Power Plant: What Are They? (& the Types of Power Plants)

What Is A Power Plant

What is a Power Plant?

A power plant (also known as a power station or power generating station), is an industrial location that is utilized for the generation and distribution of electric power on a mass scale. Many power stations contain one or more generators, a rotating machine that converts mechanical power into three-phase electric power (these are also known as an alternator). The relative motion between a magnetic field and an electrical conductor creates an electric current.

These are generally located in the sub-urban regions or several kilometers away from the cities or the load centers, because of its requisites like huge land and water demand, along with several operating constraints like waste disposal, etc.

For this reason, a power generating station has to not only concern itself with the efficient generation of power, but also in the transmission of this power. This is why power plants are often closely accompanied by transformer switchyards. These switchyards increase the transmission voltage of the power, which allows it to be more efficiently transmitted over long distances.

The energy source harnessed to turn the generator shaft varies widely and is chiefly dependent on the type of fuel used. The fuel choice dictates what we call the power plant, and this is how the various types of power plants are classified.

Types Of Power Plants

Types of Power Plants

The different types of power plants are classified depending on the type of fuel used. For the purpose of bulk power generation, thermal, nuclear, and hydropower are the most efficient. A power generating station can be broadly classified into the three above-mentioned types. Let us have a look at these types of power stations in detail.

Thermal Power Station





After having imparted energy into the turbine rotors, the steam is made to pass out of the turbine blades into the steam condenser of the turbine. In the condenser, cold water at ambient temperature is circulated with the help of a pump which leads to the condensation of the low-pressure wet steam.


Advantages of Thermal Power Plants

  • Fuel used i.e coal is quite cheaper.
  • Initial cost is less as compared to other generating stations.

Disadvantages of Thermal Power Plants

  • It pollutes atmosphere due to production of smoke and fumes.

Nuclear Power Station

Nuclear power plants are similar to thermal stations in more ways than one. However, the exception here is that radioactive elements like uranium and thorium are used as the primary fuel in place of coal. Also in a Nuclear station, the furnace and the boiler are replaced by the nuclear reactor and the heat exchanger tubes.



Hydro-Electric Power Station

In Hydroelectric plants, the energy of the falling water is utilized to drive the turbine which in turn runs the generator to produce electricity. Rain falling upon the earth’s surface has potential energy relative to the oceans towards which it flows. This energy is converted to shaft work where the waterfalls through an appreciable vertical distance. The hydraulic power is, therefore, a naturally available renewable energy given by the equation:
P = gρ QH
ρ = density of water = 1000 kg/m3
H = height of fall of water.
An important point to be noted is that the hydro-electric plants are of much lower capacity compared to their thermal or nuclear counterpart.


Advantages of Hydro Electric Power Station

  • It is neat and clean energy generation.
  • Construction is simple, less maintenance is required.
  • It helps in irrigation and flood control also.

Disadvantages Hydro Electric Power Station

  • It involves high capital cost due to dam construction.
  • Availability of water depends upon weather conditions.

Types of Power Generation


  1. Thermal power generation
  2. Nuclear power generation
  3. Hydro-electric power generation


  3. Tidal power generation.


The only way forward would then lie in the mercy of these alternative sources of energy which might play an instrumental role in shaping the energy supplies of the future. For this reason, these might rightfully be referred to as the energy of the future.

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