| Thermal power stations and incinerators are | | | | piped back to the electric power plant, where it |
| electric power stations in which the chemical | | | | serves once again as a working and transport |
| energy of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, as with | | | | medium. |
| atomic energy, are transformed into electrical | | | | The most varied of substances, in the form of |
| energy. | | | | solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, are used as fuels in |
| At the outset, raw materials used in thermal | | | | thermal power plants and incinerators. A fuel is a |
| power stations are burned and the working | | | | substance whose atomic bond energy can be |
| substance (medium) or water, which is under | | | | burned to be transformed into electrical energy |
| pressure in the boiler, is converted into steam. | | | | and includes such fuels as brown coal, black coal, |
| This steam then drives turbines, whose | | | | wood and peat. Crude oil is considered a liquid fuel |
| mechanical energy, at a later stage, is used to | | | | and natural gas is considered a gaseous fuel. |
| drive generators, which in turn generate electrical | | | | At present, Germany covers 95% of its electrical |
| energy. The electrical current generated in this | | | | needs through the use of thermal power stations |
| manner eventually attains its desired force and | | | | and incinerators. Considering the increasing |
| voltage through the use of transformers. Any | | | | contamination and pollution of the environment, |
| waste heat which may be created during this | | | | this issue is becoming a serious problem. By |
| process is turned into liquid by cooling within | | | | burning fuels, harmful substances are released, |
| condensers and sent back to the boiler. The | | | | made up mostly of compounds of coal, sulphur |
| condensing heat which is generated through this | | | | and nitrogen which contaminate the air, soil and |
| process can also be used. | | | | water, in turn causing harm to people and animals. |
| These types of electric power plants also make it | | | | Thanks to photosynthesis, plants are able to |
| possible to generate long-distance heat. The | | | | remove these contaminants. However, with the |
| principle behind this type of heat works by | | | | advancement of industrialisation and the increase |
| transporting steam through large pipes to a | | | | of contaminants, plants are not capable of |
| distant location, where it releases its heat energy | | | | processing all the pollution, disturbing the balance |
| to heat up buildings. The condensed water is then | | | | of the natural cycle. |