What Is Green Power?

Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources like geothermal, solar, wind and some forms of biomass, and hydroelectricity with low impact. Customers who are in markets that are not regulated are able to add a small fee to utility bills to support renewable energy sources that are cleaner.

Many renewable energies are less damaging to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They also reduce our greenhouse gas emission.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is a favored green power source. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it is never depleted. It is a clean, efficient and safe energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from conventional fossil fuels like natural gas, coal and oil. This energy is a great alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining extraction, storage and transport of radioactive waste.

Photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all ways to harness the sun's power. Solar energy can be channeled directly into homes and businesses or it could be transferred to grids that distribute electricity to other customers. Certain consumers have the option of selling their surplus energy back to the utility company which can help keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility prices.

All types of solar energy create zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which create carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be utilized to power other kinds of devices, including spacecrafts, satellites, and boats in areas where accessing the electricity grid is impractical or impossible.


On a smaller scale solar can also be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners use PV cells on their roofs to generate electricity. Passive solar design of homes allows for these homes to take advantage of the sun's warmth throughout the day and keep it in the evening. Solar-powered houses also have the benefit of requiring very little maintenance.

Another form of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to generate electricity. Like biomass and wind hydropower, hydropower is renewable because it can be replenished. Look through the EPA's list of 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 produce electricity. The process involves hot water and steam which naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the earth. It is renewable and a sustainable energy source that produces electricity 24 hours a day all year round. Geothermal energy is a great way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is among the most environmentally friendly forms of energy generation.

The most popular geothermal power station is the flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182degrees C or 360deg F to generate electricity from turbines and power plants. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes or buildings. Iceland for instance is dependent on geothermal power to melt snow, heat its streets, sidewalks and parking areas during the frigid Arctic Winter.

A hot dry rock power plant is an additional geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs made up of hot, dry rock that has been heated by either natural activities. HDR plants are less difficult to construct and operate as 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.

The geothermal steam produced by plants can be used to generate electricity through a steam-turbine generator, or it could be combined with a gas-fired generator to improve efficiency. The mixture can be transformed into natural gas and then burned in a boiler to produce electricity.

In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy is the smallest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity produce little or no nitrous dioxide methane, sulphur, or methane oxide.

However, despite its benefits geothermal energy doesn't come without its challenges. Drilling required to build geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and also pollute the groundwater. In addition, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs may lead to subsidence, a slow sinking of the terrain that can cause damage to pipelines roads, pipelines, and even buildings.

Biogas

Biogas is an energy source made of renewable gaseous substances that produces green power. It is produced from manure, agricultural waste plant material such as sewage, municipal waste, food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat and power and heat, or it can be converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to make renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a major role in the future energy systems of the world.

The most commonly used method to valorize biogas is by producing electricity through the combined heat-and-power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP plant is used to fuel the fermentation of organic wastes, and the electricity is then fed back to the grid. It can also be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing distribution networks for natural gas. are green power mobility scooters any good can be utilized to replace imported mined gas in residential and commercial structures, ground transportation, and other areas.

Biogas is an energy source that is renewable and can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CCAC is working to provide instruments for measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) of clean cooking in communities and households in low-to-middle income countries, to help the nations that have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as an alternative for traditional natural gas in cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutions. Biogas is also a viable substitute for oil, coal and other fossil fuels for production of liquid transportation fuels.

Recovering methane from food and animal manure waste stops the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while also stopping nitrogen runoff that could otherwise pollute 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 households connected to the system. Additionally small-scale biogas plants could be installed in cities to facilitate the collection and utilization of organic waste that is generated locally, avoiding greenhouse gases that are generated by the transportation and treatment of these materials.

Hydroelectric Power

Hydropower makes use of the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity. It is the most affluent and cheapest renewable energy source in the world. It releases no greenhouse gases directly, but does require significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green energy that can be adapted to meet fluctuating demand and supply. It has a service life of more than 100 years and can be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance.

The majority of traditional hydropower plants utilize dams to harness the energy of falling water. A series of turbines converts the energy of the water into electricity at a rate that is proportional to its velocity. The electricity is then transferred to the grid to be used.

While constructing an hydroelectric power plant requires huge investments in reservoirs, dams and pipes, operating costs are low. These flexible plants can also be utilized as backups to other intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

There are two 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. Run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and utilize water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower facilities are often situated near or in proximity to areas of population, and in areas where there is a huge demand for electricity.

The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and location of a dam as well as the amount of water that is displaced and the habitat and wildlife affected by inundation and decomposition. 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 contain measures for river flows, water quality protection and fish passage, as well as aquatic ecosystems protection, threatened and endangered animals as well as recreation and cultural resources.

In addition to producing renewable energy, some hydropower plants act as the world's biggest "batteries." They are referred to as storage facilities that are pumped and operate by pumping water uphill from a lower pool 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 downhill through a turbine to create more electricity.