What is Electricity and how is it generated?

1. What is Electricityand how is it generated? • Electricity: The movement of electrons through a conductor. • Generator: A device that creates electrical current. • The most common methods of generating electricity include: • Burning coal • Burning natural gas • Burning petroleum • Nuclear fission • Hydroelectric

2. There are two types of energy resources in the world: renewable and non-renewable. Renewable energy: energy that comes from natural resources that are either continuously replenished (e.g., sun, wind) or are replenished over a reasonably short period of time Nonrenewable energy: energy resources that cannot be replenished in a short period of time, because it took millions of years to form these resources (e.g., petroleum, coal, natural gas). 

3. Coal Power in the USA Electricity generated from coal accounts for over 50% of electricity in the USA! American Coal Foundation, 2010

4. Coal Power in the USA PETROLEUM NATURALGAS American Coal Foundation, 2010 http://www.turn.org/ This process is very similar to those processes used for petroleum and natural gas conversion into electricity.

5. Coal Power in the USA • A pulverizer grinds the coal into a fine powder. • This coal powder mixes with hot air, which is then moved to a furnace. The mixture helps coal burn more efficiently. • The burning coal mixture heats water in a boiler, which creates steam. • The steam released from the boiler begins to spin, and ultimately power, a turbine engine. Use of a turbine allows for transformation of heat energy (from the burning coal mixture) into mechanical energy that spins a turbine engine • The spinning turbine powers a generator (a machine that turns mechanical energy into electrical energy). • A condenser cools the steam moving through the turbine. When steam is condensed, it turns back into liquid water. • The water returns to the boiler and the process repeats itself with fresh pulverized coal. American Coal Foundation, 2010

6. Hydroelectric Power in the USA Hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator.

7. Nuclear Power in the USA http://www.hss.energy.gov/nsrf/map_nuclear_sites.htm

8. What about alternative forms of electricity production? • Technology for alternative methods of generating electricity using renewable energy resources include: • Solar energy • Wind • Biomass • These technologies may still be in development and/or not as economically feasible making their usage less common currently.

9. Renewable Energy Technologiesin the USA