7 x why an energy-efficient home pays off

Energy-saving measures ensure that you need less or even no gas and electricity from the grid. That is why it is smart to apply measures such as solar panels and insulation to your home. Because lower energy consumption is not the only advantage of energy-saving measures.

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1. Increase comfort

The comfort of a home is extremely important, it is after all a place where you want to relax. One of the biggest disruptors to home comfort is draft and cold . A drafty house that feels damp or chilly is not pleasant to stay in.

How do you combat this ? Simple: insulate the shell of the house well ( walls , glass , roof and floor) , so that the heat is kept inside and the cold outside. In the summer, insulation also keeps the heat out. Well-insulated houses are more comfortable and drier than non-insulated houses. Moreover, insulation also blocks outside noise, allowing you to completely relax in your home.

Example:

Especially insulating the floor makes a noticeable difference in comfort. On average, the floor becomes about 3 degrees warmer after floor insulation ! So you no longer need to wear thick socks in the house to keep your feet warm.

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2. Lowering housing costs

Energy-saving measures mean that a household needs less gas / energy from the grid. This means that the monthly energy costs will be lower. In some cases, no electricity or gas is needed at all from the supplier and you therefore pay nothing.

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Example

To give an idea of ​​the reduction of housing costs, we take an average monthly energy consumption of 3,000 kWh in a home with a label. By installing 12 solar panels , this household saves around 703 euros per year in energy costs.

3. Contribution to a better future for the next generation

Homes are jointly responsible for about 10 percent of Dutch CO2 emissions. When every home reduces energy consumption, together we can make a serious difference in the fight against global warming. When the earth warms up less quickly, there will be more opportunities and fewer dangers for our children.

Example

An average household (2.2 persons) is responsible for 23 tons of CO2 per year (Milieu Centraal) . This equates to driving 2.5 laps around the earth in the car. 17 percent of this is caused by gas and energy consumption.

By insulating an uninsulated house you can reduce this considerably:

Source: Milieu Centraal

• Insulating the floor saves 600 kilos of CO2
• Replacing glass with HR ++ glass saves 800 kilos of CO2
• Insulating the cavity wall saves 1,600 kilos of CO2
• Insulating the sloping roof saves 1,600 kilos of CO2

4. Healthier living environment

Despite the fact that we spend a lot of our time indoors, a healthy indoor climate is often underexposed. By indoor climate we mean air humidity, air pollution and humidity of the walls.

It is striking that it is estimated that the indoor air can be 5 times more polluting than the outdoor air. The low quality is usually caused by toxins and too much moisture in the air. Too much moisture can cause mold, dust mites and bacteria.

Good ventilation removes pollutants and provides a constant supply of fresh air. By properly ventilating your home, you therefore prevent allergies, headaches and colds. A good indoor climate is not only healthy, but also increases comfort.

Example:

The crawl space is a place where moisture easily develops. It is extremely important that enough air can reach it. That is why many homes have ventilation grilles. By insulating the floor you automatically ensure that the remaining moisture from the soil cannot penetrate into the house.

5. Increase in home value

A home becomes more attractive to buyers through valuable additions . Consider, for example, a new kitchen or bathroom. This increase in value also applies to the application of energy-saving measures.

A house with an energy label A has an added value of 12,000 euros on a house of label D, according to research by VastgoedLAB, Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology.

Example:

The aforementioned universities jointly investigated the increase in value of homes with solar panels . This is about 2.6 percent. With an average home value of 375,000 euros, you arrive at 9,750 euros. Taking into account the fact that solar panels cost an average of 5,000 euros, this means that the investment will be recouped twice over when sold.

Read More: https://ecotricitynz.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/get-ready-for-an-energy-efficient-summer/

Profiling China and the world’s other top energy producers

 With a seemingly insatiable demand for energy to power the global economy, NS Energy profiles the top five electricity producing nations around the globe — as the world enters an unprecedented period of shifting priorities from traditional to renewable solutions.

When it comes to regional share, the Asia Pacific region claimed 12,273.6 terawatt-hour (TWh) and a 46.1% share in the world’s total electricity generation last year, followed by North America with 5,447.3TWh and a 20.5% share of the global total.

Africa generated the least power in 2018 at 853.7TWh — however, this figure equates to a healthy 2.9% increase over the previous year.

Driven by growing concerns towards climate change, the world’s renewable energy generation grew 14.5% to 2,480.4TWh in 2018, according to BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2019 report.

Here we look at where the power currently lies around the world.

