How Do Electric Companies Produce Electricity Commercially?

Conventionally, electricity is created by converting heat energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy. This is done by rotating massive turbines that will turn electromechanical generators that will generate electricity. The process of moving these gigantic turbines is often by boiling large quantities of water and using the steam to turn the turbines. To heat the water, fuels are needed. The most commonly used fuels for this purpose are:


Fossil fuels and coal. These non-renewable resources are mined from deep layers of the earth and are one, if not the most important commodities of the today's energy-hungry world.


Nuclear fission. This chemical process of splitting atoms into smaller parts produce heat that can be used to boil the water and generate steam.


Bio-mass or bio-waste. These are biological waste from organic organism such as plants and animals that are used instead of fossil fuels to produce heat.

Sometimes, other forces or energy are used to move the turbines without heating up the water for steam.


Hydro-power is the process of using the kinetic energy of running water such as rivers, falls, tides, etc. to create mechanical energy that will rotate the turbines.


Wind also is another option to get the turbines moving and convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, without the need for burning fuels and the heat.

If there are many options to generate electricity, why do we need to conserve it?

It's because despite of these different alternatives, most energy companies still rely largely on burning fuels, particularly fossil fuels and coal, to create mechanical energy that will in turn be used to generate electricity. And because these types of fuels are non-renewable, we are running the risks of energy shortage once we've used up the world's fossil and coal deposits.

Today, we are still heavily dependent on these energy companies to provide us with electricity to run our household and our lives. In effect, we are also promoting the use of these non-renewable sources because that's how it's always been. But we cannot avoid the impending truth and the energy crisis that we are facing.

Various groups and individuals are now advocating alternative energy sources to obtain power and conserve whatever we have left. And as if to encourage us more, these green and alternative energy solutions have one wonderful consequence: free electricity for us to enjoy!