Talk:Electrical grid

Images
I used the image with the caption: "General layout of electricity networks. Voltages and depictions of electrical lines are typical for Germany and other European systems." for some academic work in Germany and my professor noted the caption 'Low Voltage (50kV)' this is too high generally for low voltage. He has advised me that Low voltage is less that 1kV, and Medium Voltage is between 1 and 60kV. Thus on my version of the diagram I have changed the image to read Low / Medium Voltage (<60kV). I was not able to attach the image without an account. Sorry. Nathan K. www.madteckhead.com


 * I updated the image to a .SVG file and cleaned it up a bit using the same values as Nathan K. had. --MBizon (talk) 20:14, 8 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Even knowing that it's German, seeing 250KV labelled "extra high voltage" while more common (in my area) 750KV is barely "high voltage" is quite odd. Perhaps these voltage figures must be removed altogether? East of Borschov (talk) 12:00, 12 June 2010 (UTC)

Iceland is not part of the Nordic grid, could someone please update the image? Source (page 14) https://web.archive.org/web/20101126051717/http://www.kkv.se/upload/Filer/Trycksaker/Rapporter/nordiska/Capacity_for_competition.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.24.196.21 (talk) 14:28, 5 June 2019 (UTC)

Definition and extent of a grid
Is it not an AC network that all operates at the same frequency and all in phase ? or is the essential characteristic the graph-like structure (rather than tree) with redundant connections ? Article says UK had a synchronised AC national grid in 1938. National Grid (Great Britain) says regional grids in 1933. Smart grid says 1886 (first? use of transformers in AC transmission in Great Barrington) - or is it a network that can accept power from non-adjacent generators ~ 1915 ? Did the term originate in UK or USA ? (the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926, calls for a "national gridiron" ) - Rod57 (talk) 01:32, 9 December 2015 (UTC)


 * Agree that the article(s) on this subject would benefit from some clarity. I'd propose that what makes a grid a grid, as opposed to just a generator feeding distant consumers, is:
 * * at its most basic, a network of electrical transmission lines connecting a multiplicity of generating stations to loads over a wide area
 * * multiple energy sources to work together enabling some generators for base power and some to fire up for peaks
 * * backup generating capacity to compensate for plant shutdowns; one substation can go off line without destabilizing the entire network.
 * * demand, supply, reserve margins, etc constantly monitored and managed by grid operators
 * * frequency and voltage control --Cornellier (talk) 18:05, 18 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Are the sources and loads part of the grid? Chidgk1 (talk) 06:23, 6 April 2023 (UTC)

What is this article about vs. electric power distribution and wide area synchronous grid?
The article contains banners (dated to 2009!) saying that the content should be "harmonized with text in Electric power distribution". That would be good but raises the question "what is the difference between "the grid" and electric power distribution and an interconnection (aka wide area synchronous grid). I propose that content in this article that's not in electric power distribution be moved there, and the rest (which wouldn't be much) be merged with wide area synchronous grid. --Cornellier (talk) 21:11, 25 March 2016 (UTC)


 * Replying to stop this being archived off. Anyone any idea why the banner was removed? Any thoughts on the merger suggestion? Chidgk1 (talk) 06:19, 6 April 2023 (UTC)

World map request
It would be informative to produce a map or series of maps showing the extent of public power grids. This is mostly interesting to show where power grids don't go and where there are interconnection boundaries between grids. -- Beland (talk) 07:13, 1 May 2018 (UTC)
 * We now have a few continents, but we're missing South America, southern parts of Asia, Africa, and Oceania. -- Beland (talk) 04:56, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
 * It's mostly a question of just painting colors on the existing map. The real trick is getting hold of the information. I think if you dig around we have maps of India (all one grid), Australia, some parts of central America, all of North America. Not sure we have any current map of China. GliderMaven (talk) 18:02, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

Scope of various grid articles
To mitigate overlap and confusion over the many related articles, I propose this content organization:
 * Microgrid: the smallest grid, capable of islanding
 * Wide area synchronous grid
 * Super grid: WASGs linked by Interconnectors
 * Electrical grid (this article): everything the above has in common --Cornellier (talk) 18:33, 18 April 2021 (UTC)


 * I don't think, in common i.e. a subset, more a superset coverage of all the above, WP:BROADCONCEPT. GliderMaven (talk) 18:53, 19 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Real world electrical grids are often largely arbitrary lines on the map, except where there's a complete air-gap. Exactly how many grids the United States, Canada or Mexico have for example is rather arguable. GliderMaven (talk) 18:53, 19 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Agree with WP:BROADCONCEPT. As for differentiating the three grid types listed above (Microgrid, Wide area synchronous grid, Super grid), I'd propose working definitions based on functionality, not geography. --Cornellier (talk) 23:55, 19 April 2021 (UTC)
 * I see where you're coming from, but I think in practice super grids are largely or completely defined by their geographical extent, since very high voltage or HVDC links make the most sense economically over long distances and microgrids are usually geographically small. GliderMaven (talk) 04:10, 20 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Possibly excerpts could be used? Chidgk1 (talk) 06:21, 6 April 2023 (UTC)
 * Has any action been taken on this in the meantime? And I agree with User:Chidgk1 that excerpts could be helpful here. EMsmile (talk) 15:34, 8 December 2023 (UTC)
 * I've re-arranged the structure a bit and have added an excerpt for smart grid because I assume that "smart grid" is something that will become more important over time and its article improved and updated (hopefully). EMsmile (talk) 21:31, 12 December 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Research Process and Methodology - FA22 - Sect 201 - Thu
— Assignment last updated by BartonRei (talk) 16:11, 26 November 2022 (UTC)

New source which might be cited
https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2023-04-08 Chidgk1 (talk) 06:26, 6 April 2023 (UTC)

"General Layout" Image Unclear as to What Produces or Consumes Power
While I think this is a great image that gives a nice overview of electrical grids at a glance, I found it was unclear as to which parts were consuming power and which parts were generating it. Of course, one can infer this with common sense, obviously a power plant generates electricity, and residential neighborhoods consume it (minus the wind and solar they might generate).

But I don't think you should have to infer anything or assume common sense in a Wiki article. So, I think it would be a great idea to amend the image to include symbols for each item to indicate whether it consumes or generates. Something simple like an arrow maybe. Or a plus sign. Or just the word "generator" or "consumer".

I was going to add this as a reply to the original talk page about this image. But it hasn't been active since 2010, aside from an irrelevant reply. So, I figured this would be seen more here. 2607:FEA8:99E0:61D0:91AA:C76C:D65:FBE (talk) 15:14, 3 July 2023 (UTC)


 * Also the diagram needs a big battery Chidgk1 (talk) 06:55, 9 December 2023 (UTC)