How electricty travels ?
Today, electricity appears to us as a very convenient form of energy but we tend to forget that behind every switch we turn on, there is a whole industry of transport. The electricity transport industry connects generation sources to consumption locations using in turn transmission and distribution networks.
Generation
First of all electricity is generated from fossil or bio fuel, nuclear power stations or any other renewable sources such as wind, solar and wave energy.
To learn more about how electricity is generated, especially by renewable means, have a look at our other articles in the chapter energy
Interconnectors
The various national transmission grids are nearly always interconnected together so that energy can flow from one country to another. This is done so as to keep a safe, secure and reliable energy supply. This also creates creates larger and more dependable networks which increase the coordination of the electricity supply.
Transmission - Distribution
Electricity then moves through a complex system, named the grid, which connects electricity producers to consumers.
Most of time transmission systems include overhead lines and underground cables. The electricity generated is transported up to the distribution network and eventually to the customers. High-voltage transmission lines, that is to say the one hanging between two metal pylons, carry electricity over long distances. So as to lower electricity losses due to the Joule effect along the transmission lines transformers at substations increase (step up) the voltage.
But since lower voltage electricity is safer for home use other transformers (step down) reduce the voltage. Distribution systems finally carry this lowered voltage electricity from the transmission network, to the consumers at a voltage they can use.
To learn more about the working principle of a transformer have a look at the following video.
