Power station facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
(Redirected from Power plant)
Hydropower station in Bavaria
Taichung Thermal Power Plant
Power station in Taiwan

A power station (or power plant) is a place where electricity is produced. Most do this by electromagnetism, spinning a coil of wire past a magnet to induce an electric current. Usually the spinning is powered by a steam engine, specifically a steam turbine. The steam may be created by:

Some do not use steam engines to spin the generator. Rather they use:

A few power stations use the sun's rays to generate solar power without motion. There are many power stations around the world, because many things need electricity to work.

Stations may be operated as Load following power plant, peaking power plant, or base load power plant

Energy sources

Renewable energy resources

Renewable heat energy
Renewable flow energy

Non-renewable energy resources

These all use heat as a source of energy.

Solid-state electricity sources

These sources have no moving parts. They are more expensive than generators, and are used where other questions are more important.

Images for kids

Power station Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.