Power station

A power station (or power plant) is a place where electricity is produced. Most do this by  a big spinning electrical generator. In big powers stations the spinning is usually driven by a steam turbine. The steam may come from:

 Burning fossil fuels
 Nuclear power, using radioactive sources
 Using the earth's heat, called geothermal energy
 Using the sun's heat

Some do not use steam engines to spin the generator. Rather they use: 
 Hydropower, which uses the power of moving water to drive turbines
 Using the wind to drive wind turbines
 Internal combustion engine power

A few power stations use the sun's rays to generate solar power without motion.  There are many power stations around the world, because many things need electricity to work.

Stations may be operated as Load following power plant, peaking power plant, or base load power plant.

 Energy sources 

 Renewable energy resources 
Renewable heat energy
 Solar thermal power
 Geothermal energy

Renewable flow energy
 Hydro-electric power
 Wind power
 Wave power
 Tidal power

 Non-renewable energy resources 
These all use heat as a source of energy.
 Coal
 Oil
 Natural gas
 Nuclear power

 Solid-state electricity sources 
These sources have no moving parts. They are more expensive than generators, and are used where other questions are more important.
 Solar cell
 Battery
 Thermocouple

Other websites


Category:Electricity