.iwr.de/ticker/lange-leitungen-82-prozent-der-str... (in German). This figure includes everything from low-voltage lines to houses to high-voltage distribution lines.
seanmcdirmid 5y ago
Many urban areas in the USA have buried power lines. I moved last year from Bellevue WA to Ballard in Seattle WA, one of the first things I noticed in my new home are all the power lines around us (they are mostly buried in Bellevue and much of the east side). Fairly sure the Bay Area is roughly the same (Palo Alto must right?), but I don’t have any anecdotes to go on.

by leecb 5y ago

baxinho0312 5y ago

Works for distribution networks for households in the cities, but but for high voltage transmission lines.

breck 5y ago

Fascinating. Thanks for the link! I remember from a visit to Singapore a decade ago the fantastic subway and all the underground malls, but had no idea how advanced their tunnels were. Thanks!

lorenzhs 5y ago

This is not some magical high-tech vision that only exists in Singapore. It's been this way for many decades in built-up areas of most of Western Europe -- mostly it's just overland high-voltage lines that are above ground. My grandfather used to tell the story of how his American visitors were always curious where the power in his house came from (this was probably in the 60s or 70s) and amazed when he showed them the connection in the basement. It amused him to no end. 82% of Germany's power lines are buried: https://www.iwr.de/ticker/lange-leitungen-82-prozent-der-stromnetze-sind-in-deutschland-unter-der-erde-artikel1101 https://www.iwr.de/ticker/lange-leitungen-82-prozent-der-str... (in German). This figure includes everything from low-voltage lines to houses to high-voltage distribution lines.

seanmcdirmid 5y ago

Many urban areas in the USA have buried power lines. I moved last year from Bellevue WA to Ballard in Seattle WA, one of the first things I noticed in my new home are all the power lines around us (they are mostly buried in Bellevue and much of the east side). Fairly sure the Bay Area is roughly the same (Palo Alto must right?), but I don’t have any anecdotes to go on.