| Generation is the process of creating electricity from | | | | |
| other sources of energy. As the world’s | | | | It is increasingly clear that the world is going to have |
| population grows, the need for electrical power | | | | to make some changes in its energy production since |
| grows with it. China, for example, has increased its | | | | the current model is unsustainable. Rolling blackouts |
| need for electrical power, which has more than | | | | are becoming more common as energy needs peak |
| doubled in the last five years. As China, like most of | | | | and the electrical grid is unable to meet demand. A |
| the world, burns coal for its power, the cost to the | | | | redesign of the grid is necessary at this point to allow |
| environment is staggering. Other forms of energy | | | | better management of this critical resource, and plans |
| generation are available and are much more | | | | are being made to do so. Still, since the electrical |
| ecologically friendly than coal. | | | | infrastructure currently used is relatively old, it will |
| | | | | take time to incorporate the new technology. |
| Electricity can be generated through solar, nuclear, | | | | |
| wind or carbon power. Coal based plants burn carbon | | | | With the looming end of the fossil fuel era anticipated |
| to generate steam that drives turbines generating | | | | in the next fifty to one hundred years, according to |
| electricity. Nuclear power is similar as the fission | | | | some experts, there is an increasing need for clean |
| reaction heats the water surrounding the core; of | | | | energy technology. Previously considered too |
| course, then there is the challenge of dealing with the | | | | expensive, wind and solar power are slowly gaining a |
| waste. Solar and wind power are considered the | | | | foothold in the electrical generation scheme. With |
| cleanest energy sources, and they are limitless | | | | growing need and an aging infrastructure, electrical |
| resources. As always, the catch is making the | | | | generation companies are struggling to keep up. That |
| development of such sources economically lucrative | | | | new technologies are constantly being revealed is a |
| before they become truly universal, but steps are | | | | source of hope. |
| being made. | | | | |