China – 7,111.8TWh

China is by far the world’s most prolific producer of electricity, generating a significant amount of its power from coal followed by hydroelectricity.

The country operates one of the biggest coal-powered plants in the world, the 6.7 gigawatt (GW) Datang Tuoketuo facility in Inner Mongolia. The fuel is sourced from the Junggar Coalfield located 50km from the plant.

China is also the largest renewable energy producer in the world, with a generation capacity twice that of the US — which is ranked second in the world. The country generates nearly half of its renewable energy from hydropower plants. Its installed renewable energy generation capacity stood at 695.8GW in 2018, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The country operates some of the largest hydropower projects in the world, which includes the 22.5GW Three Gorges hydroelectric power complex.

Wind and solar are the other major sources of renewable energy in China. The country is home to the world’s biggest photovoltaic power plant, the 1.54GW Tengger Desert Solar Park in Ningxia.

The Three Gorges Dam (Credit: Allen Watkin from London, UK/Wikipedia.org)

 

US – 4,460.8TWh

The US is the second-largest producer of electricity in the world. The country produces 35% of its power from natural gas and other gases, along with 27% from coal.

Nuclear power plants generate nearly 20% of the country’s total electricity, according to the figures provided by the US Energy Information Administration.

Some of the biggest nuclear power plants in the US include the 3.9GW Palo Verde Generating Station located nearly 88.5km west of downtown Phoenix near the town of Wintersburg, Arizona, and the 3.4GWthe Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant located on the Tennessee River near Decatur and Athens, Alabama.

The country’s major coal power plants include the 3.6GW Robert W Scherer Power Plant — which can supply enough energy to power nearly 1.5 million homes — the 3.3GW Monroe Power Plant, owned by the DTE Energy Electric Company, and the 3.3GW Plant Bowen.

Some of the biggest solar and wind power facilities in the country include:

• the 579MW Solar Star power plant,
• the 552MWCopper Mountain Solar facility,
• the 550MW Topaz Solar Farm,
• the 1,5GW Alta Wind Energy Centre,
• the 910MW Los Vientos Wind Farm,
• and the 845MW Shepherds Flat Wind Farm.

 

India – 1,561.1TWh

India is third in the list of global electricity producers, generating a significant amount of its power from coal — with more than 65% of the country’s electricity coming from thermal power plants.

Some of it biggest thermal power plants include the 4.7GW Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, the 4.6GW Mundra Thermal Power Station located in the Kutch district of Gujarat and the 4GW Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP), also located in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

India also generates a considerable amount of electricity from hydropower, including: the 1.45GW Sardar Sarovar project in Gujarat operated by Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, the 816MW Nagarjuna Sagar project in Telangana operated by TSGENCO, and the 435MW Bansagar project owned by the Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Department.

Power produced by wind and solar facilities account for 29.8% and 22.8%, respectively, of the country’s total renewable energy capacity. The 1.5GW Muppandal wind farm in Tamil Nadu developed by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, the 1.27GW Jaisalmer Wind Park in Rajasthan developed by Suzlon Energy, and the 528MW Brahmanvel wind farm developed by Parakh Agro Industries in Maharashtra are its major wind power facilities.

The 1GW Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh owned by the Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation (APSPCL) is one of the biggest solar facilities in the country.

Field and wind turbines in India (Credit: Yahoo! Blog from Sunnyvale, California, USA/Wikipedia.org)

 

Russia – 1,110.8TWh

Russia is the fourth largest electricity generating country in the world, with a production of 1,110.8TWh in 2018. The country accounts for 4.2% of the total electricity generation in the world.

The country has an installed electricity generation capacity of more than 220GW coming from nearly 440 power plants.

Most of the power generation in Russia is from gas- and coal-fired plants, while renewable energy generation contributed only 1.3TWh in 2018. However, there was a 10.5% growth in power generated from renewable sources in 2018 compared with 2017.

When it comes to nuclear power, Russia has 31 reactors in operation with an installed power generation capacity of 21GW.

Overall, the largest power plant in Russia is the 6.4GW Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower project, built along the Yenisei River, near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia. Operating since 1978, the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower project contributes around 23.5TWh of electricity generation annually in Russia.

Other major power plants in Russia are the 6GW Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station, the 4GW Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, and the 3.6GW gas-fired Kostroma Power Station.

 

Japan – 1,051.6TWh

Japan is the fifth-largest electricity generating country in the world with a production of 1,051.6TWh in 2018. The East Asian country has a 4% share of the overall electricity generation in the world.

