/r/TheGrid
A reddit for the grid. All things grid'ed. From smart ones to dumb ones. From close ones to far ones. From old ones to new ones. The grid and all its glory... and shortcomings is the focus of this guy. Post whatever you feel appropriate. Get connected!
The Grid reddit
The Grid - an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers. It consists of generating stations that produce electrical power, high-voltage transmission lines that carry power from distant sources to demand centers, and distribution lines that connect individual customers.
Power stations may be located near a fuel source, at a dam site, or to take advantage of renewable energy sources, and are often located away from heavily populated areas. They are usually quite large to take advantage of the economies of scale. The electric power which is generated is stepped up to a higher voltage-at which it connects to the transmission network. The transmission network will move the power long distances, sometimes across international boundaries, until it reaches its wholesale customer (usually the company that owns the local distribution network).
On arrival at a substation, the power will be stepped down from a transmission level voltage to a distribution level voltage. As it exits the substation, it enters the distribution wiring. Finally, upon arrival at the service location, the power is stepped down again from the distribution voltage to the required service voltage(s).
Wikipedia: electrical grid
Related sub-reddits
Un-reddit links of note
HowStuffWorks: How Power Grids Work
Answers.USA.gov: Electric Power Grids
Energy.gov: Smart Grid
MIT Energy Initiative: The Future of the Electric Grid
National Geographic: Electrical Grid (2010)
Science.Smith.edu: How Power Grids Work
The Industrial Physicist: What's wrong with the electric grid?
Wikipedia: Electric power transmission
Wikipedia: Grid energy storage
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IEEE Grid Edge Conference
April 10-13 was the IEEE Power Engineering Society Grid Edge Conference. You can see their list of topics and speakers on https://pes-gridedge.org/. I don't think you can get the presentations without being a member of IEEE-PES. There are discounts for student membership.
The idea of the conference is
1 We are shifting from large size , central thermal power plants to a mix of medium size central variable renewable plants, and neighborhood solar - small variable renewable.
2 Therefore we need more intelligence at the grid edge to integrate them and enable edge customer load flexibility and storage.
3 There was discussion of energy markets, and of course EVs, as integral parts of that vision.
4 The conference had a US focus, but would be applicable worldwide.
If you search for the conference, the trade press may have some summaries to read for free.
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