Transport or transmit? - Should we transport primary energy resources or transmit them as electricity?

摘要

When we think of the methods by which primary fuel as found in mines and deposits is converted to the electricity that makes our lights work, we often consider the various steps of the extraction and conversion process. The optimization of this process, however, is incomplete if it does not take a further aspect into consideration: transportation. Should the power stations be built close to the load centers, with the fuel being brought there mechanically (for example, by rail, ship or pipeline), or does it make more sense to generate the electricity close to the primary energy deposits, and use electrical wires for bulk transmission?