Electricity towers come in many shapes and sizes, from simple poles to human-like giants that straddle the countryside.
For many of us, our knowledge of the power grid is limited to these towers bringing electricity to our homes. We only take more notice of power lines and the supply system during outages and blackouts.
However, these oh-so-familiar high-voltage transmission lines offer a fascinating insight into much more than our daily electricity supply. They are a gateway to understanding society’s energy use and how we balance power generation in the fight against climate change.
Is a Power Grid and Electrical Grid the Same?
Several names describe the same thing. The power grid, electrical grid, national grid, or just “grid” pertain to a massive network that provides businesses and homes with electricity.
The electricity grid network includes power lines, towers (sometimes called pylons), transformers, power plants, substations, and renewable energy sources. Many won’t notice the electric grid in their daily lives until there is a power outage. The electrical grid also includes power generation, utility companies, and more.
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Throughout this article, we’ll use both power and electrical grid interchangeably to refer to the same power system that brings electricity to our homes and businesses.
What Is an Electrical Grid and Its Function?
The primary function of the power grid is the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The grid balances power demand with power supply, meaning customers can use the electricity produced by various energy resources.
The electrical grid is a very complex power system with many moving parts. It allows electric utilities to track and charge customers for their electricity use, offers a real-time overview of power demands, and more.
There are massive grids that span continents, countries, and states to smaller microgrids, often found in remote off-grid locations where it’s more effective to generate electricity locally.
How Does an Electrical Grid Work?
To understand how the electrical grid works, let’s look at each of the three sections of the power grid.
Electricity generation kicks off the process, with various power plants and renewable energy sources generating electrical energy. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that, in 2020, about 61% of the country’s electricity came from fossil fuels, with 20% from nuclear and 20% from renewable sources.
Fossil fuel power plants include those that burn natural gas, coal, or petroleum, all of which release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
The power grid has increasing amounts of renewable energy sources, with wind leading at 8.4% and hydroelectric power second at 7.3%. Solar panels accounted for 2.3% of all the United States’ electricity production last year.
Electricity generation plants are often a long way from people’s homes and the point of use. Hydropower from reservoirs like Grand Coulee Dam must be transported to cities more than 100 miles away.
Grid operators overcome this challenge through transmission. The power source sends electricity to a transmission station, which uses a transformer to increase the electricity’s voltage and enable it to travel further. This “step-up” process means electricity can travel far from its source.
Power lines and towers come next. They are responsible for transmission, carrying electricity to distribution substations for the final part of electricity’s travels. The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of miles of high-voltage and low-voltage power lines cross-crossing the country.
The substations then “step-down” the high-voltage power to lower and safer voltages that people can use. Neighborhoods may have several substations to help distribute electricity to households and businesses.
What Is a Grid Station?
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A grid station is another name for a transmission station, part of the distribution system that receives electricity from power plants and transmits electricity to our homes. They all interconnect, so if a power plant fails, electricity supplies keep flowing. Grid stations also house control systems, transformers, cables, and more.
Grid stations come in three types, defined by size and how they transmit electric power.
A microgrid station covers a small area, drawing power from the power grid to distribute to a local community. National grids cover whole countries, connecting many microgrids, and both of these grids use lower voltage alternate currents for transmission.
Some super-grids, or mega-grids, transmit using direct currents for energy efficiency, losing less power during long-distance electricity transmissions.
How Many Power Grids Are There in the United States?
There are three power grids in the United States. These are:
Eastern Interconnection:
East of the Rocky Mountains and a part of the Texas panhandle
Western Interconnection:
West of the Rocky Mountains to the coast
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(ERCOT):
Covers the majority of Texas
Why Does Texas Have a Separate Electric Grid?
Texas has had energy deregulation since 1999. Most Texans can choose their electricity provider and pricing plan from more than 120 electricity companies (REPs). Residents in regulated areas have no supplier choice and are supplied by local utility companies.
The main reason Texas has a separate grid comes down to politics more than logistics or state boundaries. By not crossing state lines, the Texas grid is not subject to federal laws, giving grid autonomy many are keen to preserve.
How Do I Find Out What Power Grid I Am On?
