Power station

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.

Stations may be operated as Load following power plant, peaking power plant, or base load power plant.

Energy sources

Renewable energy resources

Renewable heat energy

Renewable flow energy

Non-renewable energy resources

These all use heat as a source of energy.

Solid-state electricity sources

These sources have no moving parts. They are more expensive than generators, and are used where other questions are more important.

Other websites

Media related to Power plants at Wikimedia Commons