What are the Sources of Electricity?

 For a contemporary person in most parts of the world, electricity is a given. It is an essential commodity that contributes to our comfort. Our jobs, gadgets, and most of our daily activities directly depend on our ability to access electrical power.

But where does electricity come from? Surprisingly, many of us would feel lost for answers when confronted with this question. We are so used to the comforts of electricity that we no longer care about its origin and see it as an abstract concept. In the simplest of terms, what makes electricity are the electrodes moving within a conductor. Electricity travels in close circuits that we activate by flipping a switch. It reaches the end-user through power lines. In power line grids, electricity travels at extremely high voltages, which helps to minimize power losses. At around 14000 volts, it starts running in poles located in our communities. It is converted into a safe range between 100 and 250 volts inside a local transformer before reaching our houses. 

Common Sources Of Electrical Energy

  Sources of electricity greatly vary. Coal and other fossil fuels represent the primary electricity source globally. Other sources include nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power sources, such as solar, hydropower, wind, and hydrothermal energy. 

Depending on the origin of electricity, various production technologies are used. Most of the electricity in the world is generated with the help of steam turbines. This device converts high-pressure steam from a boiler into energy by rotating the blades and turning the generator on.

  Other technologies commonly used with renewable power sources include solar panels, wind, gas, and hydro turbines. Each source of electricity has a unique set of pros and cons. Want to know more about the sources of electricity? Let's dive in!

Fossil Fuels

As of 2020, about 63 percent of the world's electricity comes from fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and other sources, such as petroleum. Despite their large ecological footprint, fossil fuels remain a central source of electricity because of their production's well-developed infrastructure and a relatively low price. Fossil fuel plants are more reliable than other electricity-generating technologies and can serve the community for a very long time.

However, the demand for fossil fuels as the source of electricity has been steadily decreasing because of new energy sources and concerns related to climate change and air pollution. The critical disadvantage of fossil fuels is that they generate more carbon dioxide than alternative sources.

Out of all fossil fuels, natural gas is the most common electricity source (40%), followed by coal (23%). Both gas and coal in the form of a fine powder are burned in a boiler that activates the turbine. 

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power helps produce about 15 percent of electricity globally, but it is slightly more common in the United States at 20 percent. Just like fossil fuel plants, nuclear plants are very reliable and long-serving. Any incidents involving nuclear energy are sporadic, and their chances are brought down to zero with adequate management.

As a bonus, atomic energy is ecologically friendly as no greenhouse gases are emitted while producing electricity, and only a small amount of waste is generated in the process. 

The energy in nuclear plants is produced through nuclear fission, which is the process of splitting the atom. Neutrons collide with uranium atoms to create heat, which is later combined with water in a typical steam turbine. 

Alternative Energy Sources

Alternative or renewable energy sources are the next big thing in the world of energy. In the United States, they count for 17 percent of all electricity production. 

Wind helps to convert energy into electricity with the help of wind turbines. The wind turns the blades that spin the electrical generator. Though renewable and good for the planet, this is not a reliable energy source, as its success depends on weather conditions.

Solar energy comes in the shape of photovoltaic (PV) and solar-thermal power. PV power converts the sun's energy with photovoltaic cells' help, whereas solar-thermal power relies on a regular steam turbine. Just like wind energy, the energy from the sun is weather-dependent.

Biomass is an alternative energy source that uses trees, wood waste, or residential waste to generate energy inside of steam turbines. One significant disadvantage is that this electricity source requires a lot of energy that often surpasses energy produced.

Hydroelectric power, a less common type of alternative energy, generates electricity from water located in reservoirs behind dams. The electricity is generated by water flowing through turbines. Though a convenient energy source, the types of locations where it can be developed is limited.

Geothermal energy uses the heat deep inside the earth to generate electricity in steam turbines. Geothermal plants are usually located near big tectonic plates where the earth's energy can be accessed more easily.

What's Next For Electricity?

Due to overwhelming demand, the electricity sector is only expected to grow. The non-carbon-intensive sources will take a leap forward and have a more significant share than fossil fuels one day. For instance, the use of nuclear sources to produce electricity is expected to triple over the course of the next text years. The industry of renewable energy will seek ways to make their technology more reliable over time. It is safe to predict that new inventions are ahead of us, and they would not disappoint.