The Methods Used For Generating Electricity Today
November 14th, 2008
Our entire society today is based on the production of energy. Therefore its production is of paramount importance. Today it is made by the burning of fossil fuels, nuclear fission, and with water and wind energy, primarily.
To generate electricity, in many cases we use energy to drive turbines which have magnets in them. As the magnets spin, they can induce current in a surrounding wire. These are a few ways that we make electricity:
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petrol. They can be burned to boil water in large furnaces or along heating pipes, and the heated water vapor can be used to drive large turbines. The products of burning are generally very hazardous to the environment. These fuels are also not renewable because they took millions of years to be created in the first place, so we shouldn’t be depending on them for much longer - or they will run out.
Moving water. Hydroelectric dams are set up to channel water down into turbines so the falling energy of the water can drive them. Dams can also control and restrict the movement of water bodies which can be beneficial. The only problem is that local ecosystems may be affected.
Over ninety percent of all the alternative energy in the world is hydroelectric.
Wind power. Wind turbines can use propeller-like blades to directly turn a motor which will generate electricity. These wind generators may have to be high up in the air to gather enough wind in some places, but they are very environmentally sound.
Nuclear fission. Nuclear fission can be accomplished in large nuclear power plants in order to generate large amounts of heat energy. This process uses unstable matter such as a certain uranium isotope to create a nuclear reaction and boil water to turn turbines.
Solar energy. The energy of the sun’s rays can also be used to make electricity, without turning a turbine. Photons transfer their energy directly to electrons in solar panels to start the electrical circuit.
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