Abstract
ONE of the subjects discussed at the recent World Power Conference at Basle was the exchange of electrical energy between countries. An interesting example of this interchange of energy occurs between Denmark and Sweden. Submarine cables crossing the Sund Straits transmit power at 25,000 volts and 50,000 volts respectively. When the water supply in Sweden is abundant they carry the excess hydroelectric power to Denmark, arid when Sweden suffers from water shortage they convey thermally generated power in the reverse direction. It was pointed out that some countries, Switzerland for example, have great water power resources but yet are very unwilling to export electric power, and set up high tariffs. One of the reasons for their action would appear to be that, in the opinion of some Swiss engineers, Switzerland is destined to become one of the important centres for carrying out electrometallurgical and electrochemical processes on a large scale. In their opinion, the sale of electrical energy abroad helps the establishment of those industries outside their own frontiers and so is not in the national interest. Another objection is that the export of electricity in bulk to foreign countries will gradually subordinate Switzerland to these countries; the foreign capital introduced being conceivably a source of danger. Mr. Niesz of Baden held that these objections have no real foundation. The majority of the engineers present agreed that it is desirable that the authorities in different countries should place no obstacle in the way of a free interchange of electrical energy provided that economic conditions are favourable.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
[News and Views]. Nature 118, 527–531 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/118527a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/118527a0