Summary on Electricity Generation - Basics

8/8/2019 Summary on Electricity Generation - Basics

1/8


2/8

[edit] History

Sources of electricity in France in 2006;[3]nuclear powerwas the main source.

Centralised power generation became possible when it was recognised thatalternating current power lines cantransport electricity at very low costs across great distances by taking advantage of the ability to raise and lower

the voltage using powertransformers.

Electricity has been generated at central stations since 1881. The first power plants were run on water power[4] or

coal,[5] and today we rely mainly on coal, nuclear,natural gas, hydroelectric, andpetroleum with a small amount

from solar energy,tidal harnesses, wind generators, and geothermal sources.

[edit] Methods of generating electricity

PPL headquarters inAllentown, Pennsylvania.

There are seven fundamental methods of directly transforming other forms of energy into electrical energy:

Static electricity, from the physical separation and transport of charge (examples: triboelectric effect andlightning)

2
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_currenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_currenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PPL_(utility)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allentown,_Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allentown,_Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Allentown_Pennsylvania_PPL.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Allentown_Pennsylvania_PPL.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sources_of_Electricity_in_France_in_2006.PNGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sources_of_Electricity_in_France_in_2006.PNGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_currenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PPL_(utility)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allentown,_Pennsylvaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning


3/8

Electromagnetic induction, where anelectrical generator, dynamo oralternatortransforms kinetic energy

(energy of motion) into electricity

Electrochemistry, the direct transformation ofchemical energy into electricity, as in abattery,fuel cellornerve impulse

Photoelectric effect, the transformation of light into electrical energy, as insolar cells

Thermoelectric effect, direct conversion of temperature differences to electricity, as in thermocouples,thermopiles, and Thermionic converters.

Piezoelectric effect, from the mechanical strain of electrically anisotropic molecules or crystals Nuclear transformation, the creation and acceleration of charged particles (examples:betavoltaics oralpha

particle emission)

Static electricitywas the first form discovered and investigated, and theelectrostatic generatoris still used even in

modern devices such as the Van de Graaff generatorandMHD generators. Electrons are mechanically separated

and transported to increase their electric potential.

Almost all commercial electrical generation is done using electromagnetic induction, in whichmechanical energyforces an electrical generatorto rotate. There are many different methods of developing the mechanical energy,

includingheat engines, hydro, wind and tidal power.

The direct conversion ofnuclear energy to electricity bybeta decay is used only on a small scale. In a full-size

nuclear power plant, the heat of a nuclear reaction is used to run a heat engine. This drives a generator, whichconverts mechanical energy into electricity by magnetic induction.

Most electric generation is driven by heat engines. The combustion offossil fuels supplies most of the heat to

these engines, with a significant fraction from nuclear fission and some fromrenewable sources. The modern

steam turbine invented by Sir Charles Parsonsin 1884 - today generates about 80 percent of the electric powerinthe world using a variety of heat sources.

[edit] Turbines

Large dams such as Three Gorges Damin China can provide large amounts ofhydroelectric power; it will have a22.5 GW capability.

3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_inductionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_impulsehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocoupleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopileshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_converterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Algernon_Parsonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Algernon_Parsonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreischluchtendamm_hauptwall_2006.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreischluchtendamm_hauptwall_2006.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_inductionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_impulsehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocoupleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopileshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_converterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Algernon_Parsonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt


4/8

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear power plant.

A combined cycle natural gas power plant near Orem, Utah.

All turbines are driven by a fluid acting as an intermediate energy carrier. Many of the heat engines just

mentioned are turbines. Other types of turbines can be driven by wind or falling water.

Sources include:

Steam - Water is boiled by:

o Nuclear fission,

o The burning offossil fuels (coal, natural gas, or petroleum). In hot gas (gas turbine), turbines are

driven directly by gases produced by thecombustion of natural gas or oil.Combined cycle gas

turbine plants are driven by both steam and natural gas. They generate power by burning naturalgas in a gas turbine and use residual heat to generate additional electricity from steam. These

plants offer efficiencies of up to 60%.

o Renewables. The steam generated by:

Biomass

The sun as the heat source:solar parabolic troughs and solar power towersconcentrate

sunlight to heat a heat transfer fluid, which is then used to produce steam. Geothermal power. Either steam under pressure emerges from the ground and drives a

turbine or hot water evaporates a low boiling liquid to create vapour to drive a turbine.

