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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity that's produced by renewable resources such as geothermal, solar, wind and biomass, as well as other kinds of biomass and hydroelectricity that is low-impact. It is available to consumers in markets that are not regulated and who wish to promote cleaner energy sources by putting a small premium to their utility bills. Many renewable energy sources are less harmful to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They also can aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Energy Solar energy is a well-known green power source. Solar energy is a renewable resource since it never runs out. It is a clean, efficient and safe energy source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollution of the air from fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil. This energy is also a viable alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining and extraction of uranium as well as long-term storage of radioactive waste. Photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all methods to harness the power of the sun. Solar electricity can be directly channeled into businesses and homes, or it could be delivered to grids that supply electricity to other customers. Some customers even can sell their excess energy back to the utility company, which helps keep electricity costs low and even offset rising utility costs. All forms of solar energy produce zero air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which create carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when they burn. Solar energy can also be used to power other types of devices, such as spacecrafts, satellites, and boats in areas where accessing the electricity grid is not feasible or even possible. On smaller scales solar power can also be used to power buildings. Many homeowners put PV cell panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar homes design allows these houses to take in sun's rays during the day to provide warmth, and then store the warmth at night. Solar-powered houses also have the benefit of needing minimal maintenance. Another form of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to produce electricity. 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 take a look at EPA's list of third-party certified options. Geothermal Energy Geothermal plants use the heat of the Earth 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 renewable and sustainable energy source that can generate electricity 24 hours a days, 365 of the year. Geothermal energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is one of the most eco-friendly methods of energy generation. The most popular geothermal power station is a flash-steam plant. It uses water at temperatures of around 182deg C (360deg F) to generate electricity and power turbines. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes and buildings. Iceland, for example, uses geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its streets, sidewalks and parking areas during the frigid Arctic winter. A hot dry rock power plant is an additional geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs made up of dry, hot rock that has been heated by either natural activities. HDR plants are easier to construct and operate as they require less infrastructure. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are enough HDR sources in the United States for all of our current electrical needs. go to this site from geothermal power stations can be used as a source of power through a steam turbine generator or in conjunction with gas-fired turbines to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted to natural gas, which is burned in a conventional boiler to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is not only reliable and clean, but it also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that employ an engine to convert steam into electricity generate little or no nitrous dioxide methane, sulphur, or methane oxide. However, despite its benefits geothermal energy has its difficulties. The drilling required to construct geothermal power stations could cause earthquakes and also pollute the groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams in geothermal reservoirs may also cause subsidence. This is a slow sinking that could damage roads, buildings pipelines, and other structures. Biogas Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source that can be utilized to produce green power. It can be made from agricultural wastes, manure, plants wastewater, municipal garbage, food wastes and other organic wastes. Biogas can be converted into transport fuels, electricity heat, combined heat and energy, or electricity, using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas can also be used to create renewable hydrogen, which is then 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 for valorising biogas is to generate electricity through the use of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat produced by the CHP plant is used to fuel the fermentation of organic wastes. In turn, the electricity is then fed back to the grid. It can be further converted into natural gas and incorporated into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can also be used as a replacement for imported natural gas in ground transportation, commercial and residential buildings. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from conventional cooking. The CCAC works to provide tools for measuring reporting and confirming (MRV) the cleanliness of cooking in households in low-to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries who have included clean-cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions. Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as an alternative for traditional natural gas in cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transport fuels that can be a sustainable alternative to oil, coal, and other fossil fuels. By capturing and recovering methane, we can prevent the release of greenhouse gases into the air and the evaporation of nitrogen that could otherwise pollute our water sources. Plessis-Gassot, a landfill that is not hazardous in Claye-Souilly (France), for instance is a biogas capture facility that converts into a renewable source of energy for households that are connected to the system. Additionally, small-scale biogas plants can be set up in cities to allow for the collection and utilization of local organic waste and avoiding the greenhouse gases that are associated with the transport and treatment of these materials. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower makes use of the energy kinetics of water to generate electricity. It is the biggest and most affordable renewable source of power worldwide. It does not emit direct greenhouse gases, but it has significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible type of green energy that is able to be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. Its service life spans over 100 years, and it can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance. The majority of traditional hydropower plants utilize dams to harness the power of falling water. The kinetic energy of the water is converted to electricity by the use of turbines that spin at a speed proportional to the velocity of the water. The electricity is then transmitted to the grid for use. Hydroelectric power plants require an enormous investment in reservoirs and pipes. However the operating costs are minimal. Furthermore, these plants can act as backups for other intermittent renewable power technologies like 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 that store more than a season's supply of water. Run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and utilize water from free-flowing streams or rivers. Hydropower facilities are typically situated near or in proximity to areas of people, in areas where there is a significant demand for electricity. The environmental impact of hydropower largely is dependent on the size and location of a dam and the amount of water displaced, and the wildlife and habitat affected by decomposition and flooding. These effects can be minimized and diminished by utilizing Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of a hydropower projects. The standards cover measures to control water quality, river flows, protection passage of fish, aquatic ecosystems protection endangered and threatened animals as well as recreation and cultural resources. Certain hydropower plants are the largest in the world “batteries” because they can generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. If electricity is required the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir is then pumped downhill through a turbine to create more electricity.