13 New Energy

New Energy written by John Lockyer

We use energy to do work. Energy lights huge cities and powers our cars. It warms our homes and cooks our food. Energy plays our music and gives us pictures on television. Where does energy come from? For many years people have used coal, gas, and oil to make energy. These are called fossil fuels because they come from plants and animals buried millions of years ago. Fossil fuels are running out, so we have found new ways of making energy.

wind farm We can use the power of the wind to make energy. The wind turns a huge fan or turbine. The turbine powers a generator that makes electricity. Many turbines spinning together are called a wind farm. Windmills have been used for many years. Now, huge wind farms are built on cliffs and hills, or even in the sea. A farm with fifty turbines makes enough electricity for more than seven thousand homes.

solar panels We can use the light of the sun to make energy. It is called solar energy. Have you seen solar panels on the roofs of houses? When the sun hits the panels, it makes electricity. Some very sunny places have solar power plants. They have many solar panels that follow the sun as it moves across the sky. Solar power plants can make enough electricity for a whole city.

geothermal bore field The high heat inside the Earth can be used to make energy, too. It is called geothermal energy. This can happen in places with volcanoes and lots of underground water. The hot volcanic rocks heat the water to make steam. The steam powers a generator that makes electricity. In these places, the hot water is also pumped from the ground and used to heat buildings.

hydro dam Another way to make energy is with moving water. It is called hydro energy. Many years ago, moving water was used to turn wooden wheels. These wheels were joined to stone wheels to grind wheat into flour. Today, water is collected behind huge dams. When the water flows through the dam, it pushes against huge blades or turbines. The turbines send power to a generator that makes electricity. Power lines take the electricity to homes, schools, and factories.