What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that's produced from renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal and some forms of biomass, and hydroelectricity with low impact. It's available to customers in markets that are not regulated and who wish to support cleaner energy sources by putting an additional cost to their utility bill.
Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the planet than oil drilling or coal mining. They also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most well-known green energy sources. Solar energy is a renewable resource 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 from conventional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. This energy source is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires extraction and mining of uranium and long-term storage of radioactive waste.
Photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all ways to harness the sun's power. Solar power can be directly channeled into homes and businesses or it could be transferred to grids that distribute power to other customers. Some customers even can sell their surplus energy back to the utility company, which helps keep electricity costs low and even offset rising utility costs.
Solar energy produces no pollution or emissions to the air, unlike fossil fuels which emit harmful gases and carbon dioxide when they are burned. Solar energy can be used to power satellites spacecraft, boats, and other devices where accessing the electric grid is difficult or impossible.
Solar power can be utilized in smaller buildings. Many homeowners install PV cells on their roofs in order to produce electricity. Passive solar design of homes lets these homes receive the sun's warmth during the day and store it in the evening. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the requirement for little maintenance.
Another type of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to produce electricity. Like biomass and wind hydropower, it is renewable because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list for third-party certified hydropower options if want to add it to your office or home.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal energy plant draws heat from the Earth's interior to generate electricity. The process makes use of hot water and steam that naturally occur a few kilometers below the Earth's surface. It is a sustainable and renewable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Geothermal energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of energy generation.
The most popular type of geothermal power plant is a flash steam power station. This uses water heated to 182degrees C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. 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 in the cold Arctic winter.
Another source of geothermal energy is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant that taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rocks that are 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. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are enough HDR resources available in the United States for all of our current electrical requirements.
Steam from geothermal power stations can be utilized to generate electricity by using steam turbine generators or a gas fired turbine to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which is burned in a conventional boiler to generate electricity.
Geothermal energy is not only clean and reliable but also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity, generate minimal or no methane, nitrous oxide, or sulfur dioxide.
Geothermal energy has its own difficulties, despite its benefits. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and pollute groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams in geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that could damage roads, buildings pipelines and buildings.
Biogas
Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that produces green power . It is produced from manure, agricultural waste plant material such as municipal waste, sewage food waste, and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be converted into transportation fuels, electricity, heat combined with energy, or electricity, using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to produce renewable hydrogen which is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play an important role in the future energy systems around the globe.
The most common method of valorising biogas is to generate electricity by using the power of a combined heat and (CHP) plant. The heat from the CHP process is used to assist in the process of fermentation of organic waste and the electricity generated is fed to the grid. Biogas can also be compressed into natural gas and blended into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can be used to replace imported mined gas in commercial and residential buildings, ground transportation and other areas.
In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution from conventional cooking. The CCAC is working to provide tools for measuring reporting and confirming (MRV) the cleanliness of cooking practices 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.
Utilizing biogas to replace fossil fuels to generate electricity and as a substitute for traditional natural gas in heating and cooling will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutions. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transport fuels that can be an alternative that is sustainable to oil, coal, and other fossil fuels.
Capturing and recovering methane from animal manure and food waste stops the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as preventing nitrogen runoff that could otherwise end up contaminating water resources. The Plessis-Gassot non-hazardous waste landfill in Claye-Souilly, France, for instance, captures biogas and turns it into a renewable source of energy for the households that are connected to the system. In addition, small-scale biogas plants can be constructed in cities to facilitate the collection and use of organic waste from local sources, avoiding greenhouse gases caused by transport and treatment of these materials.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower makes use of the energy kinetics of water to generate electricity. It is the most popular and cheapest renewable energy source around the globe. It does not emit direct greenhouse gases but does require significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible type of green energy that can easily be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. It has a lifespan of over a hundred years and is able to be upgraded for better efficiency and performance.
The majority of hydropower plants harness the energy of the falling water by using dams. The water's kinetic energy is converted into electricity by the turbines that spin at a speed proportional to the speed of the water. The electricity is then transmitted to the grid to be used.
Hydroelectric power plants require a large investment in reservoirs and pipes. However visit these guys operating costs are minimal. Moreover, these flexible plants can be used as backups to other intermittent renewable power sources like wind and solar.
There are two main types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are characterized by huge impoundments that hold more than a season's supply of water. Run-of-river facilities have a small impoundment and utilize water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower plants are often situated near or in areas with a high density of population and where the demand for electricity is high.
The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and area of the project, as well as the amount of water displaced, as well as the wildlife and habitats affected by decomposition and floods. The effects of hydropower can be mitigated and diminished by utilizing Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of a hydropower project. The standards include measures to safeguard river flows and water quality as well as protection of fish passage, watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation and cultural resources.
In addition to generating renewable energy and power, some hydropower plants function as the world's largest "batteries." These are called storage facilities that are pumped and operate by pumping water uphill from a lower pool to a larger reservoir. When there is a demand for electricity, the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, and the water in the upper reservoir is pumped back downhill through turbines to generate more electricity.