2. INDEX
1 - Conventional electric power plants
1.1 - Nuclear power plant
1.2 - Fossil fuel thermal power plant
1.3 - Hydroelectric power plant
2 - Non-conventional electric power plant
2.1 - Wind power plants & wind farms
2.2 - Solar power plants
2.3 - Geothermal power plants
2.4 - Biomass thermal power plants
2.5 - Ocean power plants
3 – Environmental impact
3. 1 - CONVENTIONAL ELECTRIC
POWER PLANTS
1.1 – NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Nuclear energy is produced by nuclear fission.
When radioactive minerals (uranium) break
down, large amounts of heat are produced.
This heat is then used to generate high
pressure steam, which moves turbines and
generates electricity. Nuclear energy is very
important in the US and France. However,
Spain has closed several nuclear power
plants.
5. 1 – CONVENTIONAL ELECTRIC
POWER PLANTS
1.2 – FOSSIL FUEL THERMAL POWER
PLANT
Burning fuels produces heat which then
converts water into high pressure steam. The
steam turns turbines which are connected to
electric generators. The generatos produces
electricity. Thermal power stations usually
burn coal, but others use fuel oil, wood,
urban waste or natural gases, which causes
the least pollution.
7. 1 – CONVENTIONAL ELECTRIC
POWER PLANTS
1.3 - HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
Hydroelectric energy uses the force of the
water to produce electricity. First,
reservoirs collect rainwater. When the water
flows through the turbine, they produce
electricity.
Hydroelectric energy is the most widely-used
renewable energy. Canada, the US, Brazil and
China are the major producers.
9. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.1 – WIND POWER PLANTS AND WIND
FARMS
These power plants use the kinetic energy of
the wind to move the blades of a rotor at the
top of a tower; this is referred to as the
wind turbine.
Wind farms are a clean form of generating
electricity. But they can only be installed in
places with appropriate wind conditions.
11. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.2 – SOLAR POWER PLANTS
2.2.1 – PHOTO-THERMAL ENERGY
The heat generated by solar radiation
produces steam that is used to move the
rotor in the generator. To do this, they use
special mirrors, called heliostats, that
reflect sunlight and and concentrate it at
one point.
13. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.2 – SOLAR POWER PLANTS
2.2.2 – PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY
Solar radiation is transformed directly into
electricity by panels of photovoltaic cells.
These power plants consist of large areas of
photovoltaic panels.
There are also isolated power plants that are
very small in size which are used to supply
electricity to homes in rural areas.
15. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.3 - GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
These plants use the heat found at deep levels
in the earth. This heat may reach the
surface in the form of steam, gases or hot
water.
Geothermal energy may be used directly (from
hot water and heating) and indirectly (the
heat generates steam, which produces
electricity)
17. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.4 - BIOMASS THERMAL POWER PLANTS
Biomass consists of all organic compounds that
are produced through natural processes, for
example, forestry and agricultural waste.
Biomass is subjected to different physical and
chemical processes in order to produce fuel
such as charcoal, alcohol or biogas.
This type of fuel is burnt at biomass power plants.
The steam that is generated moves the turbine.
19. 2 – NON-CONVENTIONAL
ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
2.5 – OCEAN POWER PLANTS
These power plants use the energy from the
seas and oceans. The concept is to use three
types of energy from the sea:
●
The mechanical energy from tides and waves.
●
The energy from the ocean's thermal
gradient.
●
These power plants are still in the
experimental phase and their level of
21. 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Extraction of natural resources: The
exploitation of fossil fuels and
nuclear power means the depletion of
resources, which makes it necessary
to find new ones.
Fuel transport: Oil pipelines can suffer
accidents caused by nature or human
error, which result in uncontrolled
spills.
22. 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
●
Electricity generation:
●
- Large hydroelectric power plants require water
reservoirs covering large areas, which profoundly
change the natural cycle of the rivers.
●
- Conventional thermal power plants can cause
numerous problems and environmental hazards.*
●
- Nuclear thermal power plants are accompanied by
the risk of nuclear accidents and the problem of
nuclear waste.
23. *CONVENTIONAL THERMAL
POWER PLANTS
●
●
Air pollution – suspended particles, CO, heavy
metal molecules and so on.
●
They emit large amounts of CO2, which
increases the greenhouse effect.
●
They emit sulfure dioxide and nitrogen oxide
that causes acid rain.
24. 4 – WIND TURBINES & FRESH
WATER PRODUCTION
Wind turbines have long produced renewable
energy but a French engineering firm has
discovered another eco-purpose for the wind
turbines. Eole Water has modified the
traditional wind turbine design to create an
appliance that can manufacture drinking
water from humid air.
We think this is a great advantage for
producing water easily in places where it is
difficult to get it.
