Where does our electricity come from?

1. Power To The People
How Power Plants Make Electricity

2. When a coil of wire is wrapped around a metal post and it spins
next to magnets, it creates a flow of electrons called an electric
current. This turbine generator is at the heart of any electric
power plant. The turbine can spin by using the momentum of
moving water, wind, steam or other mass.

3. Electric motors are built like turbine generators, but
instead of being pushed to spin, they use electricity to
spin and do work.

4. Wind Turbines
• Spin a turbine generator to make electricity.
(Image Credit: njcleanenergy.com)

5. Hydro Power Plants
• Use moving water to spin the turbine.
(Image Credit: esd.ornl.gov)

6. Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Wood, and nuclear power
plants all heat water, and pressurized steam spins
the turbine. (Image :eas.asu)

7. Nuclear Plants use “hot” radioactive isotopes, which
give off enough heat to turn water to steam to spin a
turbine generator. (Image: NRC.gov)

8. Solar Concentrators
Solar concentrators focus sunlight to heat water
to produce steam, to spin a turbine generator.
Image Credit: solarpanelsdot.com

9. What are the advantages of each of
the following
electrical energy Sources?
Advantages Disadvantages
Wind
Hydro
Fossil
Wood
Biomass
Nuclear
Solar

10. What are the advantages of each of
the following
electrical energy Sources?
Advantages Disadvantages
Wind : no pollution Aesthetics(?), Intermittent
Hydro : no pollution, consistent Flooding habitat
Fossil : existing CO2, H2O produced, nonrenewable
Wood : renewable, use waste CO2, H2O produced
Biomass: renewable, use waste CO2, H2O produced
Nuclear : no air pollution water pollution, radioactive waste
for 500,000 years, terror target
Solar : no pollution, renewable dependent on clear weather

11. The End