What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that's generated from renewable resources like geothermal, solar, wind and biomass, as well as other forms 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 putting the cost of their utility bill.
Many renewable energies are less harmful to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They can also aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is among the most popular green power sources. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it is never depleted. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. This energy is a great alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining extraction, storage and transport of radioactive waste.
The sun's energy can be utilized to generate electricity in a variety ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels, concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar power can be delivered directly to homes and businesses or to grids that distribute electricity to other. Some customers even can sell their surplus energy back to the utility company, which could help reduce electricity bills and even offset rising utility costs.
All forms of solar energy generate zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels which create carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can be utilized to power satellites, spacecraft, boats and other devices where accessing the electric grid is either difficult or impossible.
On a smaller scale solar can also be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners put PV solar panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar home design permits these homes to welcome in the sun's rays during the day for warmth, and then store it in the evening. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the requirement for minimal maintenance.
Hydropower is a different type of solar energy that makes use of the natural flow in streams, rivers, and dams. Similar to biomass and wind hydropower, it is renewable since it can be replenished. If you are planning to incorporate hydropower into your business or home take a look at EPA's list of third-party certified options.
Geothermal Energy
A geothermal energy plant harnesses heat from the Earth's interior in order to produce electricity. The process utilizes steam and hot water that naturally occur a few kilometers below the Earth's surface. It is an incredibly renewable and sustainable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year. Geothermal energy can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is among the most eco-friendly forms of power generation.
The most common geothermal power station is the flash-steam plant. This uses water heated to 182degree C or 360deg F to generate electricity from turbines and power plants. The steam can also be used to heat buildings or other industrial processes. Iceland, for instance, relies on the geothermal power to melt snow and heat its streets, sidewalks 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 comprised of hot, dry rock that is heated by either man-made or natural processes. 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 needs for electricity.
The steam from geothermal power stations can be used to generate electricity by using a steam turbine generator or gas-fired turbines to improve efficiency. The resulting mixture can then be converted to natural gas, which is then burned in a conventional boiler to produce electricity.
Geothermal energy is not only clean and reliable but also has the lowest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity, produce very little nitrous oxide, methane or sulfur dioxide.
However, despite its benefits, geothermal energy isn't without its difficulties. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and can cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs can cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that could damage roads, structures pipelines, and other structures.
Biogas
Biogas is an energy source that is renewable and gaseous that generates green energy. It is produced from manure, agricultural waste, plant material such as municipal waste, sewage, food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat and power and heat and can also be converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. more.. can also be used to make renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a significant role in the future energy systems of the world.
The most commonly used method to maximize the value of biogas is generating electricity in a combined heat-and-power (CHP) plant. The heat from the CHP process is used to aid in the fermentation of the organic waste and the electricity is then fed into the grid. In addition, it can be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can also be used as a replacement for natural gas imported from mines in commercial, ground transportation and residential structures.
In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas can also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution from cooking conventionally. The CCAC is working to develop instruments for measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) of the clean cooking practices in communities and households in low-to-middle income countries to assist the 67 countries that have incorporated clean cooking as a goal in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Biogas can be used as a substitute for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating and to replace fossil fuels in the production of electricity, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transport fuels as an alternative that is sustainable to oil, coal and other fossil fuels.
By capturing and recovering methane to prevent the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and the runoff of nitrogen which would otherwise pollute our water resources. Plessis-Gassot, a landfill that is not hazardous in Claye-Souilly (France) for example is a biogas capture facility that converts into a renewable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. Additionally small-scale biogas facilities can be set up in cities to facilitate the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources and avoiding the greenhouse gases that are associated with the transportation and treatment of these materials.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower uses the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity. It is the biggest and most affordable renewable energy source in the world. It doesn't emit direct greenhouse gases but it does have significant environmental effects. It is a very flexible green power source that can be easily modified to meet changes in demand and supply. Its service life spans over 100 years, and it is able to be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance.
The majority of traditional hydropower plants utilize dams to harness the energy generated by falling water. The water's kinetic energy is converted to electricity by the turbines which spin at a speed proportional to the velocity of the water. This electricity is then transmitted to the grid of electricity for use.
While constructing an hydroelectric power plant requires an enormous investment in dams, reservoirs, and pipes, the operating costs are low. These flexible plants can also be used as backups for 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 large impoundments that store more than a season's supply of water. Run-of-river facilities are small in size and draw water from flowing rivers or streams. Hydropower plants are usually located near or in areas with high density in areas where demand for electricity is high.
The environmental impact of hydropower largely is dependent on the size and location of a dam, the amount of water displaced as well as the wildlife and habitat affected by inundation and decomposition. These impacts can be reduced and diminished by utilizing Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of the hydropower projects. The standards provide measures to protect river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection of aquatic ecosystems, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species, recreation and cultural resources.
Hydropower plants can also be the largest in the world "batteries" because they produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir uphill to a larger reservoir. When electricity is needed the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir can then be pumped downwards through a turbine to create more electricity.