Navigation and service

Go to:

Basic knowledge of transfer of electrical power

Where do electric and magnetic fields come from? How does long-distance power transmission work? What is the difference between overhead power lines and under-ground cables in terms of radiation protection? Please refer to the articles below to find more about the basics on electrical power transmission.

high-voltage power line on a field

What are high-voltage power lines?

Electricity comes out of the sockets in our homes with a voltage of 230 volts. But how did it get there? And why do we have alternating current instead of direct current?

more
Magnetic flux density (Picture has long description)

Field strain due to high-voltage lines

High-voltage lines can be installed above ground as overhead lines or as underground cables. In doing so, they generate electric and magnetic fields that propagate differently in the surrounding area.

more
Electric field

Electric and magnetic fields

If you want to understand how electrical energy travels from the power plant to your home and which radiation protection aspects are important, you need to know about electric and magnetic fields, field strengths, and flux densities.

more

High-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC)

To date, electric energy has been transmitted from the power plant to the consumer almost exclusively through high-voltage lines carrying alternating current at a frequency of 50 hertz. High-voltage direct current technology is now also to be used for expanding the power grid in the course of the energy transition. For technical and economic reasons, this technology is preferably utilised for connecting grid interface points far away from each other.

more

Site information and functions

© Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz