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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity generated from renewable resources like geothermal, solar, wind and some forms of biomass and hydroelectricity that is low-impact. Customers in markets that are deregulated are able to add a small fee to utility bills to support cleaner energy sources. Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the earth than coal mining or oil drilling mining. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. green power mobility scooters near me My Mobility Scooters is among the most popular green power sources. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it never runs out. It is an efficient, clean and secure energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollution caused by conventional fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil. This energy source is also a good 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 sun's power. Solar energy can be channeled directly into homes and businesses or it could be sent to grids that distribute power to other customers. Some customers even can sell their surplus energy back to the utility company which helps keep electricity costs low and even offset rising utility costs. Solar energy doesn't produce air pollutants or emissions, unlike fossil fuels which emit harmful carbon dioxide and harmful gases during combustion. Solar energy can be used to power satellites, boats, spacecrafts and other devices in areas in areas where accessing the grid is a challenge or even impossible. On a smaller scale solar power can also be used to power buildings. Many homeowners install PV cells on their roofs to produce electricity. Passive solar design of homes lets these homes receive the sun's warmth during the day and retain it in the evening. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require very little maintenance. Another type of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of the water in streams, rivers and dams to produce electricity. Similar to biomass and wind hydropower, hydropower is renewable since it can be replenished. Check out the EPA's list of third party certified hydropower options if you are looking to include it in your office or home. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant utilizes the heat of the Earth to generate electricity. The process takes advantage of steam and hot water that naturally occurs a few kilometers below Earth's surface. It is a remarkably sustainable and renewable energy source that generates electricity all day long and 365 days of the year. Geothermal power could reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is also one of the most eco-friendly forms of energy production. The most well-known type of geothermal power plant is a flash steam power station. It uses water at a temperature of about 182deg C (360deg F) to power turbines and generate electricity. The steam can also be used to heat buildings or other industrial processes. Iceland for instance relies on the geothermal power to melt snow and heat its streets, sidewalks and parking lots 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 heated by man-made or natural processes. HDR plants require less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, making them less expensive and easier to construct and operate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are enough HDR sources in the United States for all of our current electrical requirements. The steam from geothermal power plants can be used to create electricity through a steam-turbine generator, or it could be combined with a gas-fired generator for increased efficiency. The mixture can be converted into natural gas and then burned in a boiler, generating electricity. Geothermal energy is not only clean and reliable but also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity create minimal or no nitrous oxide methane, sulphur, or methane oxide. Geothermal energy is not without its problems, despite the advantages. The drilling required to construct geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and pollute groundwater. Injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a slow sinking that can damage roads, buildings pipelines and buildings. Biogas Biogas is an energy source made of renewable gaseous substances that produces green energy. It can be produced from manure, agricultural wastes plants, sewage, municipal garbage, food wastes, and other organic wastes. Biogas can be used to create electricity, heat and combined heat and power and can also be transformed into transport fuels using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to make renewable hydrogen that is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a major role in the future energy systems in the world. The most commonly used method for valorisation of biogas is to generate electricity through a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP process is used to aid in the process of fermentation of organic waste and the electricity is fed into the grid. It can be further 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 commercial, ground transportation and residential constructions. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from cooking conventionally. The CCAC works to provide tools for measuring reporting and confirming (MRV) clean cooking in households of low- to middle-income countries. This will aid the 67 countries that have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions. Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as an alternative for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutant emissions. Biogas is also a viable substitute for oil, coal and other fossil fuels for production of liquid transport fuels. Capturing and recovering methane from animal manure and food waste stops the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as preventing nitrogen runoff that could otherwise end up contaminating water resources. The Plessis-Gassot landfill for non-hazardous waste 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. In addition, small-scale biogas plants can be set up in cities to permit the collection and use of local organic waste, avoiding greenhouse gases caused by 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 least expensive renewable energy source around the globe. It does not emit direct greenhouse gases, but it has significant environmental effects. It is a flexible form of green energy that can be adapted to meet fluctuating demand and supply. It has a lifespan of more than a hundred years and can be upgraded for better efficiency and performance. Most traditional hydropower plants use dams to harness the energy of falling water. A series of turbines converts the water's kinetic energy into electricity at a rate proportional to the speed at which it travels. This electricity is then transmitted to the electric grid for use. Although constructing a hydroelectric power plant requires huge investments in dams, reservoirs and pipes, the operating costs are quite low. Furthermore, these plants can be used as backups for other intermittent renewable power sources such as wind and solar. Hydroelectric plants can be divided into two kinds that are storage and run of river. Storage plants are characterized by large impoundments, which can store more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities draw streams and rivers that are free-flowing. Hydropower plants are often situated near or in areas with a high 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 dispersed, as well as the habitats and wildlife affected by decomposition and floods. The effects of hydropower can be mitigated and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards cover measures to control river flows, water quality protection and fish passage, as well as aquatic ecosystems protection endangered and threatened species as well as recreation and cultural resources. In addition, to generate renewable energy, some hydropower plants act as the world's largest “batteries.” They are known as pumped storage facilities and work by pumping water uphill from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. When there is a need for electricity then the water in the lower reservoir is released to power generators, and the water in the upper reservoir is then pumped back downhill via turbines to generate more electricity.