Advantages of electricity
Accessible and easy to produce
Electricity can be generated from a wide variety of energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable.
All about electricity
What is electricity?
Reading time: 10 min
Electricity is a type of energy that consists of the movement of electrons between two points when there is a potential difference between them, making it possible to generate what is known as an electric current.
Let’s see a practical example to understand it better. What happens when we turn on the light switch? The electrical circuit is closed, connecting the first point to the second. The electrons start to move through the metallic copper wire (the conductive element), and we immediately have light. The circulation of electrons through the conductor wire is transformed into electric light.
As we will see below, electricity is practically essential in our day-to-day lives thanks to its amazing versatility and high level of convenience:
Advantages of electricity
Accessible and easy to produce
Electricity can be generated from a wide variety of energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable.
Manageable and easy to transport
Electricity can be transported over long distances and on a large scale through transmission and distribution networks.
Versatile and easy to transform
Electricity can also be transformed into other types of energy such as light (lighting a light bulb), heat (lighting an electric radiator), or motion (using an engine).
How is electricity generated?
What is the origin of the electricity we use in our daily lives? While it is true that electricity is present in nature, for example, as lightning and thunderstorms, the reality is that this type of energy is difficult to store. As a result, we need power plants that are constantly producing the electricity we use.
Depending on the type of energy sources used to produce electricity, we can classify electricity generation into two major groups:
Renewable electricity generation
Renewable energy comes from a natural source such as wind power, water power, or the heat of the sun. They are therefore inexhaustible sources of energy and are more environmentally friendly. Some examples of renewable sources are:
Non-renewable electricity generation:
By contrast, non-renewable energy sources use limited natural resources to generate electricity. In addition, they are generally not as accessible as they are only found in certain parts of the planet. Depending on how they are extracted, they can be classified into two different groups:
Types of electricity
Dynamic electricity
Dynamic energy, as the name implies, involves movement. In the case of dynamic electricity, electrons travel through a closed circuit thanks to the use of conductive materials such as metal wires.
Static electricity
This is from the accumulation of excess electrical charge on non-conductive materials. An electrostatic charge arises, for example, after the separation of two surfaces in contact, as in the case of friction between hair and a balloon.
Electromagnetic energy
This energy propagates through waves through a space called an electromagnetic field. It's the energy of the waves emitted by microwave ovens or X-rays, for example.
Applications of electricity
Ever since human beings discovered the different applications of electricity, its use has been increasing until the world as we know it today became possible. In fact, our everyday life is full of cases in which electricity is generated, used, and applied. Let's take a look at some examples:
Engine ignition
To explain the uses and applications of electricity, a car would make a good example. Thanks to the electricity stored in the battery and using the starter engine, our vehicles’ combustion engines are set in motion.
Cells and rechargeable batteries
Another way of generating electricity is through batteries and rechargeable batteries. These devices are designed to accumulate and extract this energy through chemical reactions and metal atoms that act as conductors of electricity.
Household appliances
For decades, we've had all kinds of electrical appliances in our homes that need to be connected to the mains to power them on. Be it a computer, a television, a blender, or a lamp.
Repsol and electricity