Energy 101

V: Electricity

Chapter 20: The Grid

The grid is the world’s largest engineered machine. This incredible invention spans continents while reliably transporting electricity from power plants to consumers. Although today the grid is very advanced, its basic design was determined by a fierce rivalry between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison in the 1880s. If they were alive today, they would recognize …

Chapter 20: The Grid Read More »

Chapter 19: Generation

At the heart of the electricity system is the collection of power plants that generate electricity. While electricity experiments had occurred with low-voltage spark generators starting in the 1700s, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that large-scale power plants were built to provide high-voltage electricity to entire neighborhoods and towns. Today these power plants take …

Chapter 19: Generation Read More »

Chapter 18: Electricity Overview

Electricity is one of the most important forms of energy. Because it is clean, quiet and easy to control at its end use, electricity is the preferred form of energy among affluent nations. Electricity enables a higher quality of life, as many devices used for water treatment, food preservation, air conditioning, communications, and indoor lighting …

Chapter 18: Electricity Overview Read More »

Log In to Energy 101