Power Plants
Modern day power plants convert energy from many different sources including fossil fuels, nuclear fission, and geothermal energy gradients. Have you every wondered how these fuels are converted into electricity that we use at home? The chemical energy from these fuels produce energy, which is used to heat water to produce steam. The pressure created by this steam is then used to crank a turbine that spins a generator that produces electricity. Thus, our power plants are really just very elaborate steam engines! Below are some links to YouTube videos that explain the processes involved in converting nuclear, coal, and geothermal energy into electricity.
Fossil Fuel Power Plants:
Burning coal to produce electricity has been done for many decades and is still very popular today. This is how it's done.[19]
Nuclear Power Plants:
Using nuclear fission to produce electricity can not only be safe, but also very efficient. However, there are many downsides including toxic, radioactive waste. This video demonstrates how it's done.[20]
Geothermal Power Plants:
Geothermal power plants are a relatively young design and are extremely eco friendly. There is no waste and it is absolutely sustainable but the efficiency and amount of electricity they are able to generate offset these benefits slightly. This video shows exactly how they do it.[21]