Electricity Generation and Transmission

Hydroelectric Generation

Hydroelectric generation is a main way to produce energy in British Columbia. The process is interesting and very energy efficient. This is probably the best way to make electricity, as it is natural and doesn’t pollute the planet.

The process:

Rain and reservoirs: Snow and rain are combined together and give us a lot of water which is stored behind the dam wall. This water is naturally refilled.

Generation: The water is stored behind the dam wall and the gates open and close allowing water to flow through penstocks which funnel the water through the turbines. These turbines are then forced to spin and then enables the generators to produce clean electricity as we need it with no unnecessary waste.

Transmission:

Transporting the electricity: The voltage is increased to 500,000 volts so energy isn’t wasted as it travels across the grid. This grid acts as an efficient way to transport electricity, they can transport energy over mountains and valleys to get it to all communities in British Columbia.

Distribution:  To voltage is then reduced at the substations for businesses and our homes, then distributed across the power lines.

Meters: These meters measure the amount of electricity used in your home. The electricity runs through the meter and then your electricity bill is made.

PROS	CONS
·         Renewable resources·         no pollution- eco friendly ·         not dangerous ·         inexpensive to operate ·         produces lots of electricity ·         tourist attraction	·         expensive to build and cost of                             employees·         risks to local ecology ·         small risk of flooding ·         requires large quantities of water (so its           not practical to have one somewhere               where people don’t have access to a lot             of water

 

Thermal Generation  

Here are two videos to help understand Thermal Generation and Transmission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km1M4Hbt-io

Thermal Generation; How it works

 

How it works is, oils, fossil fuels, or coal is burned and this action produces steam which make a turbine spin. This turbine produces kinetic energy and the electricity generator, generates electricity, (as it’s name specifies.)

Thermal Generation; How it’s transported

Once the electricity is transported, the transmission and distribution is the same as hydroelectricity. So the voltage is increased so the power lines don’t melt, this lets the electricity travel long distances. After the voltage is increased it travels to sub stations where the voltage is decreased and brought to your house through power lines, (Or transmission lines.) Then once at your house, three wires are brought to the electric meter which leads to the main circuit breakers, then the circuit breaker box which leads the electricity all over your house. Below the circuit breaker box is the ground connection to bring the extra electrons back to the ground instead of to your hand when you plug something in.

PROS	CONS
·         resources are easy to find·         less expensive then hydroelectricity ·         not limited in location ·         produces lots of energy	·         non renewable resources (once they’re             gone they’re gone.)·         air pollution- not eco friendly ·         danger pollution is high ·         less efficient than hydroelectricity

 

My thoughts!

I personally think that hydroelectric generation is better. It is more eco friendly using natural resources and having no waste product which means no air pollution. It creates more electricity anyway than thermal energy and makes the earth happier!!

It is inexpensive to operate because of the natural resources, and once built easy to operate.