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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity generated from renewable sources like geothermal, solar and wind biomass, energy, and hydroelectricity with low impact. Customers in markets that are deregulated can add a small amount to utility bills to support cleaner energy sources. Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the earth than coal or oil mining. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most popular green energy sources. Solar energy is considered to be a renewable resource because it will never be exhausted. It is a safe and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. This energy source is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires the extraction and mining of uranium and long-term radioactive waste storage. The sun's radiation can be used to generate electricity in a variety ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar power can be delivered directly to homes and businesses or to grids which distribute electricity to other. Certain consumers have the option of selling their surplus energy back to the utility company, which helps keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility prices. All forms of solar energy generate zero emissions of pollutants or air unlike fossil fuels which produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be utilized to power other kinds of devices, like spacecrafts, boats, satellites and other vessels in areas where accessing the electricity grid is not feasible or even possible. Solar power can be used in smaller buildings. Many homeowners install PV cell panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar home design lets these homes welcome in the sun's rays during the day for warmth and then keep it in the evening. Solar-powered houses also have the advantage of requiring very little maintenance. Another form of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to produce electricity. Hydropower, like wind and biomass is a renewable resource as it can be replenished. Check out the EPA's list of third party certified hydropower options if are looking to include it in your office or at home. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant utilizes heat from the Earth to generate electricity. The process involves steam and hot water, which naturally occur a few kilometers below surface of the earth. It is a renewable and sustainable energy source that can generate electricity 24 hours a days throughout the year. see page is a great way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is one of the most eco-friendly forms of energy generation. The most popular geothermal power station is a flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182deg C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. 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. Another geothermal energy source is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant that taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rocks that are heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, making them easier and cheaper to build and operate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are enough HDR resources available in the United States for all of our electrical needs currently. The steam from geothermal power plants can be used to generate electricity by using a steam turbine generator, or be coupled with a gas-fired turbine to improve efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which can be burned in a traditional boiler to produce electricity. In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy has the smallest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity, generate little-to-no nitrous oxide, methane, or sulphur dioxide. However, despite its advantages geothermal energy has its challenges. The drilling required to construct geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and pollute groundwater. In addition, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence, a slow sinking of the terrain that can cause damage to pipelines, roads, and buildings. Biogas Biogas is an energy source that is renewable and gaseous that can generate green energy. It can be produced from manure, agricultural waste plant material and sewage, municipal waste, food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to create electricity, heat and power and heat and can also be converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to produce renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are predicted to play an important role in the future energy systems of the world. The most commonly used method to valorize biogas is by producing electricity through 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 fed into the grid. Alternatively, it can be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing natural gas distribution networks. Biogas can also be used to substitute for natural gas imported from mines in ground transportation, commercial and residential structures. In addition to generating renewable energy, biogas can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from traditional cooking. The CCAC provides tools for measuring reporting and confirming (MRV) the cleanliness of cooking in households of low- to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries that have included clean-cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions. Utilizing biogas to replace fossil fuels to generate electricity and as a substitute for traditional natural gas in heating and cooling will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutant emissions. Biogas can be used in the production of liquid transport fuels that can be an alternative to oil, coal, and other fossil fuels. Recovering methane from animal manure and food waste stops the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and also preventing nitrogen runoff that would otherwise cause water pollution. Plessis-Gassot is a non-hazardous waste disposal located in Claye-Souilly (France) for instance is a biogas capture facility that converts into a sustainable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities may also be set up in cities, allowing the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from transport and treatment. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower is a renewable energy source that is based on the kinetic energy of flowing water. It is the most popular and cost-effective source of renewable energy in the world. It does not emit greenhouse gases, but it will have significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible type of green energy that can easily be adjusted to meet the changing demand and supply. Its lifespan is more than a century and it can be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance. The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the energy of falling waters by using dams. The energy generated by the water is converted into electricity by the turbines which spin at a speed proportional to the velocity of the water. This electricity is then sent to the grid to be used. Hydroelectric power plants require a large investment in reservoirs and pipes. However the operating costs are minimal. Furthermore, these plants can act as backups to 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 huge impoundments that hold more than a year's worth of water, while run-of-river facilities are small in size and use water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower plants are typically located near or in areas with high density of population in areas where demand for electricity is high. The environmental impact of hydropower largely is dependent on the size and location of the dam, the amount of water displaced, and the wildlife and habitat affected by decomposition and inundation. These effects can be minimized and diminished by utilizing Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of hydropower project. The standards cover measures for the flow of rivers, water quality protection and fish passage, as well as aquatic ecosystems protection, threatened and endangered animals recreation and cultural resources. In addition, to generate renewable energy and power, some hydropower plants function as the world's biggest "batteries." They are called storage facilities that are pumped and operate by pumping water uphill from a lower pool to a higher reservoir. When there is a need for electricity the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, whereas the water in the higher reservoir is pumped back downhill by turbines to generate more electricity.
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