Single-wire earth return

==== Alaska ====

==== Alaska ====

In 1981 a high-power 8.5 mile prototype SWER line was successfully installed from a [[Diesel generator|diesel plant]] in [[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]] to [[Napakiak, Alaska|Napakiak]] in [[Alaska]], [[United States]]. It operates at 80 kV, and was originally installed on special lightweight [[fiberglass]] poles that formed an [[A-frame]]. Since then, the A frames have been removed and standard wooden [[Utility pole|power poles]] were installed. The A-framed poles could be carried on lightweight [[Snowmobiles|snow machine]]s, and could be installed with hand tools on [[permafrost]] without extensive digging. Erection of "anchoring" poles still required heavy machinery, but the cost savings were dramatic.

In 1981 a high-power 8.5 mile prototype SWER line was successfully installed from a [[Diesel generator|diesel plant]] in [[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]] to [[Napakiak, Alaska|Napakiak]] in [[Alaska]], [[United States]]. It operates at 80 kV, and was originally installed on special lightweight [[fiberglass]] poles that formed an [[A-frame]]. Since then, the A frames have been removed and standard wooden [[Utility pole|power poles]] were installed. The A-framed poles could be carried on lightweight [[Snowmobiles|snow machine]]s, and could be installed with hand tools on [[permafrost]] without extensive digging. Erection of "anchoring" poles still required heavy machinery, but the cost savings were significant.

Researchers at the [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]], [[United States]] estimate that a network of such lines, combined with coastal [[wind turbine]]s, could substantially reduce rural Alaska's dependence on increasingly expensive [[diesel fuel]] for power generation.<ref>Bettine, Frank, [http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/ine/aetdl/conferences/2002_sept_docs/singlewiregroundreturn.pdf "Proposal to use single-wire ground return to electrify 40 villages in the Calista region of Alaska"]. 2002 Energy conference, University of Alaska. Modified 2002-10-10, accessed 2008-09-10.</ref> Alaska's state economic energy screening survey advocated further study of this option to use more of the state's underutilized power sources.<ref>http://acep.uaf.edu/media/62360/HVDC-Transmission-System-for-Remote-Alaska.pdf HVDC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR REMOTE ALASKA APPLICATIONS 2009</ref>

Researchers at the [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]], [[United States]] estimate that a network of such lines, combined with coastal [[wind turbine]]s, could substantially reduce rural Alaska's dependence on increasingly expensive [[diesel fuel]] for power generation.<ref>Bettine, Frank, [http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/ine/aetdl/conferences/2002_sept_docs/singlewiregroundreturn.pdf "Proposal to use single-wire ground return to electrify 40 villages in the Calista region of Alaska"]. 2002 Energy conference, University of Alaska. Modified 2002-10-10, accessed 2008-09-10.</ref> Alaska's state economic energy screening survey advocated further study of this option to use more of the state's underutilized power sources.<ref>http://acep.uaf.edu/media/62360/HVDC-Transmission-System-for-Remote-Alaska.pdf HVDC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR REMOTE ALASKA APPLICATIONS 2009</ref>