Where does electricity come from?
Where would we be without electricity? Most of us take electricity for granted without ever thinking very much about where it comes from. We only think about it when we have a power black-out. When the power stops, our lives almost stop with it, as almost everything we do in our homes and workplaces involves the use of electricity. Even though humans have survived since time immemorial without electricity, our everyday lives are centred on the use of electricity as our principal energy source. Electricity supplies us with energy, heat, water, communication, entertainment and food preservation. Read further about Australia’s energy system and learn where our electricity comes from.
Australia has an abundance of both renewable and non-renewable power sources. Non-renewable sources of energy are those sources that will eventually be used up. The non-renewable sources, which are the fossil fuels, coal and natural gas, supply a whopping 76 percent of Australia’s power.
Renewable sources are continuous and are never depleted. The renewable sources, hydro-electricity, bioenergy, wind and solar, supply the remaining 24 percent. Demand is increasing as Australia’s population and economy increase. Up until the present time, demand for electricity has largely been met from fossil fuels. Australia has a plentiful supply of low-cost coal which is used to generate the greater part of our electricity needs.
In 2019
We use mainly non-renewable energy sources for our electricity supply. Coal and natural gas are used by the power stations to operate turbines which generate electricity. Natural gas being the third biggest energy source in Australia. However, renewable power sources have been steadily increasing as a means of electricity generation.
Hydroelectricity is the biggest supplier of power from the renewable energy group. Hydroelectric turbines generate electricity using the water that accumulates in dams. Hydro-electricity plants are situated in the areas of high elevation and rainfall in New South Wales and Tasmania. The most well-known one of these is situated in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. Hydro-electricity is less expensive to produce than electricity coal and gas, and it doesn’t affect the environment. Unfortunately, Australia’s overall dry climate and high evaporation rate has limited the increase of hydro-electricity schemes in other regions in Australia.
Wind power is used to produce electricity using a large wind turbine connected to a generator. Wind turbines are the least reliable means of producing electricity, as they will operate only when the wind is blowing at a sufficient strength.
Solar power
Is the most reliable source of renewable power in Australia as we have abundant sunshine. A solar power system uses solar panels placed on the roof of your home or place of business. These panels absorb the sun’s energy converting it into DC electricity. This is then directed to a solar inverter which converts it into AC electricity which can be used in your home.
Bioenergy is electricity produced by using the energy which is stored in organic matter. It’s a renewable energy made accessible from supplies obtained from biological sources. Being a very flexible energy source, it can be stored and can become a backup to solar and wind-generated electricity as it doesn’t depend on the weather. This means of electricity production contributes only 1 percent of the electricity needed for Australia’s energy system.
If you have a power outage and need a reliable Gold Coast electrician, contact MC Power today on 0432 022 294. We also specialise in residential and commercial electrical, renovations, lighting, smoke alarm installation & maintenance, hot water systems, ceiling fans and much more.