A Beginner’s Guide to the Haiti Electrical Grid
13th Jul 2021
The Haiti electrical grid is a system designed to provide electricity to every part of the country; for homes, businesses, schools and other buildings. There are three main sections in an electrical grid:
1. Generation
Electricity begins in power plants that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Wind turbines are an excellent example of this. When air flows through the blades of a turbine, they rotate and spin a generator. Then, electricity is generated!
In the case of solar panels, they use photovoltaic cells to harness energy from sunlight. Other common courses of electricity are coal, natural gas, nuclear power and water.
2. Transmission
Once electricity is generated, it can then be transmitted with the help of power lines. These structures allow energy to flow over long distances in a short period, making them very efficient for distributing power all across the country.
Electricity transmitted through power lines is “stepped-up” or increased in voltage to ensure that it can travel for hundreds of kilometers. Otherwise, low-voltage electricity will lose energy due to resistance.
3. Distribution
Finally, the electricity is distributed to customers across Haiti. But first, it must be “stepped-down” using transformers. Using the stepped-up energy straight from power lines is unsafe, so a step-down transformer is responsible for bringing it to more manageable levels.
The Electricitéd’Haïti (EDH) operates one primary Haiti electrical grid in Port-au-Prince, along with several other isolated power grids. As we know, the current electrical grid has many issues and Haitians face numerous challenges getting reliable power.
But luckily, various groups and companies are taking steps to provide a more sustainable electrical operation in the country. Their efforts, plus individuals like you choosing to implement solar, can slowly improve the current power situation. You can start by installing state-of-the-art solar power with the help of DigitalKap!