The country’s electricity generation from renewable sources in 2018 stood at 112.1TWh, an increase of 13.5% from 2017.

Until the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, Japan had traditionally depended on nuclear power generation, as the country does not have abundant quantities of domestic reserves of fossil fuel, crude oil and natural gas.

According to The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), the East Asian country depends on imports for 94% of its main energy supply needs.

Other than nuclear power, hydroelectric and solar plants make a significant contribution to Japan’s power generation.

Japan is home to one of the 10 largest power plants in the world, the 7.96GW Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, on the coast of the Sea of Japan, in Niigata Prefecture.

Read more: electricity suppliers

Do you pay too much for energy?

When I bought my house in September last year,  I really delved into 'boring' but important matters such as insurance, gas, water and light for the first time. A new house - whether it is rent or for sale - is the reason to revise all these things again and see if you can save.

After I was able to switch to cheaper car insurance at the beginning of this year and thus saved more than on an annual basis, I also started the search for a cheap energy supplier. Because especially in the winter months I am quite shocked by my gas and electricity bill. It rose to over in the coldest month!

I strongly felt that it should be cheaper.

And nowadays energy can be excellent green and cheap. I investigated: what does the average Dutch person pay for gas and/or electricity companies NZ.  How does my energy bill compare to the average Dutch person? And where can I find cheap and green energy?

Average energy consumption

The energy consumption in a home depends on a number of things:

• Type of energy: only electricity or also gas? 
• Type of house : you can imagine that you use less energy in an apartment than in a detached villa.
• Household composition: a household with 10 people obviously uses more energy than a one-person household.
• Year of construction: the newer the house, the better it is often insulated and the less gas you use for your heating.

How much energy do I use annually?

I have not lived in my new home for a full year, so I cannot see the costs accurately for a full year. The amount of my energy bill has also varied enormously in recent months. That is not surprising, because in winter you naturally use much more gas (heating) than in summer.

Average consumption from December 2018 to August 2019 was:

• Gas : 58m3 per month
• Electricity: 105 kWh per month

The forecast is that I will consume around 800m3 of gas per year and around 1400 kWh of electricity.

Costs gas & electricity

In the app of my energy supplier I can easily see what I use per month and what the costs are. For example, in the cheapest month (August) I paid $ 48 last year, while I paid over $ 160 in January. Per month I pay on average about:

Average consumption for my living situation

I investigated what the average Dutch person  consumes in my living situation. That means:

• Type of energy:  electricity & gas
• Type of house : flat / apartment
• Household composition:  1 person
• Manufacturing year:  1965 - 1974.

In this case, the average Dutch person consumes 1000 m3 of gas  and 1930 kWh of electricity . Certainly in terms of electricity, I am well below that!

Switch to a cheap energy supplier

Because I had already made the above calculation, I was able to quickly enter my details via energiedirect.nl and discover whether and how much I could save on energy.

And that turned out to be quite a large amount! If I take out a 2-year contract (which I could already do as of December 1, as my current contract will expire), I will only pay € 79 per month for green electricity and gas. That is annual savings of almost € 200 ! When I take out a one-year contract, I pay € 81 per month, which is still many times lower than I do now.

Read More: https://dinomori3.wixsite.com/ecotricitynz/post/how-can-you-tackle-power-pollution-from-charging-stations

Connecting your solar panels to a home battery: good idea?

The home battery is increasingly making the news. More and more new models are coming onto the market, technology is improving, prices are falling and there is even an interesting subsidy for Flanders. But is now the time to invest in a home battery? We figured it out for you.

What is a home battery?

A home battery is your store of solar energy that you produce too much. After all, according to UGent figures, we only use 30% of our products directly, 70% we put on the public electricity grid. We pay a levy for this in Flanders and Wallonia: the prosumer rate. This compensation is because you use the electricity network to set up and purchase energy. Check electricity nz.

A home battery, therefore, saves the excess power from your solar panels. As soon as your panels produce more than your consumption, the home battery starts to charge. You use that power at times when the sun does not provide energy. The most common systems can store between 3 kWh and 8 kWh. On average, a family consumes around 10 kWh per day. That means that a home battery can not fully insure your power needs, but still a good deal. Unless you take a larger (and therefore more expensive) battery.

There are three advantages to a home battery

The first is, of course, that you use more self-produced energy and therefore have to draw less power from the grid - and thus save.

The second advantage is that you no longer pay a prosumer rate because with a home battery you don't need a counter that turns back. We will explain how this works later.

