Science Figured Out: From AC to DC: making our electricity grid future proof
Science Figured Out lures young scientists out of their familiar lab or office and places them in front of a camera with a clear assignment: tell the general public about your research in a clear 3-minute pitch!
Several researchers connected to EnergyVille also took part.
Did you know that modern electrical devices such as the smartphone or electric cars are ‘incompatible’ with our current electricity grid? Those devices work on direct current (DC), while our electricity grid works on alternating current (AC). Therefore, you can’t just plug your phone into the wall socket, you need a charger that converts one type of current (AC) to another (DC).
So aren’t we better off switching to a DC power grid? It is not that simple, as it requires a completely different system and security. In her PhD, Leonie Hallemans (VITO – KU Leuven – Energyville) is researching a security system to make new DC grids as safe as our ‘old’ AC grid.