The first thing to do is call your utility company. They should tell you which power grid you’re on.
Alternatively, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) website has a useful map you can reference. Colored regions sell electricity in the wholesale market. The market is regulated by a regional transmission organization (RTO) or independent system operator (ISO).
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The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) maintains the transmission grid in California. In New York, it’s the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and so on.
You can investigate the mix of energy sources your utility uses to create electricity once you know your power grid.
The Future of Power Grids and Electrical Grids
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Electrical grids are enormous and serve millions of people, making them a very complex energy system to manage. The challenges facing power grids are daily, long-term, and not restricted to keeping the lights on.
What Are Challenges Facing Power Grids?
System operators ensure grid reliability by balancing power demand and power supply in real-time. Reliability provides daily challenges, with power plants coming on and offline, the unpredictability of renewable energy sources, and demand surges during heat waves or freezing weather.
Energy storage in the form of utility-scale battery farms may one day help manage the supply surges from renewables, charging during excess production and releasing energy during times of peak demand.
These demand variations play out across the electricity system’s infrastructure too. Massive investment is needed to keep power grids running. Challenges include:
Building new transmission distribution lines, with associated planning approval and land purchase issues, to meet growing demand
How to fairly distribute transmission line construction costs while following regulations
Replacing aging equipment and infrastructure across the transmission system
Power grid expansion to renewable energy generation sites
Cyberattacks
Every year, power grids rely more on computer technology to monitor and maintain service levels. These smart grids bring operational advantages but leave systems open to cyberattacks that could bring down the system.
Will Future Electrical Grids Be Smart Grids?
We’ve lived with power grids for more than a century. However, the 21st century represents a new chapter as digitalization changes our homes, industries, and lifestyles.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) oversees the country’s power grid modernization. A smart grid is critical to the future of electricity supply and demand. Technology like smart meters in people’s homes helps the DOE learn about electricity demands in real-time.
Smart gadgets already communicate with the grid to turn on at times of cheap electricity prices, making the most of excess electricity production and helping reduce energy bills.
With smart grids, problems can be identified more rapidly, manage voltage levels, and even remotely correct some issues, bringing reliability and efficiency. The answer is more when the whole grid will be smart rather than if it will become a smart grid.
Can the Power Grid Be Hacked?
Any computer system is susceptible to hacking. In May 2021, almost 5,500 miles of the Colonial Pipeline were closed down after a ransomware attack. The disruption sent oil prices soaring and induced fuel shortages.
The energy industry was the second most affected by data theft attacks in 2020 and the third most-targeted industry for cyberattacks overall. A USA Today investigation suggested a hack on the power grid occurs every four days.
How Do Renewable Energy Sources Affect Power Grids?
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From a grid reliability perspective, renewable energy divides into two sections — reliable sources and fluctuating sources.
Reliable sources produce an anticipated energy level that can be factored into balancing the grid. These are geothermal power plants, hydropower, and nuclear power stations.
Wind power and solar power are less reliable for different reasons.
Wind power is particularly volatile; wind turbines won’t rotate without sufficient breeze, providing the grid no power. Conversely, a storm can create considerable spikes in wind power production, potentially unbalancing the grid or causing the energy going to waste.
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Solar panels don’t work at night, and their efficiency drops drastically on cloudy days. The weather means solar can work spectacularly or hardly at all depending on the day.
Grids need to take into account these peaks and troughs. If there is high consumer demand but little electricity generated from renewables, fossil fuel, or nuclear power plants can come online to boost supply levels.
Also, renewable energy sources are often built far from the point where the generated electricity is used, meaning there needs to be additional construction to connect them to the electrical grid.
What Happens if an Electric Grid Goes Down?
Grids can fail because of bad weather, excess demand, intentional outages for repair work, or a cyberattack. Once the power grid goes down, the first thing to do is inform your local utility. They will start work on identifying affected areas and finding the cause.
