Electrical energy is a form of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles, typically electrons, through a conductor in an electric circuit. It is a fundamental and widely used form of energy in modern society, powering numerous devices and systems that have become essential to our daily lives.
Electricity is generated at power plants, where various sources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, and others are used to produce electrical energy. When these sources are utilized, they drive turbines, which, in turn, rotate magnets around coils of wire. This movement of magnetic fields induces a flow of electrons in the wire, creating an electric current.
The unit of electrical energy is the watt-hour (Wh) or its multiples like kilowatt-hour (kWh) and megawatt-hour (MWh). A watt-hour represents one watt of power consumed or produced over one hour. For instance, if a device with a power rating of 100 watts is operated for 5 hours, it consumes 500 watt-hours or 0.5 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy.
Electricity can be transmitted over long distances through power lines and distributed to homes, businesses, and industries for various purposes, such as lighting, heating, cooling, operating electronic devices, industrial processes, and much more.
It's important to note that while electrical energy is essential and versatile, the sources of electricity generation can have various environmental and social impacts. As society advances, there is an increasing emphasis on transitioning to more sustainable and renewable sources of electrical energy to mitigate the negative effects of conventional fossil fuel-based power generation.