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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity that comes from renewable sources like solar, wind and geothermal biomass, energy, and hydroelectricity with low environmental impact. It's available to customers in markets that are deregulated who want to help support green energy sources by putting the cost of their utility bills. Many renewable energies are less damaging 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 favored green power source. Solar energy is a renewable resource since it never runs out. It is a clean, efficient and safe energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of the air from fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal and oil. This energy source is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires the extraction and mining of uranium, as well as long-term radioactive waste storage. The sun's radiation can be used to generate electricity in a variety ways such as photovoltaic (PV) panels as well as concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP), and solar thermal collectors. Solar electricity can be directly channeled into homes and businesses, or it can be transferred to grids that distribute power to other customers. Some consumers may sell excess energy to the utility company. This can help reduce electricity bills and offset rising utility costs. Solar energy does not produce emissions or air pollutants unlike fossil fuels that emit harmful carbon dioxide and harmful gases when they are burned. Solar energy can also be utilized to power other kinds of devices, such as satellites, boats and spacecrafts in areas where accessing the electricity grid is either impossible or not practical. Solar power can be used in smaller structures. Many homeowners put PV cells on their roofs to produce electricity. Passive solar design of homes allows these homes to absorb the sun's heat during the day and store it in the evening. Solar-powered houses also benefit from requiring very little maintenance. Another type of solar power is hydropower, which utilizes the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to produce electricity. Hydropower, similar to wind and biomass is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. Look through the EPA's list for third-party certified hydropower options if you would like to incorporate it into 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 a few kilometers below surface of the earth. It is a remarkably sustainable and renewable energy source that produces electricity 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year. Geothermal energy can help 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. It uses water at temperatures of around 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 utilizes geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its sidewalks, streets and parking areas during the cold Arctic winter. A hot dry rock power plant is an additional geothermal source of energy. It taps underground reservoirs composed of dry, hot rock that is heated by either man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require significantly less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, which makes them easier and cheaper to build and operate. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there are enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current needs for electricity. The steam from geothermal power plants can be used to create electricity by using a steam turbine generator, or it could be coupled with a gas-fired turbine to improve efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which is then burned in a traditional boiler to produce electricity. In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy also has the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which use an engine to convert steam into electricity, generate little-to-no nitrous oxide, methane or sulfur dioxide. However, despite its benefits geothermal energy has its challenges. The drilling needed to build geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and may cause groundwater pollution. Additionally, the injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs may cause subsidence, which is a gradual sinking terrain that can cause damage to pipelines roads, pipelines, and even buildings. Biogas Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that produces green power. It can be produced from manure, agricultural waste, plant material and municipal waste, sewage, food waste, and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be converted to transport fuels, electricity heat and energy, combined heat and energy, or electricity using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas is also a great resource for generating renewable hydrogen for use in fuel cells which are likely to play a major role in the future of energy systems. The most commonly used method for valorising 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 then fed into the grid. It can be further compressed into natural gas and blended into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can be used to replace imported gas in residential and commercial constructions, ground transportation and other areas. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas could also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from conventional cooking. The CCAC is working to develop tools for measuring, reporting and confirming (MRV) of clean cooking in households and communities in low- to middle-income countries, to help the 67 countries that have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Utilizing biogas to replace fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as an alternative for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutants. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transport fuels that can be an alternative that is sustainable to oil, coal and other fossil fuels. By collecting and recovering methane by capturing and recovering methane, we can stop the release of greenhouse gasses into the air and the runoff of nitrogen which would otherwise pollute our water resources. Plessis-Gassot, a landfill that is not hazardous located in Claye-Souilly (France), for instance it captures and converts biogas into a renewable source of energy for homes who are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities may also be installed in cities, which allow for the collection and utilization of organic waste locally. This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from transport and treatment. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower is a renewable energy source that makes use of the kinetic energy of water that flows. It is the most affluent and cost-effective source of renewable energy in the world. It doesn't emit greenhouse gases directly, but it has significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green energy that can easily be adjusted to meet the changing demand and supply. Its lifespan spans more than 100 years, and it can be upgraded to increase efficiency and performance. The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the power of falling waters by using dams. The energy generated by the water is converted to electricity by a series of 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 large 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 such as wind and solar. There are two types of hydroelectric plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are distinguished by large impoundments which store more than a season's worth of water, whereas run-of-river facilities have small impoundment and draw water from flowing rivers or streams. Hydropower facilities are typically located near concentrations of people, in areas 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 displaced, as well as the wildlife and habitats affected by decomposition and floods. These effects can be mitigated and reduced through the use of Low Impact Hydroelectricity (LIHI) standