Steam Electricity

Steam powered turbines and generators account for a majority of the electricity generated in the world today.

Electricity can be generated by steam by using a steam turbine generator.  The pressure of the steam acts as a force to rotate a turbine which will produce electricity inside of a generator.  Steam electricity is usually produced in a steam turbine generator that is an impulse or reaction turbine.

The steam (high temperature water) needed to rotate the turbine and eventually be converted into electricity can come from many different sources.  Water can be heated into steam using fossil fuels, nuclear power, or a renewable energy source like the sun.

The advantages and disadvantages of steam energy depend on what source of heat is used to create the steam.  Nuclear power is a very efficient way to heat steam, but comes with a risk of nuclear disaster.  Coal power and other fossils fuels also efficiently heat water into steam but they come with a high rate of air pollution and greenhouse gas emission.  Concentrated solar power has the advantage of being a clean, renewable source of heat for a steam turbine generator but does not produce heat as efficiently as nuclear or coal power.

Learn more about steam electricity and steam turbine generators. HERE