How did the Lauffen power station supply alternating-current electricity to Frankfurt am Main in 1891?
The Lauffen power station, located in Germany, demonstrated the viability of long-distance alternating current (AC) transmission in 1891 by supplying power to Frankfurt am Main.1
While early electric power grids relied on direct current, which suffered from significant energy loss over distance due to resistance, the Lauffen project utilized the advantages of AC systems. By employing transformers, the station was able to step up the voltage for transmission, which allowed for lower current and significantly reduced power losses across the distance to Frankfurt. This successful implementation proved that AC could be generated and distributed with greater efficiency than the DC systems of the time, eventually leading to the widespread adoption of high-voltage AC transmission networks.21