What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity generated from renewable sources like geothermal, solar, and wind biomass, energy and hydroelectricity that has a minimal impact. Customers in deregulated markets can add a small premium on utility bills to help promote green energy sources.
Many renewable energy sources are less environmentally harmful than drilling for coal or oil. They also help reduce our greenhouse gas emission.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most popular green sources of power. Solar energy is considered to be as a renewable resource since it will never be depleted. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil natural gas, and coal. This energy is a great alternative for nuclear power which requires the mining extraction, storage and transport of radioactive waste.
The sun's radiation can be utilized to create electricity in a variety of ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar electricity can be channeled directly into homes and businesses, or it can be transferred to grids that distribute power to other customers. Some consumers may sell excess energy to the utility company. This can help lower the cost of electricity and offset the rising cost of utilities.
All forms of solar energy produce no air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels which produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases during their combustion. Solar energy can be utilized to power satellites, boats, spacecrafts and other devices that are located in areas where access to the grid is either difficult or impossible.
Solar power can be used in smaller buildings. Many homeowners use PV cells on their roofs in order to produce electricity. Passive solar home design allows these homes to take advantage of the sun's warmth during the day and retain it at night. Solar-powered houses also have the advantage of needing very little maintenance.
Another type of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to generate electricity. Hydropower, just like biomass and wind, is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. If you are looking to add hydropower to your home or business look into the EPA's list of third party certified options.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal plant utilizes heat from the Earth to generate electricity. The process makes use of hot water and steam that naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the Earth. It is renewable and a sustainable energy source that produces electricity all day throughout the year. Geothermal power is a great way to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also among the most eco-friendly forms of energy production.
The most popular geothermal power station is a flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182degrees C or 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 and heat its sidewalks, streets and parking areas during the frigid Arctic Winter.
Another source of energy from geothermal sources is 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 are less difficult to build and operate because they require less infrastructure. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there is enough HDR resources available in the United States for all of our electrical needs currently.
Geothermal power stations that produce steam can be utilized as a source of electricity by using steam turbine generators or gas-fired turbines to increase efficiency. The mixture is able to be converted into natural gas and then burned in a boiler, generating electricity.
In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy has the lowest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that employ an engine to convert steam into electricity produce minimal or no nitrous oxide methane, sulphur and oxide.
Geothermal energy has its own problems, despite the advantages. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and may cause groundwater pollution. In addition, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs may lead to subsidence, which is a gradual sinking terrain that can cause damage to pipelines, roads, and buildings.
Biogas
Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source that can be used to produce green energy. mobility power scooters can be made from agricultural wastes, manure, plants, sewage, municipal garbage, food wastes, and other organic wastes. Biogas can be converted into transport fuels, electricity heat, combined heat and energy, or electricity, using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to produce renewable hydrogen, which is then used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are predicted to play a major role in the future energy systems of the world.
The most commonly used method to maximize the value of biogas is creating electricity in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP process is used to assist in the fermentation of the organic waste and the electricity generated is then fed into the grid. It can also be converted into natural gas and incorporated into existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can also be used as a substitute for imported mined natural gas in commercial, ground transportation and residential buildings.
In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas could also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from conventional cooking. The CCAC works to provide tools to measure reporting and verifying (MRV) healthy cooking in households of low- to middle-income countries. This will aid the 67 countries who have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Biogas can be used as an alternative to traditional natural gas for cooling and heating and to substitute fossil fuels for the production of electricity, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas is also a viable substitute for oil, coal and other fossil fuels for the production of liquid fuels for transport.
Recovering methane from animal manure and food waste prevents the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while also preventing nitrogen runoff that would otherwise cause water pollution. Plessis-Gassot, a non-hazardous landfill located in Claye-Souilly (France) for instance, captures and converts biogas into a renewable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can also be set up in cities, which allow for the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation and treatment.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that makes use of the kinetic energy of water flowing. It is the most affluent and cheapest renewable energy source in the world. It releases no greenhouse gases directly, but has significant environmental impact. It is a flexible form of green energy that can easily be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. Its service life spans over a century and it can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance.
The majority of traditional hydropower plants utilize dams to harness the power of falling water. The water's kinetic energy is converted into electricity through the turbines which spin at a rate proportional to the velocity of the water. This electricity is then sent to the grid for use.
While building an hydroelectric power plant requires an enormous investment in reservoirs, dams and pipes, the operating costs are relatively low. These plants can also be used as backups for other renewable energy technologies that are intermittent such as solar and wind.
There are two main types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are distinguished by huge impoundments that hold more than a season's supply of water, while run-of-river facilities are small in size and use water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower facilities are often situated near or in proximity to areas of population, where there is a significant demand for electricity.
The environmental impact of hydropower largely depends on the size and location of the dam as well as the amount of water that is displaced as well as the wildlife habitats and habitats affected by inundation and decomposition. These effects can be reduced and mitigated by the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards include measures to safeguard the flow of rivers as well as water quality, fish passage and protection of watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation and cultural resources.
Hydropower plants can also be the world's largest "batteries" because they can generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a larger reservoir. When electricity is required, the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the reservoir above can then be pumped downhill through a turbine to create more electricity.