The third advantage is that you have your own power supply and therefore switch to your home battery in the event of a power failure. There is even a fourth advantage for Flanders: subsidy. You get back up to 35% of your investment costs, up to € 3200. This automatically brings us to the biggest stumbling block: the price.

What does a home battery cost?

New technology is usually expensive and so is the home battery. In addition, the higher the storage capacity, the higher the price. For a 3 kWh battery, you have to count on € 4,000. For an 8 kWh model, this increases to € 8,000 and for a power of 14 kWh, this is about € 10,000. For Flanders, you may deduct the subsidy of € 250 per kWh, with a maximum of € 3,200 or 35%. A number of conditions are attached to the subsidies. You can find electric vehicles nz

Of course, you not only look at the costs but also at the return. Three things play a role there.

 The quality of the battery can make a big difference. A top-quality lithium-ion battery provides 95% efficiency while a lower quality, the cheaper battery can be 70% effective

The number of charging cycles or the number of times your battery can store and return power. Top models achieve up to 10,000 cycles, most basic models around 5,000.

The peak consumption of your electricity. You have to plan your consumption smartly so that production, consumption, and capacity are well balanced. Then you need to get as little energy as possible from the public grid and save.

There is also a fourth factor: the prosumer rate. You pay this levy (not in Brussels) if you have a reversing counter. How much you pay depends on the power of your inverter. So not from your actual production. If you no longer have a revolving meter, the prosumer rate will lapse and you will immediately save. The reversing counter is less interesting with a home battery anyway. After all, you first charge your battery, and only then does the rest go to the public network.

If you keep your rev counter, you can have a converter with a lower power installed. As a result, your prosumer rate decreases, without jeopardizing your production.

Just as technical

A home battery may need an additional inverter to do its job. The inverter for your solar panels converts direct current into alternating current. For direct use, to put on the public network or for your home battery. The system works in one direction, but your home battery must also be able to return the stored power. And for that, you need the extra converter that converts the alternating current back into direct current. On some models, the two-way interface (direct current <-> alternating current) is already provided thanks to the built-in inverter.

Low efficiency in the winter

About 70% of solar panel production is in late spring, summer, and early fall. The days are longer and the sun shines more often. But in the dark and rainy months, your solar panels have no overproduction. Your home battery will not be able to store excess energy and will therefore not be profitable. You can also only store a limited amount of energy, so your home battery will have to be unemployed during this period.

A calculation

Paying back your home battery: that is not feasible today. We have made a calculation of what you invest and what it yields.

An average family uses about 3600 kWh annually. If it has solar panels with a power of 4 kW, it can generate about 70% of its electricity itself. This means that it must take 1080 kWh from the electricity grid. That comes with the current prices at € 270. There is the advantage that the prosumer rate is eliminated because the family no longer has a 'reversing' counter. 

The purchase price of a home battery is around € 5,000. As a result, it takes more than 50 years for the investment to become profitable. However, the life of a home battery is up to 20 years.

10 tips if you want to save energy without losing comfort

Using less energy, using energy at the right time or not using energy unnecessarily: there are various ways to reduce your consumption - and therefore your energy costs. The good news: little things often make for interesting savings. Here you have 10 examples that will probably work for you too.

1. Energy-saving cooking: the pressure cooker

A pressure cooker or pressure cooker does not release steam like a regular pan. This creates high pressure and accelerates the cooking time: you only need two-thirds of the normal cooking time. This ensures that your energy consumption is reduced by as much as 50%. In addition, your food is ready faster and the vitamins and taste are better preserved. So only benefits.

2. Energy-saving cooking: wok cooking

The wok is a very energy-friendly way to cook for two reasons. In the first place, you prepare your dishes with woks short but fierce. The cooking time is therefore limited, which means that your stove does not have to work for a long time. In addition, the wok is a one-pan dish: you can put all ingredients in the same wok pan. So you only need one burner or hob. Also a nice bonus: you have fewer dishes! 

Read more: electricity suppliers

3. Energy-saving washing: fill your drum

Washing costs a lot of energy and you often use your washing machine. Reasons enough to wash smartly. You can achieve significant savings by only running a full washing machine. The 'half wash' program actually saves you little because heating water is the greatest cost. Do you already have a solar water heater? Then choose a 'hot fill system. The hot water then enters the machine directly. This way you save 50% on energy.

