The Journey of Electricity
07/20/2021
How electricity reaches our homes and everyday devices
Electricity brightens and enriches many facets of our lives.
Here, we will explain the process of how electricity is produced and delivered to our homes and everyday devices.
How electricity reaches our homes
Simply turn on a switch and devices begin to work. Electricity is an indispensable part of daily life, but there are three major steps that must be carried out before it reaches our homes in a usable form.
The first step is generating electricity. The next is the process of safely and efficiently transmitting and distributing generated electricity through power lines and substations to where it is needed. And finally, electricity must be converted to a level that can be used by devices.
1. Power generation (producing electricity)
Electricity is generated at power plants. However, the term ‘power generation’ can refer to a variety of methods and resources.
The world’s energy self-sufficiency rate
Despite being one of the world’s largest energy consumers in the world, Japan has an energy self-sufficiency rate of less than 10%. This is because most of the energy resources needed for power generation, such as oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium, must be imported from overseas.
Meanwhile, according to data prepared by the Japan Agency for Natural Resources and Energy based on a survey by the International Energy Agency, the energy self-sufficiency rates of developed countries overseas include 92.6% for the US, 68.2% for the UK, 52.8% for France, and 36.9% for Germany.
In the US, the shale revolution of the late 2000s that led to a large increase in domestic production of crude oil and natural gas, together with an increase in renewable energy sources, have resulted in a high level of self-sufficiency. For the UK, however, although still at a high level, crude oil production is gradually declining due to depletion of the North Sea oil fields, which is the country’s main energy source. At the same time, supplying over 70% of electricity from nuclear power allows France to stabilize production without relying on fuel imports from overseas, leading to a stable self-sufficiency rate of around 50%. In contrast, Germany’s self-sufficiency rate is lower than other countries, but maintains its rate by promoting the introduction of renewable energy while shutting down its nuclear power plants.
As you can see, the energy situation and approaches taken can vary significantly from country to country, but in any case, it is necessary to secure stable and economical power by efficiently combining multiple methods of power generation rather than simply relying on a specific method.
So, what are the characteristics and challenges of each power generation method?
| Features | Challenges | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Power |
• Stable power generation (provided there is fuel) • Easy to adjust the output • Excellent energy conversion efficiency • Few restrictions facilitate power plant installation |
• Controlling greenhouse gases • Procuring the necessary fuel domestically |
| Hydro Electric Power |
• Renewable domestic clean energy • High energy conversion efficiency (80%) |
• Reducing initial development costs • Securing precipitation for power generation • Minimizing the impact on the environment and residents of the dam construction area |
| Nuclear Power |
• High fuel stockpile and stable supply • Generates almost no greenhouse gases • Emits no substances that can cause air pollution |
• Safe disposal of radioactive waste • Minimizing damage in the event of an emergency • Improving high costs through thorough safety measures |
| Solar Power |
• Renewable domestic clean energy • Reduces utility costs • Easy to monitor/control energy consumption (HEMS, CEMS, etc.) • Robust in times of disaster |
• Securing the necessary amount of sunlight for power generation • Improving the durability of solar panels |
| Wind Power |
• Renewable domestic clean energy • Capable of generating power day and night • Low power generation costs with high cost effectiveness |
• Securing the necessary amount of airflow for power generation • Strengthening countermeasures against breakdowns due to high winds such as typhoons • Reducing maintenance costs due to age-related deterioration • Minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment (i.e. blade noise) |
| Geo Thermal Power |
• Renewable domestic clean energy • Power generation not affected by weather • Enables stable power generation day and night • Steam used for power generation can be reused for hot springs and agricultural greenhouses |
• Reducing installation costs associated with surveys and excavation work required for the construction of power generation facilities • More than 80% of geothermal sources are located in national parks • Minimizing the potential for groundwater contamination due to water reduction • Improving power generation efficiency |
As you can see in the pie chart above, thermal power generation using coal and natural gas is the mainstream method of power generation worldwide, but each has its own characteristics and challenges, and the optimal method of power generation will differ depending on the country or region.
The increased adoption of renewable energy
Solar power is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about renewable energy.
In recent years, solar panels have been installed not only on corporate buildings and private factories, but also on the roofs of private homes, and it is not uncommon for households to generate solar power.
