Whether you’re fixing a gadget, planning an off-grid setup, or just curious about how power moves through our lives, electrical energy shows up everywhere — from tiny batteries in remotes to large-scale generation on the grid. Thinking in terms of real examples makes it easier to compare devices, costs, and suitability for different tasks.
There are 30 Examples of Electrical Energy, ranging from AA Battery to Wind Turbine. For each entry, you’ll find below Category,Typical energy (kWh),Location so you can quickly compare type, typical output and where it’s commonly used.
Which examples of electrical energy are most common in homes?
Typical home items include AA batteries, smartphone chargers, LED lighting, refrigerators and HVAC systems; the list below shows Category,Typical energy (kWh),Location so you can see how small portable cells compare to whole-home loads and prioritize upgrades or replacements.
How do I use the Category,Typical energy (kWh),Location columns to choose the right option?
Look at Category to group similar devices, use Typical energy (kWh) to compare real usage or output, and check Location to understand context (portable, residential, industrial); together these three fields help you balance cost, availability and suitability for your needs.
Examples of Electrical Energy
| Name | Category | Typical energy (kWh) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Strike | phenomenon | 1,400 | Atmosphere |
| Static Electricity Shock | phenomenon | 0.000000001 | Everyday objects |
| Nerve Impulse | phenomenon | ~0 | Living organisms |
| Electric Eel | phenomenon | 0.001 | Amazon River Basin |
| Solar Panel | source | 0.35 per hour | Rooftops, solar farms |
| Wind Turbine | source | 2,500 per hour | Wind farms, coastlines |
| Hydroelectric Dam | source | 1,000,000 per hour | Large rivers |
| Fossil Fuel Power Plant | source | 600,000 per hour | Industrial areas |
| Nuclear Power Plant | source | 1,200,000 per hour | Industrial areas |
| Geothermal Power Plant | source | 50,000 per hour | Volcanically active areas |
| AA Battery | storage | 0.003 | Small electronics |
| Car Battery | storage | 0.7 | Vehicles |
| Smartphone Battery | storage | 0.015 | Mobile phones |
| Laptop Battery | storage | 0.06 | Portable computers |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery | storage | 60 | Electric cars |
| Grid-Scale Battery | storage | 200,000 | Electrical substations |
| Capacitor | storage | <0.001 | Electronic circuits |
| LED Bulb | use | 0.01 per hour | Home & office lighting |
| Refrigerator | use | 1.5 per day | Kitchen |
| Microwave Oven | use | 1.2 per hour | Kitchen |
| Air Conditioner | use | 3.5 per hour | Buildings, homes |
| Television | use | 0.1 per hour | Living room |
| Desktop Computer | use | 0.25 per hour | Home & office |
| Electric Motor | device | Varies greatly | Appliances, vehicles |
| Electric Stove | use | 3 per hour | Kitchen |
| Washing Machine | use | 0.7 per cycle | Laundry room |
| Electric Train | use | 25 per km | Railway lines |
| Defibrillator | device | 0.0001 per shock | Hospitals, public spaces |
| Electromagnet | device | Varies | Junkyards, labs, MRI |
| Toaster | use | 1.2 per hour | Kitchen |
Images and Descriptions
Lightning Strike
A massive, natural electrostatic discharge between clouds or to the ground. This powerful burst of electrical energy is a stunning but dangerous display of atmospheric physics, releasing immense power in an instant.
Static Electricity Shock
That tiny spark after walking on carpet is a small electrostatic discharge from built-up charge. It’s a personal, low-energy demonstration of the same principles behind a lightning bolt.
Nerve Impulse
Your nervous system uses tiny electrical signals (action potentials) to send messages between your brain and body. This form of bioelectricity is fundamental to thought, sensation, and movement.
Electric Eel
This fish can generate powerful electric shocks to stun prey or defend itself. It uses specialized cells called electrocytes, which act like thousands of tiny biological batteries arranged in a series.
Solar Panel
Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into DC electrical energy. This clean, renewable source powers everything from individual homes to large-scale utility grids without any emissions.
