# Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors

The local networks that bring power to homes and businesses, and the links that join grids.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/

Transport · Electricity · No. 52

- Transport
- Form: Electricity
 Transport · Electricity · Foundation · Energy

About 750 million people still have no electricity, and about 80% of them live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Chart: Illustration: Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Substations lower transmission voltage to medium levels, such as the 20 kV used across much of France. Feeders carry it through streets, and transformers step it down for homes.

##### Three things to know

1. India's distributors cut technical and commercial losses from 22.62% in FY2013-14 to 15.04% in FY2024-25, and posted an aggregate profit.
2. Leading African mini-grid developers kept power on 99% of the time in 2021, up from 90-97% in 2018.
3. US power lines electrocute an estimated 0.9 to 11.6 million birds a year that perch between live parts on poles.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Substation**Lowers transmission voltage to about 20 kV
2. 2 **Feeders**Medium-voltage lines through towns and fields
3. 3 **Street transformer**Drops voltage again for homes
4. 4 **Meter**Smart or prepaid, records use
5. 5 **Or mini-grid**Local solar, batteries and diesel backup
 Covered in [Moving energy: wires, pipes and shipsEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/moving-energy/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/correlation/index.md)
- [How it works](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/explain/index.md)
- [Efficiency and losses](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/efficiency/index.md)
- [Technology advances](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/advances/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/valuechain/index.md)
- [Geopolitics and regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/geopolitics/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/economics/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/biosphere/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_distribution/links/index.md)