HOWEVER,
I read recently that research into high-voltage transmission was
suggesting that very high voltage DC transmission was more efficient that
AC -- proly due to lack of capacitance/inductive effects et al, or some
other wizardry -- and that with the advent of solid state inverters,
transforming DC to AC would be less problematic, rendering DC transmission
ultimately viable.



MB Hydro uses DC for transmission from generator sites to converter stations
over hundreds of miles.

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/corporate/fac...s_nelson.shtml