Our society revolves around the production of energy and electricity and therefore its production is very important to us. Today, it is made by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, nuclear fission, and with water and wind and solar energy mainly.

With most types of electricity generation, energy is used to turn magnets in turbines which induce electric current in wiring. Here are several ways that we make electricity:

Burning of fossil fuels. Large amounts of moving vapor is produced when water is boiled. By burning fossil fuels, then heating water in large furnaces this can be done. Fossil fuels include coal, petrol and natural gas. These fuels release large amounts of pollutants into the air including greenhouse gases. They are also non-renewable, so we should look to alternative, clean sources of energy for future energy production.

Falling water. Hydroelectric plants can be created at waterfall sites to funnel the falling water down into turbines in order to turn them. Hydroelectric dams can generate a lot of electricity and can also be used to restrict bodies of water. They may, on the other hand, damage local ecosystems.

Over 90 % of the world’s renewable energy is produced by hydroelectric dams.

Wind power. Wind turbines can use propeller-like blades to directly turn a motor which will generate electricity. These wind generators may have to be high up in the air to gather enough wind in some places, but they are very environmentally sound.

Nuclear fission. There is a lot of energy in matter, and some unstable elements, like uranium or plutonium isotopes, can be used to generate a nuclear reaction which is then used to heat water, create vapor and turn turbines.

Solar power. Using the energy of the sun does not require that a turbine be turned. Light energy is converted to electrical energy when a high energy photon transfers its energy to an electron.