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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal biomass, energy and hydroelectricity with a low impact. It is available to consumers in markets that are not regulated and who wish to help support green energy sources by putting an additional cost to their utility bills. Many renewable energy sources are less damaging to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They also help reduce our greenhouse gas emission. Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most well-known green power sources. Solar energy is a renewable source since it never runs out. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil natural gas, and coal. This energy is also a viable alternative to nuclear power, which requires extraction and mining of uranium as well as long-term storage of radioactive waste. The sun's radiation can be used to generate electricity in a variety ways such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar energy can be channeled directly into homes and businesses, or it can be sent to grids that distribute electricity to other customers. Some consumers may sell their surplus energy to a utility company. This can help reduce electricity bills and offset rising utility costs. All types of solar energy create zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases during their combustion. Solar energy can also be used to power different types of devices, including satellites, boats and spacecrafts, where accessing the electrical grid is either impossible or not practical. Solar power can be used in smaller structures. Many homeowners use PV solar panels on their roofs to generate electricity and passive solar home design permits these homes to take in sun's rays during the day to provide warmth, and then store it at night. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require 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 wind and biomass hydropower, it is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list for third-party certified hydropower options if want to add it to your home or office. Geothermal Energy A geothermal energy plant draws heat from the Earth's interior to generate electricity. The process involves steam and hot water, which naturally occur just a few kilometers below surface of the Earth. It is a remarkably renewable and sustainable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Geothermal energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of power generation. The most well-known type of geothermal power plant is a flash steam power station. This uses water heated to 182degree C or 360deg F to generate electricity from turbines and power plants. Steam can be utilized to heat industrial processes or buildings. Iceland, for example, uses geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its sidewalks, streets, and parking lots during the cold Arctic winter. Another geothermal energy source is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant, which taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rock that have been heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, making them less expensive and easier to build and operate. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there is enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current electricity needs. The steam from geothermal power stations can be used as a source of electricity by using a steam turbine generator or in conjunction with a gas fired turbine to boost efficiency. The resultant mixture can be converted into natural gas, which is burned in a conventional boiler to generate electricity. In addition to being safe and reliable, geothermal energy also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that use an engine to convert steam into electricity create minimal or no nitrous oxide methane, sulphur and oxide. However, despite its advantages geothermal energy has its problems. The drilling required to construct geothermal power stations could cause earthquakes and pollute groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams in geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking process that can cause damage to roads, buildings pipelines, and other structures. Biogas Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that can be utilized to generate green power. It can be made from manure, agricultural waste, plant material such as municipal waste, sewage, food waste, and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to transportation fuels, electricity, heat and energy, combined heat and energy, or electricity by using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to produce renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are predicted to play a significant role in the future energy systems around the globe. The most common way to maximize the value of biogas is creating electricity in a 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. Biogas can also be converted into natural gas and blended into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can also be used as a substitute for imported mined natural gas in ground transportation, commercial and residential structures. Biogas is renewable energy source that can also reduce greenhouse emissions of greenhouse gases. The CCAC is working to develop instruments for measuring, reporting and confirming (MRV) of clean cooking within communities and households in countries with low to middle incomes to assist the 67 countries that have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). By using biogas as a substitute for traditional natural gas for heating and cooling, and to replace fossil fuels in the production of electricity carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can also be used to create liquid transport fuels as a sustainable alternative to oil, coal and other fossil fuels. By collecting and recovering methane, we can prevent the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and the runoff of nitrogen that could otherwise pollute our water resources. Plessis-Gassot, a non-hazardous landfill in Claye-Souilly (France) for example it captures and converts biogas into a sustainable source of energy for households that are connected to the system. Additionally, small-scale biogas plants can be set up in cities to facilitate the collection and use of organic waste from local sources and avoiding the greenhouse gases that are that are generated by the transport and treatment of these materials. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower harnesses the energy kinetics of water to generate electricity. It is the most popular and cost-effective renewable energy source in the world. It doesn't emit greenhouse gases directly but it does have significant environmental effects. It is a very flexible green power source that is easily adjusted to meet the changing needs of demand and supply. Its service life spans over 100 years and can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance. The majority of hydropower plants harness the energy of falling waters by using dams. A series of turbines converts the kinetic energy from the water into electricity at a speed that is proportional to its velocity. This electricity is then sent to the grid to be used. While constructing click the up coming post requires huge investments in reservoirs, dams and pipes, operating costs are low. Additionally, these plant can be used as backups to other intermittent renewable power sources such as wind and solar. Hydroelectric power plants can be classified into two kinds that are storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are characterized by large impoundments which store more than a year's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and utilize water from free-flowing rivers or streams. Hydropower plants are usually located near or in areas with a high density of population and where the demand for electricity is high. The environmental impact of hydropower is largely dependent on the size and area of the project, as well as the amount of water dispersed, as well as the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and floods. These impacts can be minimized and mitigated through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards contain measures to protect the river's flow, water quality, fish passage and protection and watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation and cultural resources. just click the following web page can also be the world's biggest “batteries” because they generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir uphill to a larger reservoir. When there is a demand for electricity, the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, and the water in the upper reservoir is pumped back downhill through an engine to produce more electricity.