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How Electricity Is Produced

Let's learn how electricity is produced.

Electrical energy was one of man’s greatest discoveries. It has helped build many new civilizations. The large amount of electricity produced has its source in fossil fuels, nuclear fission, water, and wind. This page will explore the different methods used in electricity production.

Electricity is produced by enormous turbines. These turbines need a support to be moved. There are various ways of moving these turbines:

By burning fossil fuels: Electricity is produced when the blades of a turbine are moved by enormous amounts of vapor. This vapor is generated by heating large amounts of water in huge furnaces. The water is heated by burning fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. This method releases large amounts of carbon dioxide in the air, thus severely polluting our atmosphere. It is important to mention at this point the need to turn to alternate methods of electricity production for long-term benefits.  We are killing our planet and alternative energy is one of the major cures.

By water: You must have heard how dams are constructed to produce electricity. A popular method of electricity production, a water dam serves two purposes: restricting water bodies and producing electricity. Water dams use the river water to move turbines, helping them produce electricity. Electricity generated this way helps control air pollution; however, this method of electricity production adversely affects the ecosystem in the water bodies.

Water accounts for 90 percent of the world’s electricity generated through renewable resources.

By wind: Electricity is produced when wind energy is converted to electrical energy. Wind mills, or wind turbines, are used to churn up enormous amounts of wind energy which is then converted into electrical energy.

The latest in wind energy advancement tells us that wind energy is helping create portable cell phone chargers.

By nuclear fission: Yes, nuclear fission does not only make atom bombs, but also helps produce electricity. Nuclear fission causes a chain reaction where the element Uranium is bombarded by neutrons causing it to split. Every time a Uranium nucleus is split, more neutrons are released, causing more splits in the already split Uranium nuclei. The resultant chain reaction generates a lot of heat which is used to heat water the vapor of which eventually moves turbines to create electricity.

By bio-waste: With technological advancements, electricity is also being produced by bio-waste. Bio-gas is a typical way of generating electricity in rural areas in countries like India. In fact, a new technology evolved in the state of Bihar in India that uses human waste to generate electricity.

Now that you know a little more about how electricity is produced, lets look at a couple of ways to produce clean, eco-friendly electricity.  The two most common and cost effective ways are making use of the sun and the wind.  Both of these are renewable sources of energy, we are unlikely to run out of either one.  Used in combination, and on a small scale, they can provide more than enough electricity to power a residential home.

Earth4Energy has developed an excellent course showing you step by step how this can be done on a very tight budget.  Have a look and see what you can do to help save the earth.

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