One of the greatest challenges facing humanity at the moment is how we can supply ourselves with energy safely in the face of a growing world population, finite fossil energy sources and climate change. In our series of articles, we will give you an overview of the different ways to generate electricity, because without electricity, society and the economy come to a standstill.
Current situation
The availability of energy in the form of electricity, heat and fuels, among other things, is crucial for prosperity and progress today. Is a dignified existence possible without electricity? More than 7.9 billion people live on earth and the world population is growing by about 66 million every year. Conventional fossil energy sources are finite and their use for energy production places a high burden on the environment. How is the demand for energy to be met today and in the future, taking environmental aspects into account? The current geopolitical situation has revealed the fragility of our energy supply system and the dependence of many states on commodity-producing countries.
Basic principle and two types of electricity generation
Since we are talking about electricity generation in this series of articles, we would like to emphasise at this point that physically electricity is not actually generated, but an existing form of energy is converted into another, namely electricity. The basic principle of electricity generation is the use of a form of energy to drive a turbine. This in turn sets a generator in motion, which ensures that the mechanical movement is converted into electrical energy. Basically, a distinction is made between fossil and renewable power generation. Click on the corresponding link for information on the respective electricity generation process.
Fossil power generation includes:
Renewable energy sources include:
