Electric stations are an essential part of every human life as they convert the energy of natural resources in energy.One station is a range of activities, natural and artificial sub-systems, which are used for the transformation and distribution of all types of energy sources.The whole process can be divided into several stages:
- process of extraction and processing of the primary energy source.
- delivery to the power plant.
- process of converting primary energy into the secondary.
- secondary distribution (electric or thermal) power between consumers.
Utilities includes energy production at the plant and its subsequent delivery to the power lines.These essential elements of the chain, as the power plants differ in the type of primary sources that are available in the region.
consider some types of conversion processes in detail, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Thermal Power Plants (TPP) are a group of traditional energy, and a significant share of electricity world-scale (approximately 40%).Advantages and disadvantages of thermal power plants are listed in the following table:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Low cost of fuel consumed | high degree of pollution |
| relatively small capital investment | Significant operating costsinstallations |
| free accommodation.Do not have a reference to any specific field | |
| Low cost of energy | |
| Small footprint accommodation |
Hydro power plants (HPP) is used as the primary energy source of waterresources such as water reservoirs and rivers.Advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric and tabulated.
| Advantages Disadvantages | |
| not require resource extraction and transportation | alienation of fertile land.Waterlogging |
| Sustainability | Violation of aquatic ecosystems |
| regulation of water flows | Large areas of accommodation |
| High reliability | |
| Easy maintenance | |
| Low cost | |
| possible additional use of natural resources |
Nuclear power plants (NPP) - a complex of installations and activities designed to convert the energy that is released as a result of fission of atomicnuclei into heat, and, subsequently, into electrical energy.The most important element of this system is a nuclear reactor, as well as a set of related devices.The table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| small value of emissions | Risk exposure |
| small amount of fuel used | is not possible to control the amount of output power |
| High output power | low probability of an accident, but a very heavy impact of the global-scale |
| Low cost energy | Significant capital investments |
Equally important stage is the transport of fuel to the power plant resources.This process can be done in several ways, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.Consider the main modes of transportation:
- Water transport.Delivery is carried out by means of tankers and bunker.
- road.Transportation is carried out in tanks.The ability to carry only liquid or gaseous fuel specifies the advantages and disadvantages of the existing road transport.
- Rail.Delivery in tanks and open cars over long distances.
- cableways and conveyors are rarely used, and only for very short distances.
