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What Energy Sources Do They Use in Power Stations?

Power stations supply electricity to households across the United States. Most power stations use steam turbines, which convert mechanical or chemical energy into electrical energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, steam turbine power stations using nuclear energy and coal contribute approximately 70 percent of consumer electricity. These power stations, however, are not totally efficient, and the prominent energy sources they use are nonrenewable.

  1. Coal

    • Coal is the most common energy source used in power stations. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that coal provides over half of the electricity generated in the United States. This trend will continue, as coal is less expensive and more abundant than other energy sources. But burning coal emits pollutants such as mercury, sulfur and nitrogen and, like all fossil fuels, releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

    Natural Gas

    • Natural gas is a fast-growing energy source used in power stations. The EIA stated that over 90 percent of power stations built in the next 20 years will use natural gas. The majority of energy derived from natural gas is used for heating purposes, such as stoves, clothes dryers and water heaters. Texas and California consume the most natural gas in the United States.

    Nuclear Energy

    • Nuclear power produces no greenhouse gas emissions and is the second largest energy source used in the United States. It is most used in Illinois and Pennsylvania, where the first nuclear power station was built in 1957. Countries such as Germany, France and Japan use even more nuclear energy than the United States. The health hazards of radiation exposure, problems with discarding nuclear waste and the threat of nuclear war make nuclear energy a challenging investment.

    Renewable Sources

    • Renewable energy sources suitable for generating electricity are hydropower, wind, geothermal, biomass and solar. Hydropower generates electricity via either a dam or river flow system and contributes to 7 percent of electricity in the United States. Biomass is burned in steam-electric power stations or converted to gas to burn in gas turbines. Biomass provides only 1 percent of U.S. electricity, which is the same for geothermal, wind and solar power.

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