Grid balancing

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/grid-balancing

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is grid balancing?Grid balancing is the process of making sure that the amount of electricity being made equals the amount people are using, so the lights stay on all the time.
2. Why do we need grid balancing?We need it because electricity can't be stored in big piles, so supply and demand must match right away to keep the power system steady and avoid blackouts.

Synchronous Generator: An electrical generator that produces alternating current at a frequency determined by its rotation speed and the number of poles.
Intermittency: The characteristic of energy sources, like solar and wind, that produce power only when conditions are favorable.
Curtailment: The intentional reduction of output from a power source, often renewables, when supply exceeds demand or grid capacity.
Demand-Side Response (DSR): Changes in electricity usage by consumers from their normal consumption patterns in response to price signals or incentives.