How does electricity work?

Electricity is part of our everyday lives. We use electricity all the time in our homes, businesses, schools, hospitals - and just about everywhere else. It's hard to imagine life without it. But do you know where it comes from?

Electricity is the energy generated when electrons (the particles in atoms) move and make a current. Electrons have a negative charge and are attracted to things that have a positive charge.

When you plug something in, this flow of electrons goes from the socket, through the wires and into the device. When you unplug it, the flow of electrons stops.

Electricity is a secondary energy source. That means it's made from the conversion of other sources of energy. This has traditionally meant burning things, such as oil, turf, or gas. Northern Ireland is now working to use more renewable sources to generate electricity.

Renewable energy is energy from a source that doesn't run out. Many renewable sources create virtually no carbon emissions when producing electricity. Wind and solar energy are the two best known examples of this.

To harness more of this kind of power, Northern Ireland needs more grid infrastructure in place. With the Shaping Our Electricity Future plan, we are making the grid renewable ready.

Electricity interconnectors are ways for different electricity grids to exchange power. There are a number of interconnectors carrying electricity between Northern Ireland, Ireland and Great Britain: the East West Interconnector, the Moyle Interconnector and the North South tie line. 

Another interconnector will be added in the near future, called the Greenlink Interconnector.

Ever wondered what a pylon does? They hold up cables that enable high voltage electricity to move around the country. SONI controls this movement from within our National Control Centre, which operates 24 hours a day. The grid moves high volumes of electricity from where it's generated to where it is needed.

When it is in a high voltage form, such as moving through the grid, electricity is unable to be used by domestic and most industrial users. It needs to be converted to a lower voltage to be used. Electricity substations around the country do this. 

Electricity is then at a safe voltage to be supplied to homes, farms, businesses and public services through what's known as the distribution network. This lower voltage network is operated and maintained by NIE Networks.

Across the grid, electricity is in a constant balance of push-and-pull, as supply and demand interact. Balancing factors such as voltage and frequency are carefully monitored across the entire grid.

Safe monitoring and regulation enables power generated at scale by wind farms and power stations to be safely used by domestic appliances in your home. We balance the grid minute-by-minute, taking actions where required to ensure a reliable supply of electricity for everyone.