Key Energy and Industrial Terminology Definitions

Energy & Industrial Terminology Definitions

Fundamental Concepts

Biomass

The total mass of living material within a community or ecosystem. This often includes non-living organic material used as an energy source.

Fuel

A material burned or altered to produce energy, especially for power generation or heating. Examples include wood, coal, coke, oil, natural gas, etc.

Wetland

Land flooded or soaked in water, either permanently or seasonally.

Ecological Conscience

A positive attitude towards the responsible exploitation and management of natural resources. It implies recognizing the need for and promoting environmental protection policies.

Energy Sources & Types

Biogas

A mixture of gases produced by the fermentation or anaerobic digestion of biomass.

Coal

A black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, primarily composed of carbon, formed from ancient plant matter and used as a fossil fuel.

Hydroelectric Power

Energy obtained by harnessing the mechanical force of water falling from a height.

Tidal Energy

A form of renewable energy based on the oscillation of sea levels (tides), which follows an approximately sinusoidal pattern.

Solar Energy (Source)

Energy originating from the sun, produced by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei (like the proton-proton cycle). This process transforms about 4 million tons of the sun's mass into energy every second.

Geothermal Energy

Energy derived from deposits of hot water and steam found underground, resulting from the Earth's internal thermal activity.

Power Generation Facilities

Power Plant

An industrial facility designed to produce electrical energy from another form of energy. Depending on the energy source, types include hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, and less commonly, wind, solar, tidal, etc.

Thermoelectric Power Plant

A facility used for generating electricity from heat. This heat can be obtained from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, or coal) or from nuclear fission (uranium or other nuclear fuel).

Wind Power Plant (Central Eólica)

A facility that utilizes wind energy. Its fundamental element is a wind turbine (aerogenerador). Due to the irregular nature of wind, energy storage systems are often used.

Solar Power Plant (Photovoltaic)

A facility using panels of photovoltaic cells, connected to produce electricity directly from solar radiation.

Geothermal Power Plant

A facility that utilizes thermal energy from underground sources (geothermal heat).

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Plant (Central Heliotérmica)

A facility that uses solar energy radiated by the sun to heat a fluid, which then drives a turbogenerator to produce electricity.

Other Industrial & Related Terms

Bocage / Opening

An open top providing access to silos, cups, wells, or cisterns. (Note: Original term 'Bocatge' and definition were unclear).

Industrial Colony (Colònia Industrial)

A settlement comprising industrial facilities separate from existing towns, including housing for workers and managers, a church, school, shops, and other services. Originating partly in Britain and notably found in Catalonia, these colonies were often linked to the textile industry.