4. Energy-saving drying with a heat pump

A classic condenser dryer heats the air with an electric heating element. The new heat pump dryers use the moist air that comes out of your drum. How does that work? A coolant condenses the moisture and is reused as dry air. That quickly saves you half of the electricity compared to an A + condensation dryer. Heat pump dryers are slightly more expensive to purchase, but your savings are much greater.

5. Energy-saving washing with the delay button

Do you have a double meter and do you use electricity at night (and on weekends) for a lower price? Then the delay button is the solution to lower your energy costs. This function is on your washing machine, dishwasher, and dryer. This way you can easily set the start time and you do not have to wait for the nightly rate period to start.

6. Energy-saving heating with the smart thermostat

Heating costs make up about 60% of your total energy budget. That is where you can get the most profit. The easiest way is to install a smart thermostat. It automatically regulates the ideal temperature and saves up to 31% energy. This is mainly because you never heat unnecessarily thanks to the smart thermostat. You can read how this works exactly here.

7. Energy-saving living: opt for HR ++ glass

HR ++ glass is double glass with 2 layers of insulation. This has the advantage that you do not have condensation on the inside and that the heat stays better in your home. HR ++ glass is up to 20% more energy-efficient than double glass. HR ++ glass (U value 1.2) has an insulation value 2.5 times higher than 'normal' double glass (U value 2.7). If you are going to renovate, this is the ideal time to save on your energy costs and increase your comfort with HR ++ glass.

8. Energy-saving living: request an energy scan or energy audit

How do you find out how your home can be more energy efficient? That is not easy, but fortunately, there is professional help. The Flemish government has an energy scan that is even free for certain groups. A specialist will visit and point out the important points for improvement. The advice is without obligation. An energy audit is a second possibility. It is more in-depth than an energy scan: you receive an energy performance certificate from your home and detailed advice. The costs depend on the size of your home. But you do have substantiated advice to invest and thus save.

9. Energy-saving lighting: intelligent lighting

Saving on the energy costs of your lighting is easy. LED lighting consumes 85% less than an incandescent lamp. But it is also worthwhile to discover the benefits of intelligent lighting. This lighting works with motion sensors. When you leave a room, the light goes out. You can also turn off all lights at the touch of a button - even when you're not at home - and simply program the light intensity. Intelligent lighting is easy to install via your home network, making an application very accessible.

10. Energy-saving cooling with these practical tips

A refrigerator works day and night, but you can make it work a little less hard. The first way: ensure good ventilation around the refrigerator. If the dissipated heat cannot escape properly, and thus blocks, the refrigerator uses extra energy to reach the desired temperature. Also, check that there are no cracks in the rubber seals on the door. This way, no cold can escape. The last tip is the easiest: put what you often need in the front of the refrigerator. Then you don't have to leave the door open for too long. Because that is an important cause of extra energy consumption.

Financial Assistance for Utility Bills Due to Hardship from Covid-19

Covid-19 — also known as the “corona virus” — has suddenly left tens of millions of Americans out of work. In addition to concerns about health and safety, many folks around the country are suddenly feeling the impacts and pressure of the possibility — or maybe even the reality already — of job loss and the loss of a (or the) source of income for their household. Reference

Thankfully, many companies have stepped up to provide financial assistance to their customers. Some banks are deferring interest payments while other companies are temporarily stopping the practice of reporting late payments to credit bureaus. The federal government is working on providing financial assistance in the coming weeks, as well.

What if I can’t pay my electric / gas bill?

As a general rule of thumb, the best thing to do when you can’t pay your bill — whether it’s for your electricity or your mortgage — is to pick up the phone and open up a line of communication. Call and explain your situation and see what kind of arrangements can be made with your utility.

Also, you want there to be a record that you called and explained your hardship. Make sure to write down the day/time of your call, as well as the name of the customer service representative that spoke to you.

State of Emergencies and Utility Shutoffs

Many states and local municipalities have declared a “State of Emergency” due to the outbreak of Covid-19. One condition of such a declaration being made by your governor or mayor is that it now may be illegal for your utility to turn off your service (verify with your local utility!).

This doesn’t mean that you should ignore your energy provider if they’re trying to reach out to you to talk about a late payment, but it does mean that you have an extra peace of mind if you’re unable to come to a resolution.

Check with your utility company and local government to see if a state of emergency has been declared for your area due to Covid-19. Ask if service shutoffs are temporarily suspended.

Read more: power companies nz

What is Electricity?