Other renewable sources:

o Water (hydroelectric) - Turbine blades are acted upon by flowing water, produced by

hydroelectric dams ortidal forces.

o Wind - Mostwind turbines generate electricity from naturally occurring wind.Solar updraft

towers use wind that is artificially produced inside the chimney by heating it with sunlight, and are

more properly seen as forms of solar thermal energy.

[edit] Reciprocating engines

4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susquehanna_Steam_Electric_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_cyclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_cyclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_parabolic_troughhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_parabolic_troughhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lakeside_Power_Plant.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lakeside_Power_Plant.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Susquehanna_steam_electric_station.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Susquehanna_steam_electric_station.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susquehanna_Steam_Electric_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_cyclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_parabolic_troughhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_towerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=4


5/8

Small electricity generators are often powered byreciprocating engines burning diesel,biogasor natural gas.

Diesel enginesare often used for back up generation, usually at low voltages. However most large power grids

also use diesel generators, originally provided as emergency back up for a specific facility such as a hospital, tofeed power into the grid during certain circumstances. Biogas is often combusted where it is produced, such as a

landfill or wastewater treatment plant, with a reciprocating engine or a microturbine, which is a small gas turbine.

A coal-fired power plant in Laughlin, Nevada U.S.A. Owners of this plant ceased operations after declining to

invest in pollution control equipment to comply with pollution regulations.[6]

[edit] Photovoltaic panels

Unlike the solar heat concentrators mentioned above,photovoltaic panelsconvert sunlight directly to electricity.

Although sunlight is free and abundant, solar electricity is still usually more expensive to produce than large-scale

mechanically generated power due to the cost of the panels. Low-efficiency silicon solar cells have beendecreasing in cost and multijunction cells with close to 30% conversion efficiency are now commercially

available. Over 40% efficiency has been demonstrated in experimental systems.[7] Until recently, photovoltaics

were most commonly used in remote sites where there is no access to a commercial power grid, or as a

supplemental electricity source for individual homes and businesses. Recent advances in manufacturing efficiencyand photovoltaic technology, combined with subsidies driven by environmental concerns, have dramatically

accelerated the deployment of solar panels. Installed capacity is growing by 40% per year led by increases in

Germany, Japan, California and New Jersey.

[edit] Other generation methods

Wind-powered turbines usually provide electrical generation in conjunction with other methods of producing

power.

5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_enginehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_enginehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_generatorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_generatorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Turbine_aalborg.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Turbine_aalborg.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mohave_Generating_Station_1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mohave_Generating_Station_1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_enginehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_generatorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine


6/8

Various other technologies have been studied and developed for power generation. Solid-state generation

(without moving parts) is of particular interest in portable applications. This area is largely dominated by

thermoelectric(TE) devices, though thermionic(TI) and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems have been developedas well. Typically, TE devices are used at lower temperatures than TI and TPV systems. Piezoelectric devices are

used for power generation from mechanical strain, particularly inpower harvesting. Betavoltaicsare another type

of solid-state power generator which produces electricity from radioactive decay. Fluid-basedmagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation has been studied as a method for extracting electrical power

from nuclear reactors and also from more conventional fuel combustion systems. Osmotic powerfinally isanother possibility at places where salt and sweet water merges (e.g. deltas, ...)

Electrochemical electricity generation is also important in portable and mobile applications. Currently, mostelectrochemical power comes from closed electrochemical cells ("batteries"),[8] which are arguably utilized more

as storage systems than generation systems, but open electrochemical systems, known as fuel cells, have been

undergoing a great deal of research and development in the last few years. Fuel cells can be used to extract powereither from natural fuels or from synthesized fuels (mainly electrolytic hydrogen) and so can be viewed as either

generation systems or storage systems depending on their use.

[edit] Cost of generating electricity

Main article: Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources

[edit] Production by country

Main article: World energy resources and consumption

See also: Electricity consumption

Electricity output in 2005

The United States has long been the largest producer and consumer of electricity, with a global share in 2005 of at

least 25%, followed by China, Japan, Russia, and India.

