We apologise for any problems you may be experiencing with our videos, for more information see the video information page.
Print

Science

Generating electricity

Page:

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. Next

Electricity is a very convenient form of energy that can be generated using different energy resources. Some of these resources are renewable and some are non-renewable. Each resource has advantages and disadvantages.

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels for power stations

Chemical energy stored in coal. This energy is transferred as heat and this energy is stored in water as steam. The energy in steam is transferred to movement in a turbine and to electrical energy in the turbine.

Energy transfer for the generation of electricity from a fossil fuel

The fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gas. They are fuels because they release heat energy when they are burned. They are fossil fuels because they were formed from the remains of living organisms millions of years ago.

About three-quarters of the electricity generated in the UK comes from power stations fuelled by fossil fuels. To the right is an energy transfer diagram for the generation of electricity from a fossil fuel such as coal.

Disadvantages of using fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy resources. Their supply is limited and they will eventually run out. Fossil fuels do not renew themselves, while fuels such as wood can be renewed endlessly.

Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when they burn, which adds to the greenhouse effect and increases global warming. Of the three fossil fuels, for a given amount of energy released, coal produces the most carbon dioxide and natural gas produces the least.

Coal and oil release sulfur dioxide gas when they burn, which causes breathing problems for living creatures and contributes to acid rain.

Check Fuels from crude oil to make sure you understand these points.

Page:

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. Next

Back to Energy and electricity index

Chat

girl thinking

Science Message Board

Post ideas and discuss Science here.

Activity

lightbulb

Generating Electricity

Fed up of reading? Try this activity!

Links

Science and Nature

BBC Science and Nature

The natural world and beyond!

On the web

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.