In the US alone this would greatly aid a transition to wind and solar:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/better-power-lines-wo...
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/better-power-lines-wo...
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/better-power-lines-wo...
For all the talk about inventing new batteries, I wish improving the existing grid would be more prominent in the conversation. High-voltage longer-distance power markets are something that can be built right now.