Gobar Times Magazine (Environment for Kids Monthly) - Centre for Science and Environment

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The
GOOD,BAD&UGLY

of electricity generation

SOURCE	STATUS	DRAWBACKS	ADVANTAGES
Solar power Generates power directly from sunlight Photovoltaic cells are the convertors Generators produce steam to drive turbines	Very few solar power plants Household solar trapping on the rise Extensive research still on	Photo cells in short supply Sunlight not always available Solar plants power charges high Dust and weather a hindrance	Limitless Democratic Decentralised
Wind power Wind turbines convert energy Technology like a windmill	High growth in Germany and America Potential capacity in India is 45,000MW, but installed is only 1500MW	Power quality is intermittant Requires high initial investment Heavily site dependent Expensive to maintain	Useful for remote areas Emission free Could account for 12 per cent of the world's demand by 2020
Biomass Is wood, garbage, agricultural waste It can replace fossil fel in the plant Converted to steam for turbines	Many plants operational in America Used directly for cooking in rural areas Accounts for 15 per cent of world energy use and 35 per cent of energy use in developing countries	Rural populations would rather use it directly themselves Enough research not done	Plants can work full-time Solution to waste disposal
Hydroelectric power Flowing water spins a turbine connected to a generator Built on dams and gushing rivers	World’s second largest source of electricity Meets a fifth of the world’s needs Potential to increase fourfold	Heavily dependent on rains Danger of floods in adjoining areas Initial investment high	Very efficient Low maintenance cost Emission free Renewable
Fossil fuels Coal, petroleum and natural gas burned in large furnaces to make steam	World’s largest source of electricity Coal generates 70 per cent of India’s power needs Uses a third of world natural gas production	Heavily polluting Causes land degradation Transportation costs very high Fossil fuels are finite	Coal is very cheap Supply is consistent and reliable
Nuclear power Heat from nuclear fission powers a steam turbine World’s third largest source of electricity	Accounts for 77 per cent of France’s electricity; 30 per cent in Germany and Japan; 24 per cent in UK and 21 per cent in US	Can be used for destruction Waste a major hazard Technology limited to few Powers	Theoretically can take care of all the world’s needs Breakthrough in cold fusion will lead to limitless cheap power


1844 Samuel Morse builds the first practical telegraph. His system of dots and dashes is called the Morse Code. This was one of the first applications of electricity to technology.	1878 Thomas Edison invents the light bulb after trying more than 1,600 different filaments, including hair from an assistant's head!	1882 The world's first hydroelectric power plant began operation on the Fox River in Wisconsin, America.	1882 America's first central power station in New York ushers in the modern age of electricity. The first home lighted by electricity is that of JP Morgan, a director of the new power company.	1884 Englishman Charles Parsons invents the turbine generator, which can produce huge amounts of electricity.

Electricity 2030 Electricity demand will grow faster than any other end-use energy source — by 2.4% per year to 2030 — effectively doubling over the period. It will contribute almost half the increase in global emissions during the period, principally from coal-fired generation. And new emissions will shift drastically from the industrialised to the developing world.

Oddballs

Hydrogen fuel: Hydrogen is seen as a cheap renewable low-emitting fuel. However, much more research is required before it can take care of the world’s energy needs.

Ocean power: Australia is experimenting with an "Ocean wave energy power plant", which converts the oceans’ waves into electricity.There is also the "Ocean wave energy convertor", which is off the coast.

Geothermal power: In some areas of the world, enough heat rises close to the surface of the earth to heat underground water into steam, which can be tapped for use at steam-turbine plants.


1886 Fed up with the servants breaking her dishes, Josephine Cochrane patents a steam-driven dishwashing machine. Hotels and restaurants order the machines and use electric motors.	1886 The first electric streetcar begins in America. The horsecar is put out of business.	1895 The Lumiere brothers presented their moving pictures to a paying public audience.	1890 William Kemmler becomes the first convict to be executed by judicial electrocution in New York. The execution takes about an hour because the authorities experiment with various voltages.	1897 India's first hydroelectric station is constructed in Darjeeling. Power remains in the hands of local authorities and private parties till India gets independence in 1947.

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