How is electric energy stored and distributed by electric companies?
In: Technology
Most of the more conventional types of power plants can adjust their power output to the demand pretty well, so storage is not really necessary in a lot of places.
In some instances, however, there is a need for storing the surplus in production during times of low demand to boost the available grid power on “rush hour”. Also, the increase in the use of renewable sources will lead to a more widespread use of storage.
There are hydroelectric plants that basically can reverse operation and pump back water into the basin, to let it flow back later when more energy is needed. There are battery parks. There is compressed air storage, where energy is used to compress air and, later, the compressed air is used to drive turbines. You can use electrical energy to obtain hydrogen to be used later in fuel cells (not sure if it’s already commercially used).
From a power plant, an “electric highway” at hundreds of thousands of volts goes out to a transformer station, from there multiple power supply lines at a slightly lover voltage go out to other stations, and again, until they end up in your neighborhood and at your home. Some of the stations are connected to stations of “other nets”, so that electricity can go where it’s needed.
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