Electrical power generation is the process of creating electricity from other forms of energy. The employed energy can be a heat source through chemical combustion, such as natural gas, oil, and coal, or nuclear reaction; a kinetic form of energy such as flowing water, wind, or tides; or a heat source it self, such as solar photovoltaics and geothermal power.
The fundamental principles of electricity generation remains unchanged since discovered in early 19th centry. Most of today's electricity is generated by the movement of a loop of wire, or disc of copper between the poles of a magnet. The force to spin the loop of wire is provided by other energy sources described above.
For electric utilities, electrical power generation is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. The other processes, electricity transmission, distribution, and electrical power storage and recovery using pumped storage methods are normally carried out by the electrical power industry.
