A power plant, also known as a generating station, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power plants may be hydroelectric, nuclear, fossil fuel-fired, or renewable. Central station electricity generation can be provided by cogeneration, CHP plants that simultaneously produce heat and power (usually to meet on-site needs), or geothermal systems. Electricity is generated at central stations and then distributed to consumers via the electric grid.
The world’s first central station generating electricity using a steam engine was built in 1882 in London by Sir Charles Parsons. The first large-scale hydroelectric power plant was built at Niagara Falls in 1895 by Nikola Tesla. The world’s first nuclear power plant was opened in 1954 in Obninsk, Russia. Today there are over 400 nuclear reactors operating in 31 countries around the world.
Fossil fuel-fired power plants use coal, oil, or natural gas as their primary fuel source. These plants are generally more capital intensive than other types of power plants and have higher operating costs due to the need to purchase fuels on the open market. However, they enjoy the advantage of being able to quickly ramp up production to meet demand spikes.
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal are becoming increasingly important as global demand for energy grows and concerns about climate change intensify. These technologies offer the potential for low-cost, clean energy generation with minimal environmental impact.