Electricity: The National Grid

The National Grid is the system used to distribute electricity across the country. It connects power stations to homes, businesses, and factories.
Power stations usually generate electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels also feed into the grid.
Once electricity is generated, it needs to be converted to a high voltage for efficient transmission. This is done using a transformer.
High voltage is used because it reduces energy loss as heat. The cables are cooler and hence reducing heat loss results in more efficient transmission.
When the electricity reaches its destination, it must be transformed down to a safer voltage. This is done by another transformer.
Step-up transformers are used at power stations to increase the voltage for transmission whereas step-down transformers are used at the receiving end to decrease the voltage for safe use.
Pylons are used to carry the transmission cables across the country. This provides a clear route and reduces the chance of damage to the cables.
The AC (Alternating Current) system is used for the national grid, because it is easier to transform the voltage of an AC current.
Power cuts can occur if the supply of electricity from power stations is disrupted. This can be due to damage to the infrastructure or a surge in demand that exceeds supply.
There are concerns about the environmental impact of the National Grid - particularly the visual impact of pylons and the impact of fossil fuel power stations.
The national grid is continually being updated to support renewable energy sources and reduce the country’s carbon footprint.