Wind Turbine
These massive blades capture the wind’s kinetic energy, spinning a generator to produce electricity. A single modern turbine can generate enough electrical energy to power thousands of homes.
Hydroelectric Dam
By harnessing the potential energy of water stored in a reservoir, dams use turbines to generate a consistent and massive amount of electricity, providing reliable power for entire regions.
Fossil Fuel Power Plant
These plants burn coal or natural gas to create steam, which spins a turbine generator. For decades, they have been the primary source of electrical energy for grids around the world.
Nuclear Power Plant
Using nuclear fission to generate immense heat, these plants create steam to drive turbines. They produce a huge amount of carbon-free electrical energy from a small amount of fuel.
Geothermal Power Plant
Tapping into the Earth’s natural heat, these plants use steam from underground reservoirs to spin turbines. This provides a reliable and clean source of electrical energy 24 hours a day.
AA Battery
This common battery stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy on demand. It provides portable power for devices like remote controls, flashlights, and children’s toys.
Car Battery
This 12-volt lead-acid battery provides the powerful jolt of electricity needed to start an engine. It also powers the vehicle’s lights, radio, and other electronics when the engine is off.
Smartphone Battery
Modern lithium-ion batteries are lightweight and rechargeable, storing enough electrical energy to power a smartphone for a full day. They are a marvel of portable energy density and convenience.
Laptop Battery
A rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that allows a computer to be used away from a power outlet. It stores enough electrical energy to run the device for several hours of typical use.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery
The “fuel tank” of an EV, this large lithium-ion battery pack stores significant electrical energy, allowing the car to travel hundreds of miles on a single charge from the grid.
Grid-Scale Battery
Massive battery installations that store excess electrical energy from the grid (often from renewables) and release it during peak demand, helping to improve grid stability and reliability.
Capacitor
A component that stores electrical energy in an electric field and can release it almost instantly. This makes it ideal for applications like a camera flash or smoothing out power supply ripples.
LED Bulb
A highly efficient device that converts electrical energy into light using a semiconductor. It uses a fraction of the energy of an incandescent bulb and has a much longer operational lifespan.
Refrigerator
This essential appliance uses an electric motor and compressor in a thermodynamic cycle to keep food cold. It is one of the most significant and continuous energy users in a typical household.
Microwave Oven
This appliance uses a magnetron to convert electricity into microwaves, which excite water molecules in food to heat it quickly. It is a fast and efficient application of electrical energy for cooking.
Air Conditioner
An air conditioner uses a refrigeration cycle powered by electricity to cool indoor air. It’s a major consumer of electrical energy, especially during hot summer months in many regions.
Television
A modern TV converts electricity into the light and sound that make up your favorite shows. LED and OLED technologies have made them increasingly energy-efficient compared to older models.
Desktop Computer
This device transforms electrical energy into computation, visuals, and sound. Its power supply converts AC electricity from the wall into the DC voltages needed by its intricate components.
Electric Motor
A fundamental device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion through electromagnetism. Motors are found in nearly everything that moves, from blenders and fans to electric cars.
Electric Stove
Using the principle of resistive heating, an electric stove passes a current through elements that glow red hot. It’s a direct and efficient conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy for cooking.
Washing Machine
This appliance uses an electric motor to spin the drum and often an electric heater to warm the water, converting electricity into the mechanical and thermal work needed to clean clothes.
Electric Train
Electric trains draw electricity from overhead lines or a third rail to power strong motors. This is a highly efficient method of mass transportation that can be powered by renewable energy.
Defibrillator
This life-saving medical device delivers a controlled jolt of electrical energy to a heart experiencing cardiac arrest, helping to restore its normal rhythm. It is a critical use of stored electricity.
Electromagnet
A magnet created by passing an electric current through a coil of wire. The magnetic field can be turned on and off, making it useful for lifting scrap metal or in complex medical imaging devices.
Toaster
A classic example of resistive heating, a toaster uses glowing hot wires to convert electrical energy into intense infrared radiation, perfectly browning slices of bread in minutes.
