Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors: Relationships

Every element and industry that Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

AI and digital platforms: AI adds large, concentrated electric loads, from chip fabs to data centres, that local networks must connect and supply without interruption; transformer shortages and slow connections make the grid, not demand, the pacing factor. (researched)
Copper: Distribution networks are a large copper outlet: copper goes into underground cables, substations, transformer windings and earthing, while aluminium takes most overhead lines. Grid investment, above all in China, was the largest single source of copper demand growth in 2023 and 2024, and programmes such as India's RDSS add to it. (researched)
Electrical equipment: Distribution grids are among the largest buyers of transformers, switchgear, cables and meters, so grid spending programmes such as India's RDSS translate directly into order books for electrical equipment makers, while those makers in turn run on grid power. (researched)
Transformers and power electronics: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors; their prices have moved together.
AC transmission: Energy flows from AC transmission to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors; their prices have moved together.
Demand response and vehicle-to-grid: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to demand response and vehicle-to-grid; energy flows from demand response and vehicle-to-grid to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Energy in buildings: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to energy in buildings; their prices have moved together.
Aluminium: Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors needs aluminium.
Apparel and footwear: Apparel and footwear depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Bagasse and black-liquor cogeneration: Energy flows from bagasse and black-liquor cogeneration to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Building materials: Building materials depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Combined heat and power: Energy flows from combined heat and power to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Construction and infrastructure: Construction and infrastructure depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Data centres and cloud: Data centres and cloud depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
E-commerce and digital marketplaces: E-commerce and digital marketplaces depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Education and research: Education and research depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Electric and hybrid vehicles: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Electric heating: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to electric heating.
Electric motors and drives: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to electric motors and drives.
Electrical loss reduction: Energy flows from electrical loss reduction to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Electronic specialty gases: Their prices have moved together.
Finance: banking, insurance, markets: Finance: banking, insurance, markets depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Flow batteries: Energy flows from flow batteries to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Food and beverage processing: Food and beverage processing depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Furniture: Furniture depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Generators and alternators: Energy flows from generators and alternators to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Gravity storage: Energy flows from gravity storage to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Healthcare services: Healthcare services depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration.
Hospitality and tourism: Hospitality and tourism depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Household and personal care: Household and personal care depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Lead-acid batteries: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to lead-acid batteries.
Lighting and displays: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to lighting and displays.
Media and entertainment: Media and entertainment depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Metal products: Metal products depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Organic Rankine, Kalina and sCO2 cycles: Energy flows from organic Rankine, Kalina and sCO2 cycles to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Paper and packaging: Paper and packaging depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceuticals depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Plastic and rubber products: Plastic and rubber products depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Pressure and flow recovery: Energy flows from pressure and flow recovery to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Professional services: Professional services depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Public administration, defence and security: Public administration, defence and security depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Real estate: Real estate depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Run-of-river and small hydro: Energy flows from run-of-river and small hydro to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Semiconductors: Semiconductors depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Small, airborne and traditional wind: Energy flows from small, airborne and traditional wind to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Software and IT services: Software and IT services depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Solar photovoltaics: Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Steel: Their prices have moved together.
Telecommunications: Telecommunications depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Textiles and leather: Textiles and leather depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Transport and logistics: Transport and logistics depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Underground, submarine and superconducting cables: Energy flows from underground, submarine and superconducting cables to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft: Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Waste and recycling: Waste and recycling depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Water and sanitation: Water and sanitation depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Wholesale and retail trade: Wholesale and retail trade depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
Wood products: Wood products depends on distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.