Fossil-fuel power station facts for kids

A power station in Taiwan that burns coal to make electricity.

A fossil-fuel power station is a special kind of power station that creates electricity by burning certain fuels. Think of it like a giant machine that turns heat into power! First, it burns fossil fuels like coal or natural gas. This burning creates a lot of heat energy.

This heat energy then makes machines move, creating what's called mechanical energy. This mechanical energy then powers a special device called an electrical generator. The generator is the part that actually makes the electricity we use every day. However, when these fuels burn, they release carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in our atmosphere. Because of this, fossil-fuel power stations are a big reason for global warming.

How Do They Make Electricity?

Making electricity in a fossil-fuel power station involves a few key steps. First, the fossil fuel is burned in a large furnace. This intense heat boils water, turning it into high-pressure steam. This steam is very powerful.

The high-pressure steam then rushes through a machine called a turbine. A turbine is like a giant fan with many blades. The steam pushes these blades, making the turbine spin very fast. This spinning motion is the mechanical energy.

Finally, the spinning turbine is connected to an electrical generator. The generator uses the movement of the turbine to create electricity. This electricity is then sent out through power lines to homes and businesses. After passing through the turbine, the steam is cooled down and turned back into water. This water can then be heated and used again.

Types of Fossil Fuel Power Stations

There are different kinds of fossil-fuel power stations, named after the main fuel they use.

• Coal-fired power stations: These are power stations that burn coal to create heat. Coal is a solid fossil fuel. They have been used for a long time.
• Gas-fired power stations: These stations burn natural gas. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. They can often start up and shut down more quickly.

The Environmental Impact

While fossil-fuel power stations have provided a lot of electricity, they also have a big impact on our planet. The main problem is the release of carbon dioxide when fossil fuels are burned. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

This trapping of heat leads to global warming. Global warming causes changes in our climate. These changes can include rising sea levels, more extreme weather, and impacts on plants and animals. Scientists are working to find cleaner ways to make electricity. This is important for the future of our planet.

Images for kids

• 

  The 5,400 MW Bełchatów Power Station in Poland – one of the world's largest coal-fired power stations.

• 

  A 480 megawatt GE H series power generation gas turbine.

• 

  Currant Creek Power Plant near Mona, Utah is a natural gas fired electrical plant.

• 

  Coal-fired power plants provide about 32 percent of consumed electricity in the United States, As of September 2017. This is the Castle Gate Plant near Helper, Utah.

• 

  Wastestreams at a coal-fired power plant.