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How is Electricity Generated?
Here in Britain, we all use electricity every day. You’re using it right now as you sit here, reading this article on your computer. But how much do we actually know about electricity, the mystical force that fuels our lives at the flick of a switch? And where does this essential (yet invisible) power come from? In this article, you’ll find all you’ve ever needed to know about electricity and how it is generated.
All methods of generation involve changing kinetic energy (that’s the energy generated by movement) into electricity. This works because, once energy has been created, it can never be lost – the energy just transfers from one thing to another. So, for example, if you were to kick a football, then the energy your foot would be transferred into kinetic energy in the football, causing it to move. However, the kinetic energy used to create electricity can come from a number of different sources.
Some of the more traditional types of electricity generation involve the use of fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas. In a power station, fossil fuels are burned in order to heat a large amount of water. The heated water eventually turns to steam, which rises upwards and out of the water container. A turbine is placed above the water, and as the steam rises, it makes the turbine rotate very quickly. The turbine is connected to a magnet or a series of magnets inside a coil of wire. As the turbine rotates, the magnets move in and out of the coil of wire, creating magnetic currents which alternate very rapidly – this creates electricity.
However, you’ve probably heard of the debate surrounding fossil fuels – we only have a limited supply of them, so we need to find other ways of generating electricity. Luckily, a few methods of electricity production have already been invented, so we’re on our way to using less fossil fuel.
One way of producing electricity without fossil fuels is the use of water or hydropower. Usually, hydro-electricity is produced by using the energy created by a fast-flowing, downhill body of water to turn turbines. However, the water then needs to be pumped back upwards in an energy efficient way, so that the water can once again flow downwards to turn the turbines.
There are a number of other renewable methods of electricity production too, such as wind turbines, nuclear power and geothermal power. However, we have been using fossil fuels for many years now, and it will be a long time before we perfect the art of sustainable energy production in the way we have with fossil fuels.
Article by Connor Sephton, 23rd November 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.
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