Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) Energy Resources Unit Lesson 3 Electricity Generation Created by Heather Luoto Copyright 2005 Central Michigan University

Generating Electricity  Electric current is the orderly flow of electrons from one atom to another.  Electricity is a natural phenomenon (lightning, static electricity) and can be generated on a large scale from many different energy resources.  Electricity is most often generated by a rotating turbine connected to a shaft and rotor inside an electric generator.  The electric generator is basically a coil of wires and a magnet.  The turbine-generator can be small like those in small windmills or large like those found in large power plants.

Non-renewable energy resources (coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium) and some forms of biomass have to be processed and transported to power plants before they can be used to generate electricity. Renewable resources (wind, solar, hydro, and some biomass) do not have to be processed and transported.

Using Natural Gas to Generate Electricity  Gas is burned to heat water to generate steam. The concentrated steam spins a turbine connected to an electric generator.  Or gas is burned and the vapors resulting from the burning turn the turbine directly. Natural Gas Pumping Station Naubinway, Michigan Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Using Oil to Generate Electricity  Oil is burned and the heat produced boils water, converting it to steam.  The steam under high pressure turns a turbine connected to an electric generator. Oil Tanks Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Using Coal to Generate Electricity  Coal is burned and the heat produced boils water, converting it to steam.  The steam under high pressure turns a turbine connected to an electric generator. Photo Credits: Heather Luoto

Using Uranium (Nuclear) to Generate Electricity  Uranium atoms are split and the nuclear energy that is released is used to turn water into steam.  The concentrated steam turns a turbine connected to an electric generator. Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant Newport, Michigan Photo Source: DTE Energy

Using Wind to Generate Electricity  Wind turns a turbine directly (without the need for converting the energy resource into steam).  The turbine is connected to a rotor and shaft that turns either a coil of wire or a magnet inside an electric generator. Wind Turbine Mackinaw City, Michigan Photo Source: Village of Mackinaw City

Using Hydroelectric to Generate Electricity  Moving water turns a turbine or series of turbines directly (without the need for converting the energy resource into steam).  Each turbine is connected to a rotor and shaft that turns either a coil of wire or a magnet inside an electric generator. Horizontal Shaft Hydroelectric Dam Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Photo Source: Edison Sault Electric Company Vertical Hydroelectric Dam Victoria, Michigan Photo Source: Upper Peninsula Power Company, a subsidiary of WPS Resources Corporation

Using Biomass to Generate Electricity  Biomass or (biofuel) is burned and the heat produced boils water, converting it to steam.  The steam under high pressure turns a turbine connected to an electric generator. Some Forms of Biomass (corn, manure, wood) Photo Credits: Heather Luoto

Photovoltaic (PV)  Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. Photovoltaic Facility Ann Arbor, Michigan Photo Source: DTE Energy

Underwater view of a turbine Photo Credit: Heather Luoto Direction Water Flows

Close up view of a turbine from a horizontal hydroelectric plant. (This would be underwater.) Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Inside a turbine Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

A closer look at the inside of a turbine. The moving water spins the turbine’s blades. Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Generator  Electricity is most often generated by a rotating turbine connected to a shaft and rotor inside an electric generator.  The electric generator is basically a coil of wire and a magnet.  In some electric generators the coil of wire moves and in others a magnet moves.  The interaction between the magnet and coil of wire generates electricity. Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Series of 74 Generators Inside a Michigan horizontal hydroelectric dam. Each generator is connected to a turbine and each turbine has a separate penstock (trough or opening) that water flows through. Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Electricity generated at power plants travels on wires to the electric grid for transmission and distribution to users. To learn about the transmission and distribution of electricity check out How does electricity get to our homes? PowerPoint on the CMEEI Energy Resources Unit CD.