All of us take creature comforts as a given. We can turn on the light or heat with a flick of a switch. Have you ever wondered how all this energy gets to our homes?
Solar
Rooftops in the UK are often adorned with solar panels. It is hard to believe that the Sun’s light can reach the Earth in just 10 minutes, despite its 90 million mile distance. The electrons in these rays travel through the cells of our solar panels and create electricity. A single cell can generate several volts, and the entire panel produces a higher voltage and current. For more information on Solar Panels Worcester, go to gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels/worcester
Gas
Gas is primarily piped into our UK homes from the East and North Irish Sea. The rest is imported from different European countries. Gas particles are shrunk by 600 times to make them easier to transport. The gas is burned in power stations, producing heat energy that turns large turbines. The turbines drive a generator that converts mechanical energy to electric energy.
Nuclear
Uranium was created in supernovas many billions years ago and is now found in rocks and seawater. Heavy metal is responsible for 16% of world electricity. The atoms split and the metal is converted into fuel pellets. This produces steam that is so hot it can be used to power a turbine and create electricity.
Coal
The UK has a lot of coal seams, some of which are very deep. Coal is extracted from the depths of the earth and transported by truck or barge across the UK. The coal can be piped in a slurry to the desired location. In a power station, coal is used to power the turbines which produce electricity.