The Reasons You Should Experience Green Power At A Minimum, Once In Your Lifetime
What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources such as geothermal, solar, and wind biomass, energy, and hydroelectricity with low environmental impact. Customers who are in markets that are not regulated are able to add a small fee to utility bills to support green energy sources. Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the environment than drilling for coal or oil. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most popular green sources of power. Solar energy is a renewable source because it is never depleted. It is an efficient, clean and safe energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by conventional fossil fuels like natural gas, coal and oil. greenpower mobility is a great alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining, extraction and storage of radioactive waste. Photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all ways to harness the power of the sun. Solar energy can be channeled directly into homes and businesses or it can be transferred to grids that distribute power to other customers. Some consumers may sell their surplus energy to a utility company. This can reduce electricity bills and offset the rising cost of utilities. 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 also be used to power other types of devices, including spacecrafts, boats, satellites and other vessels, where accessing the electrical grid is not feasible or even possible. On smaller scales solar power can also be used to power buildings. Many homeowners use PV solar panels on their roofs to produce electricity, and passive solar home design allows these houses to take in sun's rays during the day to provide warmth and then retain it in the evening. Solar-powered houses also have the benefit of requiring very little maintenance. Hydropower is a kind of solar energy that utilizes the natural flow in rivers, streams and dams. Hydropower, similar to biomass and wind is a renewable resource since it can be replenished. If you are planning to incorporate hydropower into your home or business, check out EPA's list of third-party certified options. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant uses the heat of the Earth to generate electricity. The process makes use of steam and hot water that naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the earth. It is renewable and a sustainable energy source that can generate electricity all day, 365 of the year. Geothermal energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is one of the most eco-friendly forms of energy generation. The most commonly used geothermal power plant is the flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182degrees C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. Steam can be utilized to heat industrial processes or even buildings. Iceland for instance relies on the geothermal power to melt snow, heat its streets, sidewalks 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 that are composed of dry, hot rock that has been heated by either natural processes. 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 in the United States for all of our current electrical needs. The geothermal steam produced by plants can be used to produce electricity using a steam turbine generator, or be combined with a gas-fired generator for increased efficiency. The mixture can be transformed into natural gas, and then burned in a boiler to produce electricity. Geothermal energy isn't just clean and reliable but also has the lowest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to turn steam into electricity create little or no nitrous dioxide, methane, and sulphur oxide. Geothermal energy has its own difficulties, despite its benefits. Drilling required to build geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and also pollute the groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams in geothermal reservoirs can cause subsidence. This is a slow sinking that can damage roads, buildings pipelines and buildings. Biogas Biogas is an energy source that is renewable and gaseous that produces green power . It can be produced from agricultural waste, manure, plant material and sewage, municipal waste, food waste, and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be converted to transport fuels, electricity heat and energy, combined heat and energy, or electricity by using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to create renewable hydrogen, which is then used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a major role in the future energy systems in the world. The most common method of valorisation of 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 aid in the fermentation process of organic waste and the electricity is fed to the grid. In addition, it can be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing natural gas distribution networks. Biogas can also be used as a replacement for natural gas imported from mines in ground transportation, commercial and residential buildings. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas can also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution from traditional cooking. The CCAC is working to develop instruments to measure, report and confirming (MRV) of healthy cooking within communities and households in low- to middle-income countries in order to assist the nations that have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels to generate electricity and as an alternative for traditional natural gas for heating and cooling will reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutants. Biogas can be used in the production of liquid transport fuels that can be an alternative to oil, coal and other fossil fuels. Capturing and recovering methane from food and animal manure waste prevents the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as preventing nitrogen runoff that would otherwise pollute water resources. The Plessis Gassot waste landfill, which is non-hazardous in Claye-Souilly, France, for instance, captures biogas and turns it into a sustainable source of energy for the households that are connected to the system. Additionally small-scale biogas plants could be installed in cities to allow for the collection and utilization of organic waste that is generated locally, avoiding greenhouse gases associated with the transport and treatment of these materials. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that is based on the kinetic energy of flowing water. It is the most sought-after and cost-effective source of renewable energy around the globe. It does not produce direct greenhouse gases, but it has significant environmental impacts. It is a very flexible form of green power that is able to be adjusted to meet the changing needs of supply and demand. It has a service life of over a hundred years and is able to be upgraded for improved efficiency and performance. Most traditional hydropower plants use dams to harness the energy generated by falling water. The water's kinetic energy is converted into electricity through the turbines which spin at a speed proportional to the velocity of the water. The electricity is then transferred to the grid for use. Hydroelectric power plants require a significant investment in pipes and reservoirs. However, operating costs are low. Moreover, these flexible plants can be used as backups for other intermittent renewable power sources like solar and wind. There are two main types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are distinguished by large impoundments that store more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities are small in size and use water from free-flowing rivers or streams. Hydropower facilities are often situated near or in proximity to areas of population, where there is a high demand for electricity. The environmental impact of hydropower is largely dependent on the size and location, the amount of water that is dispersed, as well as the habitats and wildlife affected by decomposition and inundation. The effects of hydropower can be mitigated and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of the hydropower projects. The standards contain measures for water quality, river flows, protection, fish passage, protection of aquatic ecosystems, threatened and endangered animals as well as recreation and cultural resources. Hydropower plants can also be the world's largest “batteries” because they produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir uphill to a larger reservoir. When there is a need for electricity the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, and the water in the higher reservoir is then pumped back downhill via a turbine to create more electricity.