Energy Lesson 3 : Generating Michigan's Electricity
1. Electricity Generation Introduction
Electricity may be generated in a variety of ways using both non-renewable and renewable energy resources. Most of the electricity produced in Michigan is generated using energy resources to turn a turbine. A turbine is a machine that uses a stream of liquid (water) or gas (often steam) to spin an axel. A windmill is a basic turbine.
The turbine can be connected to an electric generator. A generator is a machine which spins a magnet within a coil of wire to generate a flow of electrons in the wire. The interaction between the wire and the magnet generates electricity.
It takes a lot of mechanical energy produced by the turbine to turn a generator fast enough to produce electrical power.
2. Show Energy Now: Energy 101:
Electricity Generation
There are five ways electricity is generated in Michigan:
a) Use the mechanical energy of the wind or moving water directly to turn a turbine connected to an electric generator.
b) Burn biomass or fossil fuels like coal, oil, or natural gas to release their stored chemical energy and transform it into heat that is used to heat water and generate steam. The steam turns a turbine connected to an electric generator.
c) Burn natural gas and use the hot gasses that are released to directly turn a turbine connected to an electric generator without the need for generating steam.
d) Split uranium atoms to release nuclear energy that is used to heat water, creating steam to turn a turbine connected to an electric generator which then produces electricity to be sent across the grid.
e) Use a photovoltaic (PV) cell to convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity.
NOTE: Virtual field trips and demonstrations of resource production and energy generation are available.
3. Electricity generation demonstrations or experiments
Several options exist for experimenting with ways to generate electricity depending on equipment, lab facilities, budget, and classroom time.
Two options for simple experiments are included on the flash drive. These include:
––A simple experiment demonstrating water power from Consumers Energy.
––An enlightening experiment comparing the efficiency of light bulbs.
There are kits available with materials that allow students to generate electricity (for a range of prices) and they can be found at science education supply stores. These range from basic hand crank generators with plastic casings to more complex wide generators run by box fans.
4. Show the Seeing Beyond the Light Switch
PowerPoint
Ask students to look for:
––What kinds of energy were used to generate and transmit electricity? [Coal, natural gas, wind, biomass, nuclear]
––How are different kinds of energy transported? [Train, truck, power lines, ship, pipeline]
After the PowerPoint:
––How many energy transformations did you see evidence of? [Coal to heat steam to electricity (and waste heat into the atmosphere), wind to electricity, nuclear to heat steam to waste heat]
––How does electricity get to our homes, schools and businesses?
Have groups of five or six students create and act out a supply chain, going from resource to generation to use. Each student is either a transformation or transportation.
5. What is a Megawatt?
What is a Megawatt? handout.
6. Michigan Electricity Generation Map Activity
Distribute the Michigan Energy Generation Maps and student activity. Have students complete the Michigan Map activity and discuss the answers.
How and where does Michigan produce electricity? [Answers will vary, but close to the lakes, and close to major population centers are two possible answers]
Why are different kinds of power plants located where they are? [Some, like biomass, are by the resource, some by transportation, some by population]
What are the electricity generating plants closest to you?
NOTE: Much of Michigan’s coal is processed through the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal at Superior, Wisconsin, and owned by DTE. Videos showing the process of taking unit trains of coal and loading them onto ships are available at their website midwestenergy.com.
7. Updating the Map
Electricity generation is constantly changing so the map you are using was out of date by the time it had been printed, but it is nonetheless useful as an exercise in evaluating information and critical reading of data.
Option A: Show the Energy Information Agency PowerPoint about using the state comparison site, or use the site yourself to show students how the energy picture is changing. Since this map was produced, several coal-fired power plants have been closed and more wind generation has been created. Use the Sources of Electricity in Michigan handout to help gather basic information from the site. Put removable stickers over the closed coal plants, and add additional wind generators.
Option B: A table of wind generating plants opened and coal fired plants closed or scheduled to be closed is attached as a handout. Use this information to put removable stickers over the closed coal plants, and add additional wind generators.