News tagged with power generation

Japan inches towards restarting nuclear reactors

Japan on Wednesday inched closer to re-starting idle nuclear reactors, just weeks after the last one was switched off amid public disquiet following the disaster at Fukushima.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created May 30, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (7) | comments 30

Researchers generate electricity from viruses

Imagine charging your phone as you walk, thanks to a paper-thin generator embedded in the sole of your shoe. This futuristic scenario is now a little closer to reality. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence ...

Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine

created May 13, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Folding light: Wrinkles and twists boost power from solar panels

Taking their cue from the humble leaf, researchers have used microscopic folds on the surface of photovoltaic material to significantly increase the power output of flexible, low-cost solar cells.

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Apr 27, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (15) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

Virtual power plants for renewable energies

Siemens recently put two virtual power plants into operation. Virtual power plants are networks of several small power stations that are run like a single system. One of the new virtual power plants enables ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Apr 27, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

Powerful magnets help scientists create new materials for use in low-carbon energy

(PhysOrg.com) -- West Midlands scientists have created and studied new materials set to make low-carbon energy technologies like fuel cells cheaper and more efficient to run.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Apr 06, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 2

Scientists develop ultra-thin solar cells

Austrian and Japanese researchers on Wednesday unveiled solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk that are flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Apr 04, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (13) | comments 5

Advanced power-grid research finds low-cost, low-carbon future in West

The least expensive way for the Western U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Apr 03, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (14) | comments 73 | with audio podcast

Work on Africa's biggest wind farm in Kenya to begin

The construction of what is to become Africa's biggest wind farm will start by June in an arid region of northern Kenya, the project's officials said on Saturday.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Mar 24, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (10) | comments 15

Rational design can improve hydrogen fuel cell efficiency

(PhysOrg.com) -- Hydrogen fuel cells, in which the chemical energy of hydrogen is converted into electricity, offer the potential for a wide variety of applications, especially in transportation and power ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Feb 29, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (12) | comments 0 | with audio podcast feature

Experimental smart outlet brings flexibility, resiliency to grid architecture

(PhysOrg.com) -- Sandia National Laboratories has developed an experimental "smart outlet" that autonomously measures, monitors and controls electrical loads with no connection to a centralized computer or ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

ORNL tool puts spotlight on nation's electricity generation capacity

A technology developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could streamline and strengthen the process for siting power plants while potentially enhancing the nation's energy security.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Reduction in US carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas

In 2009, when the United States fell into economic recession, greenhouse gas emissions also fell, by 6.59 percent relative to 2008.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (6) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Researchers to develop new energy storage device based on water

The global energy demand is still increasing. However, today's concepts for power generation aren't able to deliver the amount of electricity, which is needed in the future. Dr. Fabio La Mantia, junior group leader of the ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Energy-recycling computer technology from UM goes global through AMD

An energy-recycling computer circuit born at the University of Michigan will enable a new generation of power efficient laptop PCs and servers.

Electronics / Hardware

created Feb 22, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Smart grids could outsmart criminals

Your smart phone uses broadband to connect you to the world. But when charging it, you're relying on an electrical system that was designed and built in the era of the rotary phone.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Feb 19, 2012 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (4) | comments 2

Electricity generation

Electricity generation is the process of creating electricity from other forms of energy.

The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820's and early 1830's by the British scientist Michael Faraday. His basic method is still used today: electricity is generated by the movement of a loop of wire, or disc of copper between the poles of a magnet.

For electric utilities, it is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. The other processes, electric power transmission, electricity distribution, and electrical power storage and recovery using pumped storage methods are normally carried out by the electrical power industry.

Electricity is most often generated at a power station by electromechanical generators, primarily driven by heat engines fueled by chemical combustion or nuclear fission but also by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind. There are many other technologies that can be and are used to generate electricity such as solar photovoltaics and geothermal power.

For more information about Electricity generation, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Related topics: energy , power