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'''Electricity generation''' is the process of generating [[electric power]] from sources of [[primary energy]]. For [[electric utility|utilities]] in the [[electric power industry]], it is the stage prior to its [[Electricity delivery|delivery]] ([[Electric power transmission|transmission]], [[Electric power distribution|distribution]], etc.) to end users or its [[Grid energy storage|storage]], using for example, the [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity|pumped-storage]] method.
Usable electricity is not freely available in nature, so it must be "produced", transforming other forms of energy to electricity. Production is carried out in [[power station]]s, also called "power plants". Electricity is most often generated at a power plant by [[electromechanical]] [[electric generator|generators]], primarily driven by [[heat engine]]s fueled by [[combustion]] or [[nuclear fission]], but also by other means such as the [[kinetic energy]] of flowing water and wind. Other energy sources include solar [[photovoltaics]] and [[geothermal power]]. There are
[[Coal phase-out|Phasing out coal-fired power stations]] and eventually [[Gas-fired power plant|gas-fired power stations]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chestney|first=Nina|date=2021-05-14|title=Factbox: Getting out of gas - the sold and scrapped projects|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/getting-out-gas-sold-scrapped-projects-2021-05-14/|access-date=2021-11-27|archive-date=2021-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127114357/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/getting-out-gas-sold-scrapped-projects-2021-05-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> or, if practical, [[Carbon capture and storage |capturing their greenhouse gas emissions]], is an important part of the [[energy transformation]] required to [[Climate change mitigation|limit climate change]]. Vastly more [[solar power]]<ref name = solar>{{Cite web|title=Solar PV – Analysis|url=https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv|access-date=2021-11-27|website=IEA|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127114139/https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[wind power]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-11-04|title=What would a world powered entirely by offshore wind look like?|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/11/04/what-would-a-world-powered-entirely-by-offshore-wind-look-like |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-11-27|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=2021-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126223048/https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/11/04/what-would-a-world-powered-entirely-by-offshore-wind-look-like|url-status=live}}</ref> is forecast to be required, with [[electricity demand]] increasing strongly<ref>{{Cite web|title=Electricity – Global Energy Review 2021 – Analysis|url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2021/electricity |date=April 2021 |access-date=2021-11-27|website=IEA|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127114139/https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2021/electricity|url-status=live}}</ref> with further [[electrification]] of [[Electric vehicle|transport]], homes and industry.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Rory |last1=Shadbolt |date=26 Nov 2021 |title=Accelerated renewables-based electrification for the future|url=http://www.selectscience.net/industry-news/accelerated-renewables-based-electrification-paves-the-way-for-a-post-fossil-future/?artID=56222|access-date=2021-11-27|website=SelectScience |archive-date=2021-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127085350/https://www.selectscience.net/industry-news/accelerated-renewables-based-electrification-paves-the-way-for-a-post-fossil-future?artID=56222|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in 2023, it was reported that the global electricity supply was approaching peak CO2 emissions thanks to the growth of solar and wind power.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lempriere |first=Molly |date=2023-10-04 |title=World's electricity supply close to 'peak emissions' due to growth of wind and solar |url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/worlds-electricity-supply-close-to-peak-emissions-due-to-growth-of-wind-and-solar/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Carbon Brief |language=en}}</ref>
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