What is Power generation: Definition and 63 Discussions

Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its delivery (transmission, distribution, etc.) to end users or its storage (using, for example, the pumped-storage method).
Electricity is not freely available in nature, so it must be "produced" (that is, transforming other forms of energy to electricity). Production is carried out in power stations (also called "power plants"). Electricity is most often generated at a power plant by electromechanical generators, primarily driven by heat engines fueled by combustion or nuclear fission but also by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind. Other energy sources include solar photovoltaics and geothermal power.

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  1. I

    Solar concentrated power generation (~5kW)

    I want to look into the feasibility of manufacturing "dirt cheap" solar powered electricity generators for small businesses and households in sunny third world countries. MARKET IDEA Small electric generators of any kind are obviously uneconomic compared to a central grid. But vast rural...
  2. M

    Mathematica Power generation in Mathematical city

    Mayor of a mathematical city promised that electrical energy will be free for their future citizen, because they will consume no energy for electrical power generation! He said;” in our power plant, the generators start working with a little prime mover and produce a lot of electrical energy.”...
  3. J

    Idea for clean Power Generation

    This came to me last night in a dream. I was wondering if anyone here can validate whether or not this idea is realistic or just nothing more than a dream? It may not be new but I haven't seen it anywhere else. I put together a simple drawing to explain it. See the link below. If anyone else has...
  4. mheslep

    Pros and Cons of Fusion Power Generation

    Can anyone please suggest a comparative pro/con review of the various fusion approaches for power generation? In those approaches I'd include: tokamaks, stellarators, spheromaks, pinches (Z, focus, etc) -ICF laser, ion beam -Other inertial electrostatic Beam-beam FRC ? Obviously the available...
  5. T

    How Does Rotor Diameter Affect Wind Power Output?

    Ok, doing a project at the moment and this is one of the issues I have to overcome; The information I have researched is as follows: If this is the case then a 88m diameter rotor should generate 2400kW? But the below diagram from the same page shows a 80m diameter rotor generates 2500kW...
  6. Astronuc

    News New Nuclear Power Generation in the US

    New Nuclear Power Generation in the US Announced! I posted about this in the Nuclear Engineering Forum, but this may signal the "Nuclear Rennaisance" in the US, so I'm repeating here for discussions on energy policy rather than technology...
  7. S

    Question of Sound Fusion Power Generation

    1.with the hot and cold fusion under experiment level now, would power from sound fusion provides equal or more power and economic value if it has been successfully researched? 2. what is the difficulty faced in building a commercial sound fusion generator? 3. Future of sound fusion...
  8. F

    Power generation and distribution

    i'm a lil confused bout whether we need the voltage and current to be out of phase or its something we just can't avoid..?
  9. C

    Feasibility of ocean wave electrical power generation

    Rather than clutter the FEG thread, here's different idea along the same lines of renewable electrical power generation. Featured on "Discoveries This Week" on Discovery channel, the reps from this firm claim they can generate the power needs of CA from a 100 sq mile installation offshore, and...
  10. S

    Wind Power Generation: Calculating Output from 30mm Turbine

    I am looking to design a few ‘wind powered’ gadgets, on a very small scale. I am struggling to calculate the power generated from a turbine of about 30mm diameter. I understand that the number of coils surround the armature has an obvious effect on the generation, but was wondering if there was...
  11. P

    Power generation via thermal differences

    As part of a science project, my professor is having us come up with an original way of producing electricity, with an emphasis on new frontiers and space travel. Here's what I came up with. It occurred to me there must be a way to exploit the temperature difference between the base of a...
  12. R

    Home Power Generation - Can You "Sell" Energy Back to the Grid?

    Hi, I am from the uk and very interested in home power generation. I am aware that there is a system that you can install in the home which will 'sell' excess power back to the grid if for example you are running a wind turbine which produces more electricity than your home requires...
  13. R

    Power generation and storage

    Hi, I am unsure which forum is most appropriate for this query but i'll start here. I am interested in building a device which works on the principle of using a stationary bike to drive an electrical generator to produce electricity, and, if practical, store it efficiently. Ultimately the...
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