Distributing Energy: National and International Grid Systems

The energy grid is the system for distributing energy. It includes energy generation (power stations), powerlines over which electricity travels, and connections to homes, businesses and factories. Electricity is often produced far from where it is being used. The modern grid allows for multiple producers (generators using nuclear, coal, wind,  to produce energy) to feed electricity into a system where it can be efficiently distributed to consumers.

Energy grids can exist within a country (domestic) but also between countries or across regions. It is important to understand that power consumption fluctuates throughout the day and the year, requiring producers to carefully monitor production to ensure they meet demand.

Why do designers need to know about the grid? National and international grids are not designed for small-scale energy producers to feed electricity into--they are only efficient at a large scale. Small-scale produces, like a homeowner with a solar array cannot feed any excess energy they generate back into the grid.

A Smart Grid, however, uses information technology to provide a real-time picture of energy production and consumption. Moreover, Smart Grid technologies allow for small scale and sustainable energy producers to provide power. Smart grids make use of sensors and software to manage electricity distribution and consumption. A home dishwasher, for example, could be set to operate in the evening when power costs are lower, thus saving money.

Local combined heat and power (CHP)

Local combined heat and power is a technology that uses a single fuel source to produce both heat and electricity. This type of system means a consumer does not have to purchase energy from a local utility in addition to burning a fuel on-site to generate heat.

CHP systems have the advantages of reduced costs because heating and energy production are combined into one system and reduced emissions because of the combined system.

In some contexts, the excess heat generated by a factor is distributed back to the local community to heat homes in the winter.

Systems for individual energy generation

These are systems for the small-scale production of energy. These types of systems are typically used for single households with the goal of a zero- or low-carbon footprint (see below). They are also implemented in situations where it is expensive or impossible to connect to the power-grid.

Recently, individual energy generation has started to play an increasing role in smart grids (see above). Homeowners install solar panels or wind turbines on their property and sell any excess energy back into the grid. In this way, it is possible to recoup the cost of the system through the sale of excess energy.

Benefits

• supplement to grid-power system

• lower environmental impact (see below)

• Typically use renewable energy such as solar or wind

• can be scaled to meet the needs of a single user

• possible to live "off-grid" (no connection to power distribution infrastructure)

Considerations

• high initial cost

• may require owner to carry out maintenance

Almost every process involved in the life cycle of a produce generates CO2. As climate change has increased, focus has shifted towards minimizing carbon emissions. Central to this is accounting for the sources of carbon--quantification. This is often referred to a product's carbon footprint.

As designers, we have a moral and environmental responsibility to design in a manner which mitigates or eliminates the environmental impact of our design. Quantifying the carbon footprint of our designs is an important step towards 

Batteries allow devices and machines to be portable. The batteries in  mobile phones allow them to be portable and be used for long periods of time without being recharged.

Batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy.  

Batteries contain heavy metals, which when disposed of improperly can cause pollution, soil, air, and water contamination, as well as health problems. 

Designers should consider several things when selecting a powersource;

• Power demands for the design

• Physical size of the battery

• standard battery sizes

• rechargability

• environmental impact of disposal of the battery.