Getting Started
Electricity is all around us--powering technology like our cell phones, computers, lights, soldering irons, and air conditioners. It's tough to escape it in our modern world. Even when you try to escape electricity, it's still at work throughout nature, from the lightning in a thunderstorm to the synapses inside our body. But what exactly is electricity? This is a very complicated question, and as you dig deeper and ask more questions, there really is not a definitive answer, only abstract representations of how electricity interacts with our surroundings.

Electricity is a natural phenomenon that occurs throughout nature and takes many different forms. In this tutorial we'll focus on current electricity: the stuff that powers our electronic gadgets. Our goal is to understand how electricity flows from a power source through wires, lighting up LEDs, spinning motors, and powering our communication devices.

Read more: electricity providers nz

Electricity is briefly defined as the flow of electric charge, but there's so much behind that simple statement. Where do the charges come from? How do we move them? Where do they move to? How does an electric charge cause mechanical motion or make things light up? So many questions! To begin to explain what electricity is we need to zoom way in, beyond the matter and molecules, to the atoms that make up everything we interact with in life.

This tutorial builds on some basic understanding of physics, force, energy, atoms, in particular. We'll gloss over the basics of each of those physics concepts, but it may help to consult other sources as well.

Going Atomic
To understand the fundamentals of electricity, we need to begin by focusing in on atoms, one of the basic building blocks of life and matter. Atoms exist in over a hundred different forms as chemical elements like hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and copper. Atoms of many types can combine to make molecules, which build the matter we can physically see and touch.

Atoms are tiny, stretching at a max to about 300 picometers long (that's 3x10-10 or 0.0000000003 meters). A copper penny (if it actually were made of 100% copper) would have 3.2x1022 atoms (32,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms) of copper inside it.

Even the atom isn't small enough to explain the workings of electricity. We need to dive down one more level and look in on the building blocks of atoms: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Building Blocks of Atoms
An atom is built with a combination of three distinct particles: electrons, protons, and neutrons. Each atom has a center nucleus, where the protons and neutrons are densely packed together. Surrounding the nucleus are a group of orbiting electrons.

Every atom must have at least one proton in it. The number of protons in an atom is important, because it defines what chemical element the atom represents. For example, an atom with just one proton is hydrogen, an atom with 29 protons is copper, and an atom with 94 protons is plutonium. This count of protons is called the atom's atomic number.

The proton's nucleus-partner, neutrons, serve an important purpose; they keep the protons in the nucleus and determine the isotope of an atom. They're not critical to our understanding of electricity, so let's not worry about them for this tutorial.

Electrons are critical to the workings of electricity (notice a common theme in their names?) In its most stable, balanced state, an atom will have the same number of electrons as protons. As in the Bohr atom model below, a nucleus with 29 protons (making it a copper atom) is surrounded by an equal number of electrons.

The atom's electrons aren't all forever bound to the atom. The electrons on the outer orbit of the atom are called valence electrons. With enough outside force, a valence electron can escape orbit of the atom and become free. Free electrons allow us to move charge, which is what electricity is all about. Speaking of charge...

Flowing Charges
As we mentioned at the beginning of this tutorial, electricity is defined as the flow of electric charge. Charge is a property of matter--just like mass, volume, or density. It is measurable. Just as you can quantify how much mass something has, you can measure how much charge it has. The key concept with charge is that it can come in two types: positive (+) or negative (-).

In order to move charge we need charge carriers, and that's where our knowledge of atomic particles--specifically electrons and protons--comes in handy. Electrons always carry a negative charge, while protons are always positively charged. Neutrons (true to their name) are neutral, they have no charge. Both electrons and protons carry the same amount of charge, just a different type.

The charge of electrons and protons is important, because it provides us the means to exert a force on them. Electrostatic force!

Electrostatic Force
Electrostatic force (also called Coulomb's law) is a force that operates between charges. It states that charges of the same type repel each other, while charges of opposite types are attracted together. Opposites attract, and likes repel

The amount of force acting on two charges depends on how far they are from each other. The closer two charges get, the greater the force (either pushing together, or pulling away) becomes.

Thanks to electrostatic force, electrons will push away other electrons and be attracted to protons. This force is part of the "glue" that holds atoms together, but it's also the tool we need to make electrons (and charges) flow!

Making Charges Flow
We now have all the tools to make charges flow. Electrons in atoms can act as our charge carrier, because every electron carries a negative charge. If we can free an electron from an atom and force it to move, we can create electricity.

Consider the atomic model of a copper atom, one of the preferred elemental sources for charge flow. In its balanced state, copper has 29 protons in its nucleus and an equal number of electrons orbiting around it. Electrons orbit at varying distances from the nucleus of the atom. Electrons closer to the nucleus feel a much stronger attraction to the center than those in distant orbits. The outermost electrons of an atom are called the valence electrons, these require the least amount of force to be freed from an atom.