Assuming power is not restored quickly, keep these tips in mind:
Start your generator if you have one
Keep a flashlight and some spare batteries in an easily accessible place
Water supplies may fail, so fill some bottles, pans, bathtubs, and sinks
Have some paper plates and garbage bags to save on dirty dishes (and to throw away spoiled food if necessary)
Keep your fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible to preserve the interior temperature
Have a backup camping stove for cooking
Make sure you have food and medicine supplies
Cash will be king if credit and debit cards aren’t working, so have enough cash on hand at all times
Pro tip: Track real-time outages across the U.S.
Will Cars Work if the Grid Goes Down?
Vehicles with combustion engines work perfectly fine during a grid outage. However, it may not be easy to refill the tank if the electricity isn’t working, so try to conserve fuel.
Charged electric vehicles will work until the battery drains. After that, you need to wait for power to be restored to charge the battery.
The Changing Role of Power Grids and Electrical Grids
Power grids have been with us for more than 100 years, and the world’s demand for electricity shows no sign of diminishing. Up until now, simpler systems pushed electricity to where it was needed, but the modern grid needs to do much more.
Energy conservation is a hot topic as more people are assessing how their energy usage might be contributing to climate change. A flexible, efficient power grid brings people more options and choices about their lifestyles.
Companies now offer free electricity at night, renewable energy plans, and more. Power grids need to be flexible to keep up with modern demands and reliable enough to ensure the lights stay on, whatever the weather.
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This week, we have all of your renewable energy questions, answered. Here are your top 10 questions about renewable energy!
1. What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather. While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology, harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating, transportation, lighting, and more.1
Non-renewable, or “dirty,” energy includes fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. Non-renewable sources of energy are only available in limited amounts and take a long time to replenish. When we pump gas at the station, we’re using a finite resource refined from crude oil that’s been around since prehistoric times. Non-renewable energy sources are also typically found in specific parts of the world, making them more plentiful in some nations than others. By contrast, every country has access to sunshine and wind. Prioritizing non-renewable energy can also improve national security by reducing a country’s reliance on exports from fossil fuel–rich nations.1
2. How many different types of renewable energy are there?
The two main sources of renewable energy – or the ones you’ve most likely heard of before – are solar and wind power.
Solar
We use solar energy every day, from growing crops on farms to staying warm. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are made of solar cells. A cell is a small disk of a semiconductor like silicon. They are attached by wire to a circuit. As light strikes the semiconductor, light is converted into electricity that flows through the circuit. As soon as the light is removed, the solar cell stops producing power2.
Wind
We can also produce electricity through wind power. A wind turbine turns energy in the wind into electricity using the aerodynamic force created by the rotor blades, which work similarly to an airplane wing or helicopter rotor blade. When the wind flows across the blade, the air pressure on one side of the blade decreases. The difference in air pressure across the two sides of the blade creates both lift and drag. The force of the lift is stronger than the drag and this causes the rotor to spin. The rotor is connected to the generator, either directly (if it’s a direct drive turbine) or through a shaft and a series of gears (a gearbox) that speed up the rotation and allow for a physically smaller generator. This translation of aerodynamic force to rotation of a generator creates electricity.3
Hydropower, Biomass, Geothermal, and Tidal Energy
Other less ‘mainstream’ sources of renewable energy are hydroelectric power, biomass energy, geothermal energy, and tidal energy.
Like other forms of electricity generation, hydropower uses a turbine to help generate electricity; using the energy of falling or flowing water to turn the blades. The rotating blades spin a generator that converts the mechanical energy of the spinning turbine into electrical energy.4
Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat. It can be burned directly or converted to liquid biofuels or biogas.5
According to the Geothermal Research Council, geothermal Energy is heat (thermal) derived from the earth (geo). It is the thermal energy contained in the rock and fluid that fills the fractures and pores within the rock of the earth’s crust. Deep wells are drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water. The steam and hot water are then brought to the surface for use in a variety of applications, including electricity generation, direct use, and heating and cooling.6
Tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. For most tidal energy generators, turbines are placed in tidal streams. A tidal stream is a fast-flowing body of water created by tides. A turbine is a machine that takes energy from a flow of fluid. That fluid can be air (wind) or liquid (water). Because water is much more dense than air, tidal energy is more powerful than wind energy. Unlike wind, tides are predictable and stable. Where tidal generators are used, they produce a steady, reliable stream of electricity.7