Western European countries are particularly aggressive in adopting solar power.
For example, in Spain it is estimated that up to 23% of electricity is generated from solar, solar heat, and wind power, Italy 14% from solar and wind power, Germany 24% from solar and wind power, and the UK 21% from solar and wind power.
A solar power generation system converts sunlight into electricity using solar cells (solar panels and modules).
Incidentally, solar cells are made by superimposing two types of silicon semiconductors (n-type and p-type).
When light strikes this semiconductor, holes that act like positive electrons are generated in the n-type semiconductor and negative electrons are created in the p-type semiconductor (photoelectric effect).
The result is a battery-like structure that allows DC current to flow.
2. Power transmission and distribution (delivering electricity)
Electricity generated at the power plant reaches our homes through multiple substations, transmission and distribution lines, and transformers.
Newly generated electricity is transmitted at extremely high voltages ranging from 275,000 to 500,000 volts in order to reduce transmission losses. However, to use electricity in our daily life, this voltage must be reduced to the appropriate level.
For example, 220-240V is used in European households. In the US, 115V or 120V is common in the home, depending on the state, while 208V or 230V is typically used in offices and data centers. And in Japan, 100V is used in homes and offices and 200V for factory equipment, which is actually quite rare in the world. In any case, since the voltage is not usable as-is, it goes through substations that drop the voltage to different levels depending on the application.
However, not all of the electrical energy sent out from the power plant reaches the consumer. Some electrical energy is lost as heat and vibration due to the resistance of transmission and distribution lines and transformers.
This is referred to as transmission loss.
Reducing transmission loss
To use energy efficiently, it is necessary to reduce transmission loss as much as possible.
The rate of transmission loss varies greatly from country to country. Among developed countries, the transmission loss in the US is estimated to be 6%, 5% in Germany, and 3.4% in Japan. Although 3.4% may seem small, this is the equivalent of 7 thermal power plants. And according to a 2016 study by a team of researchers from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University in the US, power transmission losses in India are about 19%, 16% in Brazil, and over 50% in countries such as Haiti, Iraq, and the Republic of Congo.
Improving power transmission loss is also an important issue for global environmental conservation.
3. Power utilization (using electricity)
The power that finally reaches our homes from the power plant cannot be used as-is, however.
Household electricity is drawn from distribution poles, but the electricity that reaches these poles still has a voltage of 6600VAC. To be able to use this electricity, transformers installed in the poles reduce the voltage to 100V or 200V suitable for residential use.
Electricity converted to household voltage through the pole transformer first flows to the power meter to measure the amount of electricity used. From there, various further transformations take place depending on the application.
As appliances and other devices require different voltages, step-down and step-up operations are performed as necessary, incurring additional conversion losses at each stage.
Reducing conversion loss
Reducing conversion loss will also have a significant impact on the spread of renewable energies such as solar power in the future.
For example, the energy conversion efficiency of a typical thermal power plant is around 40% while the latest power plants are capable of 55% or more. However, the power generation efficiency of a standard solar power system is only about 20%. It is technically possible to go beyond this, but the current cost is too high to make it practical for general use.
Semiconductor technology essential for power conversion
Companies are continually developing new technologies and carrying out initiatives to minimize conversion losses and make more efficient and effective use of energy.
Power devices (power semiconductors) play a central role in this. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to expect innovation from technologically mature Si (silicon) devices. As a result, the semiconductor material that is attracting attention as a breakthrough replacement for silicon is SiC (silicon carbide), which features superior conversion efficiency.
Commercializing SiC MOSFETs
ROHM is fully committed to developing not only silicon-based transistors (MOSFETs, IGBTs) and diodes, but SiC MOSFETs and SiC Schottky barrier diodes as well for the power device field. As an SiC pioneer, ROHM was among the first in the industry to develop SiC power devices and the first in the world to release SiC MOSFETs. This significantly reduces loss during power conversion, contributing to higher efficiency and miniaturization in power systems such as solar power generation systems, power supplies for industrial equipment, and EV chargers.
Related Links
Click here to learn more about ROHM’s SiC power semiconductor technologies.
https://www.rohm.com/analogpower/powertech