Using enough electrostatic force on the valence electron--either pushing it with another negative charge or attracting it with a positive charge--we can eject the electron from orbit around the atom creating a free electron.

Now consider a copper wire: matter filled with countless copper atoms. As our free electron is floating in a space between atoms, it's pulled and prodded by surrounding charges in that space. In this chaos the free electron eventually finds a new atom to latch on to; in doing so, the negative charge of that electron ejects another valence electron from the atom. Now a new electron is drifting through free space looking to do the same thing. This chain effect can continue on and on to create a flow of electrons called electric current.

Conductivity
Some elemental types of atoms are better than others at releasing their electrons. To get the best possible electron flow we want to use atoms which don't hold very tightly to their valence electrons. An element's conductivity measures how tightly bound an electron is to an atom.

Elements with high conductivity, which have very mobile electrons, are called conductors. These are the types of materials we want to use to make wires and other components which aid in electron flow. Metals like copper, silver, and gold are usually our top choices for good conductors.

Elements with low conductivity are called insulators. Insulators serve a very important purpose: they prevent the flow of electrons. Popular insulators include glass, rubber, plastic, and air.

Static or Current Electricity
Before we get much further, let's discuss the two forms electricity can take: static or current. In working with electronics, current electricity will be much more common, but static electricity is important to understand as well.

Static Electricity
Static electricity exists when there is a build-up of opposite charges on objects separated by an insulator. Static (as in "at rest") electricity exists until the two groups of opposite charges can find a path between each other to balance the system out.

The ten biggest power companies in 2019

10. E.ON – $36.93bn
ten biggest power companiesE.ON’s revenue for the year ending September 2018 was estimated at $36.93bn. Image courtesy of Wiki05.
Germany-based, privately owned international energy company E.ON’s revenues for the year ending September 2018 stood at $36.93bn. Reference 

Its Energy Networks segment accounted for 29.5% of the total revenue during the period, followed by Customer Solutions 20%, and the Renewable segment 3.3%. The company’s Non-Core Business accounted for 4% of the total revenue.

E.ON operates more than 5GW of renewable power plants worldwide. It also operates a nuclear power business in Germany through PreussenElektra. The European Commission (EC) approved the acquisition of E.ON and Innogy’s renewable businesses by RWE in February 2019.

9. Siemens – $38.42bn
ten biggest power companiesSiemens’ Power and Gas segment generated $14.13bn in revenue in 2018. Image courtesy of Siemens Pressebild.
Siemens’ energy segments, including Power and Gas, Energy Management, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, contributed $14.13bn, $13.93bn, and $10.36bn respectively to its total consolidated revenue of $94.35bn in 2018.

The Power and Gas segment, which provides products and solutions for the operation of fossil fuel and renewable power plants, witnessed a 14% decrease, while the total orders in this segment increased by 14%.

The Energy Management segment engaged in the supply of power transmission and distribution products, reported a 5% increase in revenue, but a 10% decrease in orders. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, which is engaged in the wind power business, reported a 5% decrease in revenue, but an 8% increase in orders.

8. General Electric Co – $38.5bn
ten biggest power companiesGeneral Electric’s (GE) Power, Renewable Energy and Lighting segments contributed $38.5bn revenues in 2018. Image courtesy of EEJCC.
General Electric’s (GE) three energy segments Power, Renewable Energy, and Lighting generated $38.5bn in revenues, accounting for 31.7% of the company’s total revenue of $121.6bn during the year. The three segments respectively contributed $27.3bn, $9.53bn, and $1.7bn to the company.

The company’s revenue from the power segment decreased by 22%, whereas that from the lighting business dropped by 11%. Revenue from its renewable energy segment, however, increased by 4% during the year.

The GE Power segment provides products and services related to energy production, while the GE Lighting segment develops lighting solutions. The GE Renewable Energy segment provides onshore and offshore wind turbines and blades, as well as hydropower solutions.

7. Iberdrola – $39.79bn
ten biggest power companiesIberdrola’s net profit grew by 7.5% to $3.4bn in 2018. Image courtesy of mifl68.
Spanish multinational electric utility company Iberdrola registered a 12.2% year-on-year revenue growth to $39.79bn in 2018. The company’s net profit grew by 7.5% to $3.4bn.

