Engineering Background

Energy can be created in many different ways. In the torch, we used a lever mechanism to turn a generator, producing electricity that is then stored in rechargeable batteries. This kind of mechanism is using something called kinetic energy to power the device. Kinetic energy is the name of the energy an object has due to its movement.

Kinetic energy is also used a lot in renewable energy, by using the movement created by natural sources such as wind or water to produce electricity in a sustainable way. For example, wind turbines use the kinetic energy of wind to turn their blades which drives a generator. Just like in the torch, this produces electricity that can then be stored. Wind turbines provide around 25% of the total electricity used in the UK!

Solar panels are another way we produce renewable electricity in the UK. These work by turning energy from sunlight directly into electricity using something called photovoltaic cells. Solar panels can be placed on roofs to power buildings, in solar farms where a large number of solar panels are set up together, and sometimes they are also found in products like calculators and torches.