What is electricity? Power up your energy knowledge
Every time you play your favourite games on your console, watch a TV series or make microwave popcorn, it’s all possible because you have electricity at home. It’s easy not to give much thought to the electrons and other components of energy which power our lights, appliances and things we use every day – but electricity plays a central role in making our lives work. Here’s your guide to levelling up your understanding of energy with some facts about electricity
What is electricity?
Electricity is made through the movement of tiny particles called electrons. As electrons move from one atom to another, this flow of energy creates electricity. If you’ve ever used an inflated balloon to make your hair stand up, you’ve seen a type of electricity at work – in this case, static electricity.
Electricity is very useful when used safely – but it can also be very dangerous. It’s important to not play with switches and outlets, to not use any unsafe appliances or damaged cords and to always stay safe around electricity.
Who invented electricity?
Electricity as we know it wasn’t so much “invented” as discovered. It already existed in nature – for example, in the form of lightning – but there were some key historical characters involved in experimenting with electricity:
- Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus noticed the effects of static electricity by rubbing amber (tree sap which had fossilised) with animal fur. This would make feathers stick to it.
- William Gilbert called this effect “electricus” (meaning “amber-like”) in 1600.
- Thomas Browne renamed this “electricity” in 1646.
- Benjamin Franklin spent a lot of time exploring electricity. One now-famous experiment involved attaching a metal key to a kite and flying it during a thunderstorm. The key became charged with electricity, and he could see that lightning was electrical.
- Michael Faraday was the first to discover how to create an electrical current. He discovered that when a magnet spins inside a coil of copper wire, a tiny electrical current flows through the wire, creating an electrical charge. This is what guided how electricity is generated today.
Since electricity's earliest days, the ways we generate, store, move and use electricity have changed a lot.
What is electricity generation?
Electricity generation is the name of the process which converts energy into electricity.
Here in WA, our biggest electricity network is called the South West Interconnected System (the SWIS). Here are some facts about electricity generation across the SWIS:
- We have a range of electricity generation sources including renewable sources which can be constantly replenished. This includes solar and wind generation.
- Solar generation works by capturing energy from the sun as it shines onto solar photovoltaic (PV) cells on the solar panels you can see on rooftops. This energy is sent along wires to a solar inverter and converted into useable electricity which can be used to power homes, schools and businesses, or even stored in a battery.
- Wind power works by harnessing the wind to move giant turbines. As these move, the energy is used to generate electricity, which is then available to be sent out into the SWIS.
- Electricity generation in the SWIS still includes non-renewable energy sources, which means these can’t be replaced or replenished. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, are non-renewable energy sources. These are burned inside a power station to create steam. This steam spins a turbine which creates an electrical current.
Here in WA, Synergy is phasing out our coal-fired power stations and making way for even more renewable energy sources.
How does electricity get to your home?
If you have solar panels, electricity will be generated on your rooftop solar panels and sent through your inverter to be used to power your home during the day.
Of course, when the sun goes down or it’s cloudy, your solar panels can’t generate electricity – but your household still needs power to keep your lights, fridge, chargers and appliances running. This is when even homes with solar energy will need electricity from the grid.
Electricity from the grid has a long journey from where it is generated at a wind farm, power station or solar installation, or even stored in a large battery, to get to your home. This is known as the transmission and distribution of electricity. Here’s how it works:
- Electricity is generated then sent through a transformer to make it the right voltage to travel long distances.
- Large high-voltage transmission lines carry the electricity to your city or suburb.
- It passes through sub-stations where the voltage is lowered to make it safe to use in our homes.
- It travels through smaller power lines (known as the distribution network) to your house.
- At your house, electricity moves through your meter into the switchboard for your home, where it gets divided into different circuits.
Finally, electricity will travel through wires and cables inside your walls to the outlets and switches around your home – so you can use it!
All these generation, transmission and distribution processes cost money, so electricity is not free. Not everyone uses the same amount – for example, a small family generally uses less than a larger family, who will use less than a school or large business. Electricity usage gets measured or is otherwise determined so everyone can pay for what they use.
How is electricity measured?
Electricity is measured in units of energy, known as kilowatts. Each appliance in your home uses units of electricity – and these energy units are measured through your electricity meter. Meter readers from Western Power read your electricity meter to see how much you have used, or, if you have a smart meter, it is read electronically.
Your household Synergy bill is based on how many units of energy your household uses, along with the fees and charges involved in supplying that electricity. You can take steps at home to reduce the amount of electricity you use which can have benefits for your own electricity bills and even the whole electricity network.
Learn more about electricity at home
Discover more about electricity with our energy tips for the school holidays.
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