What is Electricity generation?
[[File:Sources_of_Electricity_in_the_US_2005_New.png|thumb|right|300px|Sources of electricity in the U.S. 2005 [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat1p1.html]]] '''Electricity generation''' is the making of [[electricity]] for use by people. Most comes from rotary [[electrical generator]]s turned by various [[engine]]s. == History == Making electricity in one central place became useful when [[electric power distribution]] was possible. This required power [[transformer]]s which could change [[voltage]]. Electricity could be sent as [[alternating current]] along electric power lines for great distances cheaply. People have been using electric [[light bulb]]s, [[electric motor]]s, and other things that use electricity since the late 19th century. Different sources of [[energy]] have been used to run generators, including [[coal]], [[nuclear reactor|nuclear]], [[natural gas]], [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]], and [[petroleum]] power and a small amount from [[solar energy]], [[Tidal energy|tidal harnesses]], [[wind generator]]s, and [[geothermal]] sources. [[File:Mohave Generating Station 1.jpg|thumb|Many coal-fired power plants, such as this one in Laughlin, Nevada, have closed in recent years because of strict pollution control measures.]] == Electricity demand == The demand for electricity can be met in two different ways. The main method is to build large centralized projects to generate and transmit the electricity required. Many of these projects have caused unpleasant [[environment]]al effects such as air or [[radiation]] [[pollution]] and the flooding of large areas of land. [[Distributed generation]] creates power on a smaller scale at locations on the electricity network. These sites often generate electricity as a byproduct of other industry such as using gas from landfills to power turbines. == Methods of generating electricity == [[File:Taichung Thermal Power Plant.JPG|thumb|Taichung Power Plant in [[Taiwan]], the world's largest coal-fired power plant]] === Turbines === Rotating