How TVA Makes Electricity
TVA Powers Homes, Schools and Communities
TVA is a public power company – the largest in the United States. We serve more than 10 million people across a seven-state region with reliable, low-cost electricity that you use every day!
TVA produces more than 32,000 megawatts of electricity. That electricity helps power businesses, schools and homes like yours across the Valley region. TVA uses different types of power plants to produce that electricity.
What is energy?
Ignite. Surge. Fuel. Charge. Transform.
All these words describe what energy does. Energy makes things happen!
Types of Energy
There are many types of energy.
Light energy from the sun or a flashlight
Heat energy from fire or a stove
Sound energy from music or talking
Motion energy when you run or ride a bike
Electricity – that’s the one we use to power things like TVs, lights, and computers!
Making Electricity
TVA makes electricity using water, coal, gas, sunlight and even atoms! Learn about the different ways TVA produces the energy you use every day.
Nuclear plants produce energy by breaking apart tiny particles called atoms. When these atoms are split apart, they release a lot of heat. Nuclear plants use a special fuel called uranium. The process of splitting atoms is called fission.
Gas plants use natural gas, oil or renewable fuel to produce electricity. They can fire up quickly when demand for energy spikes.
Coal and other fossil fuels are what’s left behind from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Over time, these plants and animals were buried. Heat and pressure changed them into fuel.
You’ll find hydropower plants along the Tennessee River and its tributaries. These plants use dams to hold back water in reservoirs. When that water is released, it falls through turbines, creating electricity.
Some sources of energy can’t be easily replaced, like fossil fuels. Renewable energy comes from sources that can be replaced more easily. Hydropower is one example, but others include solar power, biomass gas and wind.
Energy can also be stored in batteries. Then, when it’s needed, the battery can release the energy. TVA uses hydropower from the Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Plant for energy storage.
TVA Electricity
Once TVA generates electricity, there's still work to be done. Learn about the electricity transmission system, balancing authority and more.
Scientists and researchers are exploring new ways to produce the electricity we need. Learn about how TVA is using new technology in our region.
Electricity from TVA travels from the power plants where the electricity is made to your home on a network of power lines.
Electricity is always moving. TVA has to make sure the amount of electricity being made matches how much energy is being used.
Electricity powers our lives, but it can be dangerous! Learn to stay safe around electricity.
Saving energy helps reduce the amount of energy needed and saves money. Learn how you can help!
Producing energy for 10 million people takes a lot of people! Learn about different career paths at TVA.