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.
Energy sources[change | change source]
Renewable energy resources[change | change source]
- Renewable heat energy
- Renewable flow energy
Non-renewable energy resources[change | change source]
These all use heat as a source of energy.
Solid-state electricity sources[change | change source]
These sources have no moving parts. They are more expensive than generators, and are used where other questions are more important.
Other websites[change | change source]
Media related to Power plants at Wikimedia Commons