Human Tech Tree
If solved2050s? · If Solved (becomes possible)

Formal Sciences & Matter / Chemistry & Materials

Lossless Power Grids

Superconducting cables carry electricity across continents without loss, and storage and magnets become cheap.

Open in the interactive tree →

Power grids lose roughly 5 to 10% of energy on the way to consumers. A cheap superconductor that works at everyday temperature would remove that loss, allow compact high-power cables and make very strong magnets inexpensive.

What it brings

  • Continental power transmission without losses
  • Compact magnetic energy storage
  • Cheaper MRI machines, maglev trains and fusion magnets

Prerequisites

More in Chemistry & Materials · If Solved

All 44 points in Chemistry & Materials →

Open in the interactive tree →