The electrical grid is a form of the energy grid. It is a complex system that transports electricity from its source to the customers. These systems have evolved from small local designs to today’s systems that span thousands of kilometers and connect millions of homes and companies.
The grid is made up of numerous complex interconnections, but there are three major sections: energy generation, transmission, and distribution.
What is Generation?
Electricity is generated in power plants, which use a generator to transform the mechanical energy of a turbine into electrical energy, with the exception of solar power, which uses photovoltaic cells to accomplish this. In order to do so, power stations require energy from fuels such as coal or natural gas, as well as primary energy flows such as wind and sunlight. These plants produce a lot of electricity and are frequently located far from the city or residential areas.
What is Transmission?
Power cables are used to transmit electrical currents. Electricity leaving the power facility is routed through a transmission station, where it is stepped up. A step-up transformer is responsible for the required voltage rise. This electricity has the ability to travel great distances, with a typical maximum distance of around 500 kilometers.
Step-up transformers are used because electricity loses energy to resistance when traveling great distances through a conducting wire. The use of high-voltage power lines basically solves this problem. The corresponding power loss in the lines reduces by the square of the current, which means that if the current drops by a factor of two, the power loss decreases by a factor of four.
What is Distribution?
Electricity distribution starts with distribution substations that use step-down transformers, which do the reverse job of the step-up transformer. Long-distance transmission voltages are dangerous for humans to handle, so step-down transformers reduce the voltage to safe levels. The distribution grid then connects these substations to customers who need energy, which can range from big industrial buildings to small homes. More substations and smaller transformers aid in lowering voltages and dividing energy among subdivisions.
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