15 Things You Didn't Know About Green Power

What Is Green Power?

Green power is electricity that's generated from renewable resources like geothermal, solar, wind and some forms of biomass, and low-impact hydroelectricity. It is available to consumers in deregulated markets who want to help support green energy sources by putting the cost of their utility bill.

Renewable energy sources are generally less damaging to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They can also help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is among the most popular green power sources. Solar energy is a renewable source because it never runs out. It is an efficient, clean and secure energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollution of the air from fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal and oil. This energy source is a great alternative to nuclear power, which requires the mining, extraction and storage of radioactive waste.

Photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all methods to harness the sun's power. Solar electricity can either be distributed directly to businesses and homes or to grids that distribute electricity to other. Certain consumers have the option of selling their excess energy back to the utility company which can help keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility costs.

All forms of solar energy produce zero emissions of pollutants or air, unlike fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be used to power different types of devices, such as spacecrafts, satellites, and boats, where accessing the electrical grid is impractical or impossible.

On smaller scales solar power can be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners use PV cells on their roofs to produce electricity. Passive solar homes allows for these homes to take advantage of the sun's warmth during the day and store it at night. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require 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. If you're looking to add hydropower to your home or business take a look at the EPA's list for third-party certified options.

Geothermal Energy

A geothermal energy plant harnesses heat from the Earth's interior in order to produce electricity. The process takes advantage of hot water and steam that naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the Earth. It is a sustainable and renewable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day all year round. Geothermal power is a great way to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also among the most environmentally friendly sources of energy generation.

The most well-known type of geothermal power plant is a flash steam power station. This makes use of water heated to 182deg 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 is dependent on geothermal power to melt snow, heat its sidewalks, streets and parking spaces in the frigid Arctic Winter.

A hot dry rock power plant is a different geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs comprised of dry, hot rock that is heated by either man-made or natural processes. HDR plants require significantly less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, making them more affordable and less costly to construct and operate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there is enough HDR sources in the United States for all of our current electrical needs.

The steam from geothermal power plants can be used to produce electricity through a steam-turbine generator, or it can be coupled with a gas-fired turbine for increased efficiency. The mixture can be converted into natural gas, and then burned in a boiler to generate electricity.

Geothermal energy is not only reliable and clean, but it also has the smallest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity produce very little or no nitrous dioxide methane, sulphur and oxide.

However, despite its advantages geothermal energy doesn't come without its problems. The drilling required to construct geothermal power plants could trigger earthquakes and may cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs can cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking process that can cause damage to roads, buildings pipelines and buildings.

Biogas

Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that can be utilized to produce green power. It can be made from agricultural waste, manure, plant material and municipal waste, sewage food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be converted to transportation fuels, electricity, heat, combined heat and energy, or electricity by using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to make renewable hydrogen that 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 way to make biogas more valuable is by generating electricity in the combined heat-and-power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP plant is used to fuel the fermentation of organic wastes. In turn, the electricity is fed back into the grid. It can be further compressed into natural gases and blended into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can be used to substitute for imported mined natural gas in ground transportation, commercial and residential structures.

In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from cooking conventionally. The CCAC is working to develop instruments to measure, report and confirming (MRV) of the clean cooking practices in communities and households in low- to middle-income countries to assist the nations that have included clean cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Using biogas to replace fossil fuels to generate electricity and as a substitute for conventional natural gas in cooling and heating will reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutant emissions. Biogas can be used in the production of liquid transport fuels as an alternative 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, and also stopping nitrogen runoff that could otherwise end up contaminating water resources. The Plessis Gassot waste landfill, which is non-hazardous in Claye-Souilly, France, for example, captures biogas and turns it into a sustainable supply of energy for the households that are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can be set up in cities, allowing the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport and treatment.

Hydroelectric Power

Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that uses the kinetic energies of flowing water. It is the largest and most affordable renewable source of power worldwide. It doesn't emit any greenhouse gases directly, but has significant environmental impact. It is a highly flexible green power source that can be easily modified to meet changes in demand and supply. Its lifespan is more than 100 years, and it is able to be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance.

The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the energy of falling waters by using dams. A series of turbines converts energy of the water into electricity at a speed that is proportional to the speed at which it travels.  green mobility scooter mymobilityscooters  is then transferred to the electric grid to be used.

While constructing an hydroelectric power plant requires huge investments in reservoirs, dams and pipes, the operating costs are low. Furthermore, these plants can be used as backups to other intermittent renewable power technologies like solar and wind.

There are two major types of hydroelectric plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are characterized by huge impoundments that hold more than a year's worth of water, while run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and draw water from flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower plants are often situated near or in areas with high population density in areas where 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 that is being displaced, and the habitats and wildlife affected by decomposition and flooding. The effects of hydropower can be mitigated and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of a hydropower project. The standards contain measures to control the flow of rivers, water quality protection and fish passage, as well as protection of aquatic ecosystems endangered and threatened animals, recreation and cultural resources.

In addition, to generate renewable energy, some hydropower plants act as the world's biggest "batteries." These are called storage facilities that are pumped and operate by pumping water upwards from a lower pool to a larger reservoir. When electricity is needed then the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the reservoir above can then be pumped downhill by a turbine to create more electricity.