As of Jan-2010, total electricity generation for the 2 largest generators were as follows:

USA: 3992 billion KWh

China: 3715 billion KWh

[edit] Environmental Concerns

Main articles: Global warming and Coal phase out

6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_converterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_converterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermophotovoltaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_harvestinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmotic_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_storagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_consumptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_industry_in_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_industry_in_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_phase_outhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electricity_gen.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electricity_gen.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_converterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermophotovoltaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_harvestinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmotic_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_storagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_consumptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_industry_in_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_phase_out


7/8

Most scientists agree that emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases from fossil fuel-based electricity

generation account for a significant portion of world greenhouse gas emissions; in the United States, electricity

generation accounts for nearly 40 percent of emissions, the largest of any source. Transportation emissions areclose behind, contributing about one-third of U.S. production ofcarbon dioxide.[9]

In the United States, fossil fuel combustion for electric power generation is responsible for 65% of all emissions

ofsulfur dioxide, the main component of acid rain.[10]Electricity generation is the fourth highest combined source

ofNOx,carbon monoxide, andparticulate matterin the US.[11]

[edit] See also

Energy portal

Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources

Directive on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources

Distributed generation Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID)

List of countries by electricity production from renewable source Droop speed control

Electric power transmission

Electric utility

Electricity distribution

Electricity retailing

Energy development

Environmental concerns with electricity generation

Eugene Green Energy Standard Generating Availability Data System

Load profile

Mains electricity Parallel generation

Power quality

Virtual power plant

Voltage drop

[edit] References

Large dams such as Hoover Dam can provide large amounts ofhydroelectric power; it has a 2.07 gigawattcapability.

7
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transportation_emission&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transportation_emission&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate_matterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate_matterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Electricity_Production_from_Renewable_Energy_Sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_%26_Generation_Resource_Integrated_Database_(eGRID)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_electricity_production_from_renewable_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droop_speed_controlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_utilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_distributionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_retailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_concerns_with_electricity_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Green_Energy_Standardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generating_Availability_Data_Systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_profilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_qualityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_drophttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hoover_dam_from_air.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hoover_dam_from_air.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crystal_energy.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transportation_emission&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate_matterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Electricity_Production_from_Renewable_Energy_Sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_%26_Generation_Resource_Integrated_Database_(eGRID)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_electricity_production_from_renewable_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droop_speed_controlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_utilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_distributionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_retailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_concerns_with_electricity_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Green_Energy_Standardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generating_Availability_Data_Systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_profilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_qualityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_drophttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectric


8/8

1. ^ 'The Institution of Engineering & Technology: Michael Faraday'

2. ^ http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table1_1.html

3. ^ (French) DGEMP / Observatoire de l'nergie (April 2007)."LElectricit en France en 2006 : uneanalyse statistique." (PDF).http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdf.

Retrieved 2007-05-23.

4. ^ In 1881, under the leadership of Jacob Schoellkopf, the firsthydroelectric generating station was builtonNiagara Falls.

5. ^ Pearl Street Station: The Dawn of Commercial Electric Power6. ^ Reuters News Service (2005-12-30). "Mohave Power Plant in Nevada to Close as Expected".Planet

Ark.http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-16.7. ^New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology(press release, 2006-12-05), U.S. Department of

Energy.

8. ^ World's Largest Utility Battery System Installed in Alaska (press release, 2003-09-24), U.S. Departmentof Energy. "13,670 nickel-cadmium battery cells to generate up to 40 megawatts of power for about 7

minutes, or 27 megawatts of power for 15 minutes."

9. ^ Borenstein, Seth (2007-06-03). "Carbon-emissions culprit? Coal". The Seattle Times.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.html.

10. ^ http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/

11. ^ http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geo

name=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=

viewmap

[edit] External links

Electricity - A Visual Primer

Power Technologies Energy Data Book

[1]NOW on PBS: Power Struggle

This Week in Energy (TWiEpodcast)

8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-0http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/biographies/faraday.cfmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-1http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table1_1.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-2http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Fallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Fallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-4http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Pearl_Street_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-5http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htmhttp://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htmhttp://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-6http://www.doe.gov/news/4503.htmhttp://www.doe.gov/news/4503.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-7http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/archive.cfm/pubDate=%7Bd%20'2003-09-24'%7D#6490http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-8http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.htmlhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-9http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-10http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=12http://www.slideshare.net/MavensManor/electricity-a-visual-primer-5913813http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/power_databook/http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/503/index.htmlhttp://thisweekinenergy.tv/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-0http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/biographies/faraday.cfmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-1http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table1_1.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-2http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Fallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-4http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Pearl_Street_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-5http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htmhttp://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34265/story.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-6http://www.doe.gov/news/4503.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-7http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/archive.cfm/pubDate=%7Bd%20'2003-09-24'%7D#6490http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-8http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.htmlhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-9http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#cite_ref-10http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmaphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electricity_generation&action=edit&section=12http://www.slideshare.net/MavensManor/electricity-a-visual-primer-5913813http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/power_databook/http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/503/index.htmlhttp://thisweekinenergy.tv/

Documents

Summary on Electricity Generation - Basics