3. Which renewable energy source is the best?
Although all of the different forms of renewable energy can be used, the most efficient forms of renewable energy are geothermal, solar, wind, hydroelectricity, and biomass. In the US in 2015, renewable energy accounted for a tenth of the total US energy consumption. Half of this was in the form of electricity. Biomass had the biggest contribution with 50%, followed by hydroelectricity at 26% and wind power at 18%.8 However, these statistics may show the most efficient forms as such because of the availability and popularity of certain types of renewable energy. The more mainstream renewable energy becomes, and the more it is utilized globally, these statistics will change.
4. Can renewable energy replace fossil fuels?
Michael Klare, PhD, Professor of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, stated the following in his Apr. 22, 2015 article titled “The Age of Wind and Solar Is Closer Than You Think” available at the Scientific American website:
“That day will come: the life-changing moment when renewable energy—wind, solar, geothermal and others still in development—replace fossil fuels as the principal source of world energy…
The transition to renewables will be hastened by dramatic improvements in the pricing and performance of such systems. Due to steady increases in the efficiency of wind and solar systems, coupled with the savings achieved through large-scale manufacture, the price of renewables is falling globally…
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy will not occur overnight, and it will not escape recurring setbacks. Nevertheless, renewables are likely to replace fossil fuels as the dominant source of electrical power well before mid-century as well as make giant strides in other areas such as transportation.”13
The short answer is: yes. Renewable energy can and will replace fossil fuels in the future, but it will take time for the world to adjust to reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.
5. How can renewable energy benefit the environment?
This is a fairly straight-forward answer. Unlike fossil fuels such as oil and diesel, renewable energy sources produce no greenhouse gases and do not produce any toxic substances or pollutants that could harm us or the environment. In addition, renewable energy sources are – as the name states – renewable. For example, wind power or solar power cannot be depleted. We can’t run out of wind or sunshine. The same goes for hydropower.
However, there are some disadvantages to certain sources of renewable energy. Wind and solar power require large masses of land to erect wind turbines or solar panels. There are some ways to combat this issue, such as using farmland. Researchers from Oregon State University estimate that installing photovoltaic panels on just one percent of croplands worldwide would be enough to meet allof humanity’s global electricity needs9.
6. How does renewable energy save money?
There are a number of ways that renewable energy will save you money. For one, your electricity bill could be lower. Businesses that install solar panels, wind turbines and other forms of renewable energy on their properties and use them to power their operations can meet a significant portion or all of their energy needs. They would also be protected from fluctuations in electricity prices, and could potentially sell their energy back to the grid. When a power outage happens on the main grid, homes and businesses that have renewable energy will not be affected. Renewable energy is also becoming less expensive upfront to buy and install. In the long term, utilizing renewable energy sources either in your home or as a business will save money and reduce the risk of outages.10
7. Will renewable energy create jobs?
In 2016, the renewable energy sector employed about 9.8 million people, which is a 1.1% increase compared to 2015. Moreover, the solar power industry alone generated twice more workplaces than the coal or oil industry combined. Most of the fossil fuel jobs in extraction or other supportive activities have been declining since 2012 when gas and oil industry reached their peak. Therefore, people are looking for new opportunities and along comes renewable energy registering a 12% faster growth than the US economy.
Today, jobs in clean energy become more available and well-paid because, according to European Defence Fund (EDF), solar energy supply companies are able to offer more jobs per dollar invested. It develops 12 times faster than the whole US economy. The main reason for such growth is the economic indicators. Businesses have realised that sustainable development is key to success, long-term performance, and investment. Besides that, the prices on solar and wind products have dropped—making it more affordable. The Great Powers such as US, China, and Germany are pushing for renewables, which made them launch a plan to reduce the global gas emissions by 40%. It will include building factories generating clean energy that would require creating 430,000 additional jobs.
