eTools Home : Electric Power Overview | Scope | SH Topics Page | Credits
Electric Power eTool

Illustrated Glossary: Power Generation Plants

Power Generation Plants TOP
A power generation plant is a facility designed to produce electric energy from another form of energy, such as:
Figure 1. Power Generation Plant to transmission line
Figure 1. Power Generation Plant to transmission line
  • Heat (thermal) energy generated from:
    • fossil fuels;
      • coal
      • petroleum
      • natural gas
    • solar thermal energy
    • geothermal energy
    • nuclear energy
  • Potential energy from falling water in a hydroelectric facility
  • Wind energy
  • Solar electric from solar (photovoltaic) cells
  • Chemical energy from:
    • fuel cells
    • batteries
There are many different types of electric power generating plants. The major types generating electric power today are shown below.
Figure 2. Fossil fuel power plant
Figure 2. Fossil fuel power plant		 Figure 3. Hydroelectric power plant
Figure 3. Hydroelectric power plant
 
Figure 4. Solar thermal power plant
Figure 4. Solar thermal power plant 		Figure 5. Nuclear power plant
Figure 5. Nuclear power plant
 
Figure 6. Geothermal power plant
Figure 6. Geothermal power plant		 Figure 7. Wind power towers
Figure 7. Wind power towers

Additional information:
  • The Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook, Shoemaker, T. M., Mack, J. E., Tenth Edition 2002, McGraw-Hill.
eTools Home : Electric Power Overview | Scope | SH Topics Page | Credits