What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that comes from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal biomass, energy and hydroelectricity that has a low impact. Customers in markets that are deregulated can add a small premium to utility bills to support renewable energy sources that are cleaner.
Renewable energy sources are typically less harmful to the planet than oil drilling or coal mining. They can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is a popular green power source. Solar energy is a renewable source since it never runs out. It is a clean, efficient and secure energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollution caused by conventional fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil. This energy is a good alternative to nuclear power, which requires the mining extraction, storage and storage of radioactive waste.
Solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all methods to harness the sun's power. Solar electricity can either be delivered directly to homes and businesses or to grids that supply power to others. Some customers even have the option of selling their excess energy back to the utility company which helps keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility prices.
All forms of solar energy produce no air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which create carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be used to power different types of devices, such as spacecrafts, boats, satellites and other vessels, where accessing the electrical grid is impractical or impossible.
On a smaller scale solar power can also be used to power buildings. Many homeowners use PV cells on their roofs to generate electricity. Passive solar homes allows for these homes to absorb the sun's heat during the day and retain it at night. Solar-powered homes also have the advantage of needing very little maintenance.
Another type of solar power is hydropower, which uses the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to produce electricity. Like biomass and wind hydropower, hydropower is renewable because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list for third-party certified hydropower options if would like to incorporate it into your office or home.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal energy plant harnesses heat from the Earth's interior in order to produce electricity. Click That Link uses steam and hot water, which naturally occur a few kilometers beneath the Earth's surface. It is a sustainable and renewable energy source that produces electricity all day long all year round. Geothermal energy can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of energy generation.
The most commonly used geothermal power plant is the flash-steam plant. It uses water at temperatures of approximately 182deg C (360deg F) to power turbines and generate electricity. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes or buildings. Iceland for instance is dependent on geothermal power to melt snow, heat its sidewalks, streets and parking lots in the frigid Arctic Winter.
Another geothermal energy source is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant, which taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rock that have been heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require significantly less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, which makes them more affordable and less costly to build and operate. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there are enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current electricity needs.
The steam generated by geothermal power plants can be used to generate electricity by using a steam turbine generator, or be combined with a gas-fired turbine for increased efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which can be burned in a conventional boiler to produce electricity.
In addition to being safe and reliable, geothermal energy is the lowest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to turn steam into electricity create minimal or no nitrous oxide, methane, and sulphur oxide.
However, despite its advantages geothermal energy doesn't come without its challenges. Drilling required to build geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and also pollute the groundwater. In addition, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence, a slow sinking of the soil that could damage pipelines roads, pipelines, and even buildings.
Biogas
Biogas is a natural gaseous energy source that can be used to generate green energy. It can be produced from manure, agricultural waste, plant material such as municipal waste, sewage food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to produce electricity, heat and power and heat and can also be transformed into transport fuels using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas is also a viable resource for generating renewable hydrogen for use in fuel cells which are likely to play a major role in the future of energy systems.
The most common method of valorising biogas is to generate electricity by using the power of a combined heat and (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP plant is used to fuel the fermentation of organic wastes, while the electricity is fed back into the grid. Alternatively, it can be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can be used to replace imported mined gas in residential and commercial constructions, ground transportation and other areas.
In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas could also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution from conventional cooking. The CCAC works to provide tools to measure reporting and verifying (MRV) the cleanliness of cooking in households in low-to middle-income countries. This will help the 67 countries who have included clean-cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
By using biogas as an alternative to conventional natural gas for heating and cooling and to substitute fossil fuels used in the production of electricity carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transportation fuels as an alternative to oil, coal and other fossil fuels.
By taking methane and reusing it to prevent the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere as well as the runoff of nitrogen that could otherwise pollute our water resources. The Plessis-Gassot non-hazardous waste landfill in Claye-Souilly, France, for instance, captures biogas and turns it into a sustainable source of energy for households connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can also be set up in cities, allowing the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from transportation and treatment.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower makes use of the energy generated by the kinetic energy of water to generate electricity. It is the most affluent and cost-effective source of renewable energy in the world. It does not produce direct greenhouse gases however it has significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green energy that is able to be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. It has a lifespan of more than a hundred years and is able to be upgraded for improved efficiency and performance.
The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the power of water falling through dams. A series of turbines converts the energy of the water into electricity at a speed that is proportional to its speed. The electricity is then transferred to the grid of electricity for use.
While building an hydroelectric power plant involves an enormous investment in reservoirs, dams and pipes, the operating costs are quite low. Furthermore, these plants are able to serve as backups for other intermittent renewable power sources like wind and solar.
Hydroelectric power plants can be classified into two kinds: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants have huge impoundments that can store more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river plants draw the water of streams and rivers that flow freely. Hydropower facilities are typically located in or near concentrations of people, in areas where there is a significant demand for electricity.
The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and location of the project, the amount of water that is displaced, as well as the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and floods. These effects can be mitigated and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards cover measures for river flows, water quality protection passage of fish, aquatic ecosystems protection endangered and threatened animals, recreation and cultural resources.
In addition to producing renewable energy Hydropower plants also function as the world's largest "batteries." These are known as storage facilities that are pumped and operate by pumping water uphill from a lower pool to a reservoir higher. If there is a requirement for electricity, the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, while the water in the upper reservoir is pumped back downhill through a turbine to create more electricity.