How Make Electricity

Solar energy comes from the sun. There are two types of solar energy, heat and light, and therefore two ways of collecting solar energy.

The first way is to ‘collect' or absorb heat from the sun to heat fluid, usually water. Thermal collectors are used for this process, and can be commonly found on the roofs of homes as part of solar hot water systems. The heated water can then either be used as hot water, or turned into steam to run an electricity producing generator like those used in steam power plants. The second way is to use sunlight to make electricity. Solar collectors used for this process are called Photovoltaic (PV) cells (Photo = light and voltaic = electricity). When the sun hits the PV cell, the little particles of light excite the electrons in the cell, and cause them to flow, generating electricity. In New South Wales, the most common forms of electricity generation are steam (fuelled by coal) and hydro-electric, although there are also gas turbine plants, wind farms and solar farms throughout the state. Power stations are located close to the natural resources used to power their generators, such as where the coal is mined or water is dammed. They are rarely located where the majority of power is used, and the electricity must therefore be carried over enormous distances via the electricity transmission network (which covers a distance of approximately 18,000 kilometres in NSW alone!). As electricity cannot be stored, it must be used as soon as it is generated. As the demand for electricity changes with the seasons and during different times of the day, its generation must vary accordingly. It is far quicker and more economical to vary the amount of electricity generated by a hydro station than a coal-fired station, so the hydro system is frequently used to supplement the output at times of peak demand.

Want to reduce your power bill by 80% or more?

Learn how to make your own electricity.

My website, Want to reduce your power bill by 80% or more?

My website, http://howmakeelectricity.blinkweb.com/ explores how to make your own energy and end those power bills forever.