What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that's produced by renewable resources such as geothermal, solar, wind and some kinds of biomass and hydroelectricity that is low-impact. It's available to customers in markets that are deregulated who want to help support green energy sources by adding the cost of their utility bills.
Many renewable energies are less damaging to the environment than drilling for coal or oil. They can also help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is among the most well-known green energy sources. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it never runs out. It is a clean, efficient and secure energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by conventional fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil. It is also a viable alternative to nuclear power, which requires the extraction and mining of uranium and long-term radioactive waste storage.
The sun's energy can be utilized to create electricity in a variety ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels as well as concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP), and solar thermal collectors. Solar energy can be directly channeled into homes and businesses or it could be transferred to grids that distribute power to other customers. Certain consumers can sell their surplus energy back to the utility company which can help keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility costs.
All types of solar energy create zero emissions of pollutants or air unlike fossil fuels which generate 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, where accessing the electrical grid is either impossible or not practical.
Solar power can be used in smaller buildings. Many homeowners use PV cell panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar home design permits these homes to take in sun's rays in the daytime for warmth and then retain the warmth at night. Solar-powered homes also have the benefit of needing very little maintenance.
Another type of solar power is hydropower, which uses the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to generate electricity. Similar to biomass and wind, hydropower is considered a renewable resource because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list of third party certified hydropower options if you want to add it to your office or home.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal energy plant uses heat from the Earth's interior to produce electricity. The process takes advantage of hot water and steam that naturally occurs just a few kilometers below the Earth's surface. It is a remarkably renewable and sustainable energy source that produces electricity all day long all year round. Geothermal power can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also one of the greenest methods of energy generation.
The most well-known type of geothermal power plant is a flash-steam power station. It uses water that is heated to 182degrees C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. More Material can also be used to heat buildings or other industrial processes. Iceland, for instance, uses geothermal power to melt snow, heat its sidewalks, streets and parking spaces in the frigid Arctic Winter.
Another geothermal energy source is a hot dry rock (HDR) power plant, which taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rock that are heated by natural or man-made activities. HDR plants are simpler to construct and operate since 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 used as a source of electricity by using a steam turbine generator or in conjunction with a gas fired turbine to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which is then burned in a conventional boiler to generate electricity.
Geothermal energy isn't just reliable and clean, but it also has the lowest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, that use an engine to convert steam into electricity, generate little-to-no nitrous oxide, methane, or sulfur dioxide.
However, despite its advantages geothermal energy doesn't come without its challenges. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and pollute groundwater. Additionally, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs may cause subsidence, which is which is a gradual sinking of the soil that could damage pipelines roads, buildings, and pipelines.
Biogas
Biogas is an energy source made of renewable gaseous substances that can generate green energy. It can be produced from manure, agricultural wastes, plants, sewage, municipal garbage, food wastes and other organic wastes. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat, and also heat and power or converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to create renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a significant role in the future energy systems around the globe.
The most popular 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 is fed into the grid. Alternatively, it can be converted into natural gas, and then incorporated into the existing natural gas distribution networks. Biogas can be used as a substitute for natural gas imported from mines in ground transportation, commercial and residential buildings.
In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from cooking conventionally. The CCAC works to provide tools for measuring reporting and verifying (MRV) healthy cooking in households of low- to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries who have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Using biogas to replace fossil fuels for electricity generation and as a substitute for conventional natural gas in heating and cooling will reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutions. Biogas is also a sustainable alternative to oil, coal, and other fossil fuels for production of liquid transport fuels.
By capturing and recovering methane, we can prevent the release of greenhouse gasses into the air and the runoff of nitrogen that would otherwise pollute our water sources. Plessis-Gassot is a non-hazardous waste disposal in Claye-Souilly (France) for instance it captures and converts biogas into a sustainable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. In addition small-scale biogas facilities can be set up in cities to allow for the collection and use of organic waste from local sources which will reduce greenhouse gases caused by transport and treatment of these materials.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower is a renewable energy source that makes use of the kinetic energy of water flowing. It is the most powerful and cheapest renewable source of power worldwide. It doesn't emit any greenhouse gases, but it will have significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible type of green energy that can be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. Its lifespan is more than 100 years and is able to be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance.
The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the energy of water falling through dams. A series of turbines converts the kinetic energy from the water into electricity at a rate proportional to the speed at which it travels. This electricity is then sent to the grid for use.
Although constructing a hydroelectric power plant requires an enormous investment in dams, reservoirs and pipes, the operating costs are relatively low. These plants can also be utilized as backups to other intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
There are two types of hydroelectric power plants which are run-of-river and storage. Storage plants are distinguished by huge impoundments that hold more than a season's worth of water, whereas run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and utilize water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower plants are usually situated near or in areas with a high population density, where electricity demand is high.
The environmental impact of hydropower is largely dependent on the size and location, the amount of water being displaced, and the habitats and wildlife affected by decomposition and floods. These effects can be minimized and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of a hydropower projects. The standards include measures for the flow of rivers, water quality protection, fish passage, protection of aquatic ecosystems endangered and threatened animals, recreation and cultural resources.
Some hydropower plants are also the largest in the world "batteries" because they can produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. When electricity is required, the water from the lower reservoir can be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir is then pumped downhill through a turbine to create more electricity.