What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that comes by renewable sources like geothermal, solar and wind energy, biomass and hydroelectricity that has a low environmental impact. It's available to customers in markets that are not regulated and who wish to support cleaner energy sources by putting the cost of their utility bills.
Renewable energies are often less harmful to the earth than coal or oil mining. They also help reduce our greenhouse gas emission.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is a well-known green energy source. Solar energy is considered to be renewable because it will never be exhausted. It is an efficient, clean and secure energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of the air from fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil. This energy is also a good alternative to nuclear power, which requires extraction and mining of uranium as well as long-term radioactive waste storage.
The sun's radiation can be utilized to generate electricity in a variety ways, including photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar power can be delivered directly to homes and businesses or to grids that supply power to other. Certain consumers can sell their excess energy back to the utility company which could help reduce electricity bills and even offset rising utility prices.
All forms of solar energy produce zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which generate carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be utilized to power other kinds of devices, like satellites, boats and spacecrafts in areas where accessing the electricity grid is either impossible or not practical.
Solar power can be utilized in smaller structures. Many homeowners use PV cells on their roofs to produce electricity. Passive solar home design allows these homes to absorb the sun's heat during the day and store it at night. Solar-powered homes also have the benefit of requiring very 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. Similar to biomass and wind hydropower, it is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list of third-party certified hydropower options if you are looking to include it in your home or office.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal plant utilizes heat from the Earth to generate electricity. The process uses steam and hot water that naturally occur just a few kilometers below the surface of the earth. It is a renewable and sustainable energy source that can generate electricity 24 hours a days all year round. Geothermal power could reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also among the most environmentally friendly methods of energy production.
The most common type of geothermal power plant is a flash-steam power station. This makes use of water heated to 182degree C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes and buildings. Iceland, for instance, is dependent on geothermal power to melt snow and heat its sidewalks, streets and parking lots in the frigid Arctic Winter.
A hot dry rock power plant is a different geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs that are comprised of hot, dry rock that is heated by either man-made or natural activities. HDR plants are easier to construct and operate as they require less infrastructure. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there is enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current energy needs.
The geothermal steam produced by plants can be used to create electricity using a steam turbine generator, or it can be combined with a gas-fired generator to increase efficiency. The mixture can be converted into natural gas and burned in a boiler to generate electricity.
In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy also has the lowest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which use an engine to convert steam into electricity, generate minimal or no methane, nitrous oxide or sulfur dioxide.
However, despite its advantages geothermal energy has its challenges. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and may cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure water streams into geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that can damage roads, buildings pipelines and buildings.
Biogas
Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that can generate green power. It can be produced from manure, agricultural waste, plant material such as sewage, municipal waste, food waste, and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be converted into transport fuels, electricity heat and energy, combined heat and energy, or electricity using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas is also a valuable source of hydrogen that can be produced renewable for use in fuel cells that are expected to play a significant role in the future of global energy systems.
green electric scooter used method for valorising biogas is to generate electricity by using the use of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat from the CHP process is used to assist in the process of fermentation of organic waste and the electricity is then fed into the grid. It can also be compressed into natural gas and blended into the existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can be utilized to replace imported mined gas in residential and commercial buildings, ground transportation and other areas.
Biogas is renewable energy source that can also help reduce greenhouse emissions of greenhouse gases. The CCAC is working to provide tools to measure, report and confirming (MRV) of the clean cooking practices in households and communities in low-to-middle income countries, to help the 67 countries that have incorporated clean cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Utilizing biogas to replace fossil fuels to generate electricity and as a substitute for conventional natural gas in cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants. Biogas is also a viable substitute for coal, oil and other fossil fuels for production of liquid transport fuels.
Capturing and recovering methane from animal manure and food waste helps to prevent the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as preventing nitrogen runoff that could otherwise cause water pollution. Plessis-Gassot is a non-hazardous waste disposal in Claye-Souilly (France), for instance it captures and converts biogas into a renewable source of energy for homes that are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities may also be constructed in cities, allowing the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation and treatment.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity. It is the most affluent and least expensive renewable energy source in the world. It does not emit greenhouse gases directly, but does require significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green energy that is able to be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. Its lifespan is more than a century and it can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance.
The majority of hydropower plants harness the power of falling waters by using dams. The energy generated by the water is converted into electricity through the use of turbines which spin at a speed proportional to the velocity of the water. This electricity is then transmitted to the electric grid to be used.
While constructing a hydroelectric power plant requires huge investments in reservoirs, dams and pipes, operating costs are relatively low. These plants can also be used as backups for other intermittent renewable energy technologies like wind and solar.
There are two types of hydroelectric plants that are run-of-river and storage. Storage plants have large impoundments that can store more than one season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities draw the water of streams and rivers that flow freely. Hydropower facilities are often located near concentrations of population, where there is a high demand for electricity.
The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and location, the amount of water being displaced, and the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and floods. These impacts can be minimized and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for the construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards include measures to safeguard the flow of rivers and water quality passage for fish and protection, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species, recreation and cultural resources.
Certain hydropower plants are the world's biggest "batteries" because they can generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir uphill to a larger reservoir. When electricity is needed the water from the lower reservoir can be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir can then be pumped downwards via a turbine in order to create more electricity.