Electrical energy. Electric power.

Generators need energy to maintain the potential difference required to produce electric current.
This energy is called electrical energy and it is transferred to the different electrical devices
(aparatos) connected to the circuit.

The electric current distributed to homes and industries, etc., is produced in power stations,
using primary energy sources.

Almost all power stations produce electric current in the same way: by rotating a turbine
coupled to an alternator, or in other words, electrical power stations may be defined as
facilities (instalaciones) where mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Power stations are usually classified according to the primary energy source they use to
produce the mechanical energy needed to transform it into electrical energy. Different countries
decide to build different kinds of power plants, according to the resources available
(disponibles).

- Thermal power stations.

They use fossil fuels as their primary source of energy. When these fossil fuels are burnt, they
produce steam (vapor) which is in turn used to move turbines.
Combustion produces particles that are released into (liberados) the atmosphere, which may
harm (dañar) the planet and the environment.

- Nuclear power stations.

They use uranium as fuel. Large amounts of energy are produced through nuclear fission. This
energy is used to vaporise water, which in turn drives the turbines. Although nuclear stations do
not emit polluting gasses and the energy produced is relatively cheap, they generate nuclear
waste, which can be deadly to living beings.
 - Hydraulic power stations.
Their turbines are driven by water (impulsadas), which held back by a dam (detenida por una
presa), falls from a certain height.

- Wind farms.
Wind energy is produced by the wind, which is a natural movement of the air. The wind turbines
have a number of blades (palas),that rotate by the force of the wind. They are connected to a
generator and the rotational movement produces an electric current.

- Biomass thermal power stations.

Biomass is organic material originating from plants and animals (for example, farming, forestry
and agricultural waste), which can be used in order to produce electricity in thermal biomass
stations. They are similar to conventional thermal power stations.

- Marine power stations.

Seas and oceans are constantly moving. Tidal (marea) power stations use the tides to move
turbines, and wave energy stations use waves.

- Geothermal power stations.

The Earth stores an enormous amount of heat, which gradually flows towards the surface.
Geysers and volcanoes are good examples of energy that can be found deep inside our planet.