The increasing investments in the renewable energy sector has the potential to provide more jobs than any other fossil fuel industry. Local businesses and renewable industries will benefit from this change as their income will increase significantly. The benefits of shifting to renewable energy are clear-cut and for this reason the governments should react positively towards the transition to clean energy.14
8. Will renewable energy sources stop global warming?
Many people disagree over whether or not global warming is real. We are not here to debate that fact; however, we are here to discuss the significant impacts that fossil fuel use has on the environment, and how renewable energy will reduce those harmful effects. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions act like a blanket, trapping heat, which results in frequent storms, drought, sea level rise, and even extinction of animal species. In the US, 29% of emissions come from the electricity sector. Replacing these fossil fuels with renewable energy sources will reduce the amount of harmful emissions in the atmosphere, and will reduce the risks associated with global warming. Renewable energy sources produce little to no emissions during the manufacturing, installation, operation, and decommission. For example, burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour; coal emits between 1.4 and 3.5 pounds of CO2E/kWh. On the other hand, wind produces only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh during a life cycle, and solar produces 0.07 to 0.2; geothermal 0.1 to 0.2; and hydroelectric between 0.1 and 0.5.11
9. What happens if the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing?
The answer to this question is: batteries. When the sun IS shining and the wind IS blowing, solar panels and wind turbines (as well as other renewable sources such as hydropower) produce electricity, and this electricity is stored in large batteries. When solar panels or wind turbines produce more power than we are demanding, the energy gets stored in batteries for later use.
According to GE12, a battery energy storage solution offers new application flexibility and unlocks new business value across the energy value chain, from conventional power generation, transmission & distribution, and renewable power, to industrial and commercial sectors. Energy storage supports diverse applications including firming renewable production, stabilizing the electrical grid, controlling energy flow, optimizing asset operation and creating new revenue. Energy storage can help you increase the dispatchability and predictability of renewables, helping to meet strict code and connection permits.12
10. How can I use renewable energy?
The following are some top green alternative energy tips that will help you get an idea of how you as an individual can incorporate more renewable energy into your life:15
References
1Shinn, Lora. (June 15, 2018). Renewable Energy: The clean facts. Retrieved from nrdc.org: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts
2Northwestern University. (2019). What are solar panels? Retrieved from qrg.northwestern.edu: http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/power/1-what-are-solar-panels.html
3Wind Energy Technologies Office. (2019). How Do Wind Turbines Work? Retrieved from energy.gov: https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work
4Origin Energy Limited. (August 14, 2018). What is hydropower? Retrieved from originenergy.com: https://www.originenergy.com.au/blog/about-energy/what-is-hydropower.html
5U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2019). Biomass explained. Retrieved from eia.gov: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/
6Enbridge Inc. (2019). Geothermal Energy: What is it, where is it, and how do we capture it? Retrieved from enbridge.com: https://www.enbridge.com/energy-matters/energy-school/geothermal
7National Geographic. (2019). Tidal energy. Retrieved from nationalgeographic.org: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/tidal-energy/
8New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program. (August 2017). The Most Efficient Form of Renewable Energy. Retrieved from borntoengineer.com: https://www.borntoengineer.com/efficient-form-renewable-energy
9Bard, Susanne. (September 5, 2019). Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power. Retrieved from scientificamerican.com: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/farmland-is-also-optimal-for-solar-power/
10Folk, Emily. (February 8, 2019). 10 Ways Renewable Energy Can Save Businesses Money. Retrieved from https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/emily-folk/10-ways-renewable-energy-can-save-businesses-20190208
11Union of Concerned Scientists. (December 20, 2017). Benefits of Renewable Energy Use. Retrieved from ucsusa.org: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits-renewable-energy-use
12GE Renewable Energy. (2019). Why energy storage? Retrieved from ge.com: https://www.ge.com/renewableenergy/hybrid/battery-energy-storage
13Klare, Michael. (April 22, 2015). The Age of Wind and Solar is Closer Than You Think. Retrieved from alternativeenergy.procon.org: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001244
14Greenmatch Co. (January 3, 2019). Does Renewable Energy Create Jobs? Retrieved from greenmatch.co.uk: https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2017/07/does-renewable-energy-create-jobs
15Copeland, Blythe. (August 1, 2014). Clean power to the people. Retrieved from treehugger.com: https://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-alternative-energy.html