Consumers expect electricity to be available whenever they plug in an appliance or turn on a switch. To meet these requirements, utilities and non-utility electricity power producers operate electric generating units, powered by a wide range of fuel sources including fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and petroleum), uranium and renewable fuels.

 

Types of Generating Units

Steam-electric generating units burn fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum. The steam turns a turbine that produces electricity through an electrical generator. Natural gas and petroleum are also burned in gas turbine generators where the hot gases produced from combustion are used to turn the turbine, which spins the generator to produce electricity. Additionally, petroleum is burned in generating units with internal-combustion engines. The combustion occurs inside cylinders of the engine, which is connected to the shaft of the generator. The mechanical energy provided from the engine drives the generator to produce energy.

Nuclear-powered generating units have a reactor in which the fission of uranium is used to make steam to drive the turbine.

Hydroelectric power units use flowing water to spin a turbine connected to a generator. In a falling water system, water is accumulated in reservoirs created by dams, then released through conduits to apply pressure against the turbine blades to drive the generator. In a run-of-the-river system, the force of the river current applies the pressure to the turbine blades to produce electricity.

Non-water renewable sources of electricity generation contribute only small amounts to total power production. These sources include geothermal, refuse, waste heat, waste steam, solar, wind and wood.

Transmission

The electricity produced by a generator travels along cables to a transformer, which changes electricity from low voltage to high voltage. Electricity can be moved long distances more efficiently using high voltage. Transmission lines are used to carry the electricity to a substation. Substations have transformers that change the high-voltage electricity into lower-voltage electricity. From the substation, distribution lines carry the electricity to homes, offices and factories, which require low-voltage electricity.

Source: www.eia.doe.gov