How The Current Power Grid Works

Have you ever stopped to think about how your home gets its power? You use electricity every single day, for so many appliances in and around your property. The same goes for business owners: you’ve come to rely on a steady supply of electricity every single day. 

But, how does electricity get to your property? It all comes down to the power grid. Most of you are aware that the power grid exists, but do you know the exact process for how power gets to your home or business?

The 3-Step Process For Power

As vast as the power grid is, we can actually boil down how it works into three simple steps:

• Energy creation
• Energy conversion
• Energy distribution

Energy Creation

The first step involves the production of energy through various generators. This can be done via a host of options, some of which are much cleaner than others:

• Hydroelectric energy – this comes from water activating turbines to provide energy for people to use. Typically, water flows towards the turbines and pushes them, generating energy. 

• Wind energy – a highly popular renewable energy source, utilizing wind force to blow turbines and create energy. 

• Coal – one of the oldest energy sources the world has seen. It’s a fossil fuel, meaning it will pollute the atmosphere and isn’t renewable. However, burning coal is still used to create energy. 

• Nuclear power – perhaps the most complex way of producing energy. Nuclear power comes from breaking apart neutrons, causing a release of energy. It ends up producing steam, which powers a turbine and then becomes energy. 

Regardless of which process is chosen, this is how the power grid begins its process. Energy is created, and then we move to step number two. 

Energy Conversion

Here, the energy that’s produced is converted and ready to be distributed. The conversion process is highly complex, but it results in the energy being made into a high voltage. Effectively, this is electrical energy that can be sent to homes and businesses around the country. This is done in the generator stations as energy is produced. 

Energy Distribution

From here, transmission lines are used to take the electricity to properties. However, in its current state, the voltage is far too high for most properties to utilize. Therefore, transformers and special transmission towers are stationed to convert the high voltage to a more usable level. If these measures weren’t put in place, there would be too much power entering properties, leading to some serious consequences. 

Upon this conversion process, the electric energy is sent down other power lines straight to your property. From here, you can now use it to power all the different electrical appliances in your home. 

Effectively, that is how the power grid works! It begins with energy creation, then energy conversion, and finally distribution. At Generator Supercenter, we play a big role in this process, providing generators to help produce and store energy. If you’re interested in learning more about our solutions, feel free to contact us today.