Iberdrola’s net investment during the year reached $6bn with its transmission network business accounting for 46% of the investment, followed by the renewable segment (31%) and the power generation and supply segment (20%).

Operating in Spain, US, Brazil, Mexico, and the UK, Iberdrola had more than 29GW of renewable energy installed capacity as of December 2018. Iberdrola Renovables Energía, ScottishPower Renewable Energy, Avangrid Renewables, and Iberdrola Renovables México are its major subsidiaries engaged in renewable power generation.

6. Engie – $48.8bn
ten biggest power companiesEngie sells more than 7.3TWh of electricity a year. Image courtesy of Parus-Corax.
French electric utility firm Engie reported a 1.7% year-on-year revenue growth to $68.8bn in 2018. The company’s power business accounted for more than 60% of its total revenue.

The company’s annual electricity sales exceed 7.3TWh. Its revenues, excluding gas sales, was estimated at $48.8bn, based on the average gas price in Europe during the year.

Engie is the biggest independent electricity producer in the world and generates more than 25GW of renewable energy a year, accounting for almost one-fifth of the global renewable energy generation. The company added 1.1GW of wind and solar capacity in 2018.

5. KEPCO – $53.5bn
ten biggest power companiesKorea Electric Power Corporation’s (KEPCO) power generation business accounted for 68.1% of the Korean power market in 2018. Image courtesy of Redpenblue.
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) witnessed a 1.4% year-on-year revenue growth to $53.5bn in 2018. The company’s power sales volume increased to 530TWh, compared with 507TWh in 2017.

With a total generation capacity of 81.15GW, KEPCO’s power generation business accounted for 68.1% of the Korean power market in 2018, while its transmission and distribution business accounted for 100% market share in the Korean power market.

KEPCO’s power generation business is operated through six of its wholly owned subsidiaries namely KHNP, KOEN, KOMIPO, WP, KOSPO, and EWP. The other subsidiaries involved in plant maintenance and engineering service include KEPCO E&C and KEPCO KPS.

4. TEPCO – $55.36bn
ten biggest power companiesTokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is Japan’s biggest power company. Image courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
Japan’s biggest power company Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) registered $55.36bn of revenue in the year ending December 2018. The company’s electricity sales volume during the period stood at 239.9TWh.

Headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, TEPCO focuses on power generation and distribution through 34 subsidiaries and 32 affiliates.

TEPCO has three core operating segments, which include Fuel and Power (fuel and thermal power generation), Power Grid (general power transmission and distribution), and Energy Partner (electricity retail).

3. EDF – $77.8bn
ten biggest power companiesEDF company operates 73 nuclear reactors globally. Image courtesy of Stefan Kühn.
French electric utility company EDF’s revenue increased by 6.3% year-on-year to reach $77.8bn in 2018. The company’s power generation, supply, and regulated activities in France accounted for 61%, while the UK and Italian markets accounted for 13% and 12% of its revenue respectively.

Its reactor business Framatome contributed 4.8%, while its renewable businesses Dalkia and EDF Renewables respectively contributed 6% and 2% of its revenue.

The company operates 73 nuclear reactors and serves more than 35 million customers worldwide using 1.3 million kilometres of low and medium-voltage networks and 100,000km of high and very-high-voltage transmission networks.

2. Enel – $85.28bn
ten biggest power companiesEnel distributed 485.4TWh of electricity on its network during 2018. Image courtesy of Enel Spa.
Italian multinational energy company Enel’s revenue was up by 1.3% to $85.28bn in 2018. The company generated a total of 250.3TWh of electricity, but distributed 485.4TWh of electricity on its network during the year. The company’s total electricity sales amounted to 295.4TWh.

Enel’s electricity sales outside Italy increased to 191.1TWh in 2018 compared to 181.6TWh in 2017. The company connected more than 3GW of renewable capacity to grids around the world in 2018.

1. State Grid Corporation of China – $347bn
ten biggest power companiesThe State Grid Corporation of China is the world’s biggest power company by revenue. Image courtesy of Ermell.
State-owned electric utility State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) recorded a revenue of $347bn in 2018 to emerge as the world’s biggest power company.

Established in 2002 and headquartered in Beijing, SGCC distributes electricity in 26 provinces, covering 88% of the national territory. It serves a population of more than 1.1 billion in China. The utility also owns and operates transmission assets in the Philippines, Australia, Portugal, Italy and Brazil.

With 987,000km of transmission lines and 4,350GW of converting capacity, SGCC’s annual electricity sales exceed 3,874TWh.

Read more: Switching to another energy supplier