How do solar, hydro, and wind power work?

3 Comments

1. jerry s says:

   September 4, 2009 at 9:21 pm

   Solar generators are the oddball here, water and wind power are both collected with turbines turned by kinetic energy. Kinetic to electric conversion is done through Faraday’s induction method. Solar generation is done by pushing electrons out of place in a semi-conductor for more info visit the source website.
2. Showtime says:

   September 4, 2009 at 9:21 pm

   First consider your root question
   Q. How does a generator work?

   A. An electric generator is a device used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
   The generator is based on the principle of "electromagnetic induction" discovered in 1831 by Michael Faraday, a British scientist. Faraday discovered that if an electric conductor, like a copper wire, is moved through a magnetic field, electric current will flow (be induced) in the conductor. So the mechanical energy of the moving wire is converted into the electric energy of the current that flows in the wire.

   Check the link for more details including an animation that more specifically answers your question.
3. marinerzrule says:

   September 4, 2009 at 9:21 pm

   Well, living in Washington, over 80% of our electricity comes from dams. What dams do is simple, you put a dam in the water and energy comes. But, to answer your question, the current from the water source turns the generator, so the generator actually does not convert it at all.