2.12 producing electrical energy
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2.12 Producing electrical energy – renewable sources
10 April 2023
Key terms
• Transformer – a device that changes the voltage of an alternating current without changing its frequency
Hydroelectric power
• Hydroelectric power stations are one example of the use of renewable energy sources
• Water is stored behind a dam, often high up in the mountains
• The height of the reservoir provides a source of potential energy
• When the water is released and flows downhill, the PE is converted to kinetic energy and the energy turns the turbines
• No burning of fuels so no pollution with nearly 90% efficiency
List the energy transformations that take place in a hydroelectric dam
Wind Power
• Wind turbines use the KE of the wind to turn the turbines to produce electricity
• No pollution is produced but people worry that the wind turbines spoil the view of the countryside and the noise produced
• Although wind is free, the turbines are expensive• No wind, no electricity• When they do operate the efficiency can be
around 35-60%
Solar power
• Solar power can be harnessed using solar cells called photovoltaic cells. When the sun shines on these cells they emit electrons which form a current
• The solar panels are expensive, but the energy source is free and no pollution is produced.
• However, the amount of electricity generated depends on how bright the sunshine is
• As with wind power, the efficiency of energy conversion varies, between 12-25 %
Compare the efficiencies of three renewable methods used to generate electricity and list
their advantages and disadvantages
Getting electricity to our homes and factories
• The UK has a network grid of pylon towers linked by copper cables that transfer electrical energy to our homes
• The voltage produced at the power station is about 25 000 V
• Engineers than increase the voltage to 400 000 V using a step-up transformer
• This reduces the energy losses during transfer, the higher the voltage the lower the current
• A step-down transformer then reduces this to 230 V for your houses (or 11 000 V for some factories)
Assessment activity
• Explain why the voltage used in the home is different from that used to transmit electricity over the national grid
• Which equipment is used to increase and decrease the voltage as electricity is transferred from the power station to our homes and factories
• Which type of renewable energy power station would you recommend to be built near your community.
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