Ever wonder why lights dim when you turn on multiple appliances? Or why power companies ask you to reduce electricity usage on hot days? There’s an important reason electricity needs to be used right when it’s made. Let’s explain in simple terms.
Balancing Supply and Demand
The electric grid is like a big pool being filled and drained simultaneously. Power plants and solar panels add electricity, filling it up. Homes and businesses drain electricity, emptying the pool.
The grid needs the right amount of electricity. Too much supply can overload and fail the system. Too much demand can cause blackouts. So supply and demand must stay balanced – generation and usage must match closely.
Using Up Excess Electricity
What if there’s too much unused electricity in the grid? Power plants can’t just shut off or it disrupts the balance. The excess electricity has to go somewhere. The solution is for homes and businesses to consume that extra power.
Think of the grid as a bathtub filling with water from the faucets (power plants). Drains let the water out for people to use. If the tub overfills, you need to open more drains to empty it faster. Consuming excess electricity is like opening those extra drains.
Local Balancing
It’s not just the whole grid – supply and demand need local balancing too. If a plant makes 100 megawatts but nearby demand is only 50, that extra 50 must be used locally if possible.
Transmitting excess long distances wastes energy and can overload lines. It’s best to consume it near the source – factories ramping up or people using appliances when extra power is available.
Preventing Emergency Shutdowns
Sometimes plants must suddenly shut down or reduce output when less electricity is needed. This often happens with variable renewable sources like solar and wind. These emergency shutdowns disrupt grid operations.
Using excess electricity as it’s produced can prevent those shutdowns. Smart grids automatically shift usage to times of surplus supply. Batteries also store excess when needed.
The Need for Real-Time Usage
Hopefully this explains why electricity must be consumed right when it’s generated. The grid operates on tight margins – supply and demand must constantly balance across the whole system and locally.
Excess power must go somewhere. Overloaded equipment can fail. Using more power when extra is available keeps the grid stable and prevents blackouts and disruptions. It’s a delicate balancing act!
Encouraging Real-Time Use
To promote real-time electricity usage, utilities use pricing programs like:
- Time-of-use rates – Higher prices during peak demand hours motivates off-peak usage.
- Critical peak pricing – Very high rates during extremely high demand to limit usage.
- Real-time pricing – Hourly rates based on current supply/demand for using power when surplus exists.
These programs reward flexibility in when consumers use electricity to match real-time supply and demand.
The Future Grid
The need for real-time balancing will only grow as more variable renewable sources join the grid. New smart grid tech will help manage supply and demand better.
Examples are smart meters tracking real-time usage and smart appliances adjusting automatically. Batteries will store surplus too. Balancing future supply and demand requires power companies and consumers working together.
In Summary
Now you understand why electricity must be consumed as it’s generated. The grid requires a precise supply/demand balance. Using up excess as it’s produced prevents emergencies. Pricing encourages real-time usage. New tech will help balance the future grid. By working together, we can reliably enjoy electricity’s many benefits!
References
Roozbehani, M., Dahleh, M., & Mitter, S. (2012). Volatility of power grids under real-time pricing. Ieee Transactions on Power Systems, 27(4), 1926-1940. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpwrs.2012.2195037
Stepanov, V., Suslov, K., Stashkevich, E., Styczynski, Z., & Voropai, N. (2014). Demand response for different power supply systems. https://doi.org/10.1109/isgteurope.2014.7028967
