What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that's generated from renewable resources like solar, wind, geothermal, some forms of biomass and hydroelectricity that is low-impact. Customers in markets that are deregulated are able to add a small fee to utility bills to support cleaner energy sources.
Renewable energy sources are generally less damaging to the environment than drilling for coal or oil. They can also help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is among the most popular green sources of power. Solar is considered renewable because it will never be exhausted. It is a clean, efficient and safe energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollution caused by conventional fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil. This energy is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining and extraction of uranium and long-term storage of radioactive waste.
Solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all ways to harness the sun's power. Solar energy can be directly channeled into businesses and homes, or it could be transferred to grids that distribute electricity to other customers. Some customers can sell excess energy to the utility company. This can lower electricity bills and offset the rising cost of utilities.
All types of solar energy create zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels which produce 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 in areas where accessing the electricity grid is either impossible or not practical.
On smaller scales solar power can be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners put PV cell panels on their roofs to generate electricity and passive solar home design allows these houses to let in sunlight during the day to provide warmth, and then store the warmth at night. go green mobility scooters -powered homes also have the benefit of requiring very little maintenance.
Hydropower is a type of solar energy that uses the natural flow in streams, rivers dams, and streams. Hydropower, similar to biomass and wind is a renewable resource since it can be replenished. Check out the EPA's list for third-party certified hydropower options if would like to incorporate it into your office or at home.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal plant utilizes heat from the Earth to generate electricity. The process involves steam and hot water that naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the earth. It is renewable and a sustainable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day all year round. Geothermal energy can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is among the most eco-friendly forms of energy generation.
The most common type of geothermal power plant is a flash-steam power station. This uses water at a temperature of about 182deg C (360deg F) to generate electricity and power turbines. The steam can also be used to heat buildings, or other industrial processes. Iceland for instance is dependent on geothermal power to melt snow, heat its streets, sidewalks and parking spaces in the frigid Arctic Winter.
Another source of energy from geothermal sources is a hot dry rock (HDR) power plant, which taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rock that have been heated by either natural or human-made activities. HDR plants require significantly less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, making them more affordable and less costly to build and operate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there is enough HDR resources in the United States for all of our current electrical requirements.
The steam from geothermal power stations can be used as a source of power by using a steam turbine generator or a gas fired turbine to improve efficiency. The mixture is able to be converted into natural gas, and then burned in a boiler, generating electricity.
Geothermal energy is not just reliable and clean, but it also has the lowest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that employ an engine to turn steam into electricity create very little or no nitrous dioxide methane, sulphur, or methane oxide.
However, despite its benefits, geothermal energy isn't without its problems. Exploring for geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and pollute the groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams in geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a slow sinking that can damage roads, structures pipelines, and other structures.
Biogas
Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source that can be used to produce green energy. It is produced from agricultural waste, manure plant material and municipal waste, sewage food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat and combined power and heat and can also be transformed into fuels for transport using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas is also a viable resource for generating renewable hydrogen to be used in fuel cells that are expected to play an important role in the future of energy systems.
The most popular method to maximize the value of biogas is creating 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, while the electricity is fed back into the grid. It can also be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into the existing natural gas distribution networks. Biogas can be used to replace imported mined gas in commercial and residential buildings, ground transportation and other areas.
Biogas is renewable energy source that can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CCAC provides tools to measure reporting and verifying (MRV) clean cooking practices in households in low to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries that have included clean-cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Utilizing biogas as a substitute for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating, and to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can be used in the production of liquid transportation fuels as a sustainable alternative to coal, oil, and other fossil fuels.
Recovering methane from animal manure and food waste prevents the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while also stopping nitrogen runoff that could otherwise cause water pollution. Plessis-Gassot, a landfill that is not hazardous located in Claye-Souilly (France) for instance, captures and converts biogas into a sustainable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. In addition, small-scale biogas plants can be installed in cities to facilitate the collection and use of local organic waste which will reduce greenhouse gases caused by transportation and treatment of these materials.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity. It is the most sought-after and cheapest source of renewable energy around the globe. It doesn't produce direct greenhouse gases however it has significant environmental impact. It is a flexible green power source that can be easily adjusted to meet the changing needs of demand and supply. Its lifespan is more than 100 years, and it can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance.
The majority of hydropower plants that are traditional use dams to harness the power of falling water. A series of turbines converts the water's kinetic energy into electricity at a rate proportional to its velocity. This electricity is then sent to the grid for use.
Hydroelectric power plants require a significant investment in reservoirs and pipes. However, operating costs are low. These plant types can be used as backups to other renewable energy technologies that are intermittent such as solar and wind.
There are two major kinds of hydroelectric plants that are run-of-river and storage. Storage plants are characterized by huge impoundments that hold more than a season's supply of water, whereas run-of-river facilities are small in size and draw water from flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower plants are usually located close to or in areas with high density, where electricity demand is high.
The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and area of the project, as well as the amount of water that is displaced, as well as the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and flooding. These effects can be mitigated and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for the construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards cover measures to control the flow of rivers, water quality protection passage of fish, protection of aquatic ecosystems, threatened and endangered animals, recreation and cultural resources.
Some hydropower plants are also the world's biggest "batteries" because they can produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a larger reservoir. If there is a requirement for electricity the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, and the water in the higher reservoir is pumped back downhill through an engine to produce more electricity.