What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that's generated from renewable resources like solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, as well as other forms of biomass and low-impact hydroelectricity. Customers in deregulated markets can add a small amount to their utility bills to help support renewable energy sources that are cleaner.
Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the planet than coal or oil mining. They can also reduce our greenhouse gas emission.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most popular green energy sources. Solar energy is considered to be renewable because it will never run out. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This energy is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining and extraction of uranium as well as long-term radioactive waste storage.
The sun's radiation can be used to generate electricity in a variety ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels, concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP), and solar thermal collectors. Solar electricity can be directly channeled into homes and businesses or it can be delivered to grids that supply electricity to other customers. Some consumers can sell excess energy to the utility company. This can lower the cost of electricity and offset rising utility costs.
Solar energy doesn't produce emissions or air pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which produce harmful carbon dioxide and harmful gases during combustion. Solar energy can be used to power satellites, spacecraft, boats and other devices in areas where accessing the electric grid is difficult or impossible.
On smaller scales solar power can be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners install PV cells on their roofs in order to generate electricity. Passive solar homes allows these homes to receive the sun's warmth during the day and retain it in the evening. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require little maintenance.
Another type of solar power is hydropower, which makes use of the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to generate electricity. Hydropower, like wind and biomass is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. If you are seeking to add hydropower to your business or home, check out EPA's list of third-party certified options.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal energy plant uses heat from the Earth's interior to produce electricity. The process makes use of hot water and steam that naturally occurs just a few kilometers below the surface of the Earth. It is an environmentally sustainable and renewable energy source that can generate electricity 24 hours a day all year round. Geothermal power can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also one of the greenest sources of energy generation.
The most commonly used geothermal power plant is the flash-steam plant. This uses water heated to 182degrees C or 360deg F to generate electricity from turbines and power plants. The steam can also be used to heat buildings, or other industrial processes. Iceland for instance, relies on geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its streets, sidewalks and parking areas during the frigid Arctic winter.
A hot dry rock power plant is a different geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs that are made up of dry, hot rock heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, which makes them more affordable and less costly to construct and operate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are enough HDR resources available in the United States for all of our current electrical needs.
The steam from geothermal power stations can be used as a source of electricity by using steam turbine generators or in conjunction with a gas fired turbine to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted to natural gas, which is burned in a traditional boiler to generate electricity.
Geothermal energy is not only reliable and clean, but it also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to turn steam into electricity generate very little or no nitrous dioxide methane, sulphur, or methane oxide.
However, despite its benefits geothermal energy doesn't come without its challenges. The drilling required to establish geothermal power plants could trigger earthquakes and could pollute groundwater. Additionally, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs may cause subsidence, which is a gradual 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 power. It is made from agricultural wastes, manure, plants, sewage municipal garbage, food wastes, and other organic wastes. Biogas can be used to transportation fuels, electricity, heat combined with energy, or electricity, using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to create renewable hydrogen which is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are predicted to play an important role in the future energy systems of the world.
The most common way to maximize the value of biogas is generating electricity in a combined heat-and-power (CHP) plant. The heat produced by the CHP plant is used to fuel the process of fermentation of organic wastes. In turn, the electricity is then fed back to the grid. Biogas can be further converted into natural gas and incorporated into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can be used to replace imported gas in commercial and residential structures, ground transportation, and other areas.
In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas could also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution from traditional cooking. The CCAC provides tools to measure reporting and verifying (MRV) clean cooking in households in low-to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries that have included clean-cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as an alternative for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutant emissions. Biogas is also a sustainable alternative to coal, oil and other fossil fuels for the production of liquid transport fuels.
Recovering methane from food and animal manure waste prevents the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and also stopping nitrogen runoff that could otherwise end up contaminating water resources. Plessis-Gassot, a non-hazardous landfill in Claye-Souilly (France), for instance, captures and converts biogas into a sustainable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can be installed in cities, allowing for the collection and utilization of local organic waste. power electric scooter can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport and treatment.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower makes use of the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity. It is the most popular and cost-effective source of renewable energy around the globe. It does not emit greenhouse gases directly but it does have significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green energy that can be adapted to meet fluctuating demand and supply. Its service life spans over a century and it is able to be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance.
The majority of hydropower plants that are traditional use dams to harness the energy generated by falling water. The kinetic energy of the water is converted into electricity through the use of turbines which spin at a rate proportional to the speed of the water. The electricity is then transferred to the grid for use.
While constructing an hydroelectric power plant involves a massive investment in dams, reservoirs and pipes, operating costs are quite low. These plant types can be used as backups to other renewable energy technologies that are intermittent such as solar and wind.
Hydroelectric plants can be divided into two kinds: storage and run of river. Storage plants are characterized by large impoundments that can store more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river plants use the water of streams and rivers that flow freely. Hydropower plants are usually located near or in areas with high density in areas where demand for electricity is high.
The environmental impact of hydropower is largely dependent on the size and area of the project, as well as the amount of water dispersed, as well as the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and floods. The effects of hydropower can be mitigated and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards include measures for water quality, river flows, protection and fish passage, as well as aquatic ecosystems protection endangered and threatened animals recreation and cultural resources.
Some hydropower plants are also the world's largest "batteries" because they can produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. When electricity is needed then the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the reservoir above is then pumped downhill by a turbine to generate more electricity.