TOOWOOMBA - proudly supported by ERM Power in 2010!
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DATE: SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST 2010
VENUE: UQ - Gatton Campus
CLICK HERE for Map Reference.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS:
| Julie Raitelli | Julie Keating |
| School Ph: 4659 2888 | School Ph: 4699 6222 |
| School Fax: 4659 2800 | School Fax: 4699 6200 |
| email: jrait1@eq.edu.au | email: jkeat1@eq.edu.au |
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Electricity is essential to our daily lives. Can you imagine what your life would be without it?
No lights. No television. No Internet. And so much more. Yet most of us never have a reason to think about where the power comes from to arrive at our homes. ERM has created these animations to help you understand the basics of electricity, taking you on the journey from gas to power.
Where does power come from?
Harnessing the energy of a fuel, turning it into electricity, and getting it into your home is a very technical and detailed process. No wonder it took humans thousands of years to invent today's power systems!
To understand where your power comes from, we've broken the energy "supply chain" down into its basic steps.
1. Finding fuel (exploration & transport)
In order to produce energy, a natural energy source must first be discovered, extracted, and processed into a viable form which can than be delivered to the power station for generation.
Types of natural energy sources include coal, gas, wind, water, and the sun, to name a few. ERM Power specialises in gas generation, which is an abundant resource in Australia, and a much cleaner source than coal. Click on the animation below to see how ERM finds fuel for our power stations. When you're done, scroll down to go to step 2.
2. Power generation & transmission
The generation process takes place at the power station, turning the fuel from the exploration stage into electricity. The fuel is combusted in a generator -- a large machine that burns the fuel and uses the resulting heat to create steam to turn a turbine. The kinetic energy (movement) of the turbine is then converted into electrical energy.
This useable energy transported via energy "transmission" infrastructure, which includes the large towers and lines you often see outside major towns. The energy is transmitted on these high voltage lines because electricity can travel over longer distances at high voltage. Click on the animation below to see how power is made.When you're done, scroll down to go to step 3.
3. Taking power to the people (retail)
After it has been transmitted away from the power stations, power arrives at a transformer somewhere closer to your home. The transformer converts the electricity into a lower voltage that is safer for household use. A electricity company called a distributor then takes the power to your house. Distribution companies are responsible for the electricity poles and wires you would regularly see in your city or town.
As the final stage of the electricity lifecycle, retail companies who have purchased power from the national market sell this power to householders and businesses. Click the animation below to see more.
When you're done, click here to find out how ERM brings the major steps in the electricity supply chain together in our business.
