Energy Engines: 22 Key Facts About How Power Plants Work

On Oct 28, 2013 wind power not only provided 100% of Denmark's power but at 2:00 AM Denmark wind was producing 122% of the country’s energy needs.

In 2009, scientists in Iceland unexpectedly drilled into a magma chamber 2.1 km below ground, creating the world's first magma-enhanced geothermal energy (Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station) source capable of powering 80,000 homes.

In 1913, the first practical thermal solar 'power plant' was built in Egypt that generated power using polished steel to focus the sunlight. Unfortunately, World War 1 broke out and the power plant was abandoned due to the conflict in the area and oil became a much more attractive energy source.

During the early hours of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, plant employees scavenged car batteries to power essential monitoring equipment in the plant.

As of 2018, the 5 largest power stations in the world are all hydroelectric power station.

A solar power plant in the Mojave Desert uses 5 square miles of mirrors to concentrate sunbeams on one central tower. It also incinerates about 6,000 birds a year.

Fly ash emitted by a coal power plant carries 100 times more radiation into the surrounding environment than a nuclear power plant producing the same amount of energy.

The largest Nuclear power plant (Bruce Nuclear Generating Station) in the world is in Ontario, Canada and their security force has won the U.S. National SWAT Championship 4 times.

There was a second Fukushima nuclear power plant (Fukushima Daini), 10km to the south, that suffered the same crippling tsunami damage but was saved from meltdown by a capable leader and heroic staff.

In Norway, 99% of electricity production is from hydroelectric plants. They plan to increase annual production by 15 terawatt-hours (12%) by 2020 and could double installed capacity if they build new cross-border links to ship the surplus electricity abroad.