Electricity: Sources, Delivery, Merits, and Demerits

This report provides an overview of electricity, including its sources, delivery, merits, and demerits. It covers topics such as wind power, solar power, coal energy, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, and geothermal power.

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Introduction
When looking around us man is making life simple daily. Be it for domestic or industrial use
what can make the phrase “making work easy” apply to our daily functions in this age. Oh
yes in this current generation, electricity is the engine for every economy in the world.
Electricity is important be it a simple bulb in our houses or even the mighty machines in
factories. Even though majority lot of the people use electricity but they are in total darkness
on what it is, where it comes from, and even its distribution. So, this report will attempt to
look at electricity in general, what steps are involved for it to reach our houses, merits of
electricity, and the environmental issues surrounding it.
What is electricity?
Electricity involves the availability and flow of electric charges mainly positive (+) or
negative (-) using charge carriers namely protons, electrons, and electrons. Electric power is
the rate of transfer of energy and is usually measured as:
Power = volts x amperes = joules/second = watts
Sources of Electricity
These include the process where various forms of energy are converted to electricity. In
general in order for electricity to reach the final consumer and light a bulb, charge phones or
even run a machine it must come from someplace as described below:
 Wind power
This involves using air flow to run wind turbines in order to provide mechanical power that in
turn runs electric generators (Hughes, 2010). It is a renewable energy source and emits no
greenhouse gases and wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion.

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Photo above shows sources of electricity in USA in 2014
 Solar power
This is the conversion of sunlight energy into electricity and may involve photovoltaic or
concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic uses solar panels converting sunlight into electricity
directly while concentrated solar power uses thermal energy from the solar panels in order to
make steam that finally is runs turbines to make electricity.
In 2017 alone, solar power provided 1.7% of the total worldwide electricity produced and
currently growing at a rate of 35% per year.
 Coal energy
This is a combustible rock primarily made up of carbon and it forms when dead plant matter
undergo biological and geological processes hence making it a fossil fuel. In electricity
generation coal is pulverized and burned in a furnace to heat water leading in steam
production. The steam runs turbines that turn generators and finally lead to electricity as the
final product.

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 Nuclear power
This is the production of electricity in a nuclear power plant using nuclear decay, nuclear
fusion and nuclear fission (Nasser, 2008). Nuclear reactions are used to produce heat that is
in turn used to turn steam turbines and finally generate electricity.
 Hydroelectric power
This is power extraction from water using the head and penstock. Water comes from the dam
through the penstock and that finally runs the turbines and generator.
 Geothermal power
It mainly involves the use of water and heat that comes from dry steam wells and hot water
wells that is usually drilled into the earth and piped to the surface in form of hot water or
steam that runs a turbine hence produce electricity
Delivery of electricity
For electricity to reach the consumer the following steps are involved:
 Electric generation
This involves the usage of primary energy in electric power generation and is mostly done in
power stations. Such power plants include nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants,
thermal power plants and even renewable energy sources.
Most plants use coal, oil, or even natural gas in electric production. The fuel is then burned in
a combustor to emit heat energy that heat water in the boiler to produce steam. The steam
flows around a steam turbine converting steam energy into kinetic energy that is finally
transformed by the generator into electricity (Walter, 1999). Now the electricity is ready to be
transmitted.

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Photo above shows steps in delivering of electricity
 Electricity transmission
This involves the transportation of electrical energy from a power plant to the substations via
the power grid. Transmission systems usually carry high voltages and must be kept reliable to
avoid occasional blackouts. A transmission line consist of transmission towers, power lines,
and substations.
Types of electric transmission
Overhead transmission
This involves a power transmission system that is made up of one or more conductors
suspended on towers and is used to transport electricity over long distances and are mostly
classified by the range of voltages.
Undergrounding
This is the usage of underground cables to provide electricity.
 Electric power distribution
This involves transmission of electricity from transmission systems to the consumers by the
use of transformers. Distribution voltage range can be 4 kV to 35 kV (phase to phase) and

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even 2.4 kV to20 kV (phase to neutral). The service drop connects the residential and
commercial customers to the distribution lines. Switches and circuit breakers allow for the
disconnection of distribution lines. Transformers are used to usually to step down
transmission voltages to distribution voltages. Finally power from the transformer goes to the
busbar that in turn supplies power to distribution lines hence reaching the consumer.
 Electricity utilization
This is the application or energy consumption of electric power. The world energy council
views world electric consumption increasing to more than 40000 TWh/a by 2040 as
compared to 2012 where the consumption was 20900 TWh (Brian, 2007). This is the final
step where electricity is used by the consumer.
Merits and demerits of electricity
If asked now is electricity good or bad, what can you give as an answer(s)? But not to worry
the goodness and badness are explained below.
The demerits include;
 Overdependence on electricity can make people be stranded especially if there is no
backup system for example in areas like emergency cases.
 High voltage lines that transmit electricity often produce electromagnetic fields
(EMF) and magnetic fields that is usually very dangerous to the people, and animals
around.
 Electricity can lead to pollution especially if it is generated by the use of fossil fuels,
nuclear or even biomass that can lead to air, land and water pollution.
 Electricity and electrical devices at many times can kill people as it usually presents a
shock hazard.

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The merits include;
 Electricity can transformed onto other forms of energy like mechanical, heat or even
light energy.
 Electricity is usually easy to control. In houses we have switches that is used to put
the power on and off.
 Electricity itself is a very clean energy since it does not produce smoke and noise.
 It is very flexible hence can be transported easily. Electricity is transmitted via the
power grid from the power plants to the final consumer.
 In the current world electricity is the most reliable power. Electricity can be produced
from various sources like solar and nuclear and usually has a reliable transmission and
distribution network.
 Generally electricity makes work easier. If one need’s to produce almost anything in
large scale and faster, all is made possible by electricity since most machines run on
electric power.
Environmental issues surrounding the use of electricity
 Most methods of electric generation usually lead to the emission of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases that in turn absorb and emit radiation into the atmosphere.
This mainly leads to global warming that affects ecosystems, animal population and
even climate of the earth.
 It is true that electricity generates a lot of waste for example using natural gas in
electric generation often releases nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere. Normally such wastes mix with precipitation and fall down onto the
ground as acid rain.

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 Electricity generation and delivery can harm wildlife. For example wind farms cause
danger to animals that fly like bats and even birds. Plus power plant accidents like the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster can lead to fatalities (Paul, 2007).
 Apart from a few, almost all the sources of electricity suffer from waste disposal
challenges. Nuclear energy produces radioactive wastes that can remain radioactive
for more than a millennium. Such waste can change the soil composition leading to
the death of plants and even lead to mutations in animals.
 Power plants mostly need water to operate. For example in the US alone nuclear and
fossil fuel power plants use over 185 billion gallons of water in a day. Most power
plants withdraw water from adjacent streams and later discharge it again to the
original water body regardless of the physical or chemical alteration of the water and
the overall side effects it may have on surrounding ecosystem.
 Electricity generation can lead to deforestation. In order for power plants and
transmission networks to be constructed vegetation is to be cleared first including
cutting down of trees if any exist in such areas.
Conclusion
Since the discovery of electricity the world has transformed. Up to now it can be described in
many ways but what is key is that it is the primary power used in the world. One may
question whether electricity is a future power source and on my part I will have to say yes.
Electricity is one of the cleanest energy regardless the minimal negative issues surrounding
electricity generation. To many countries it is the backbone of the economy and to future
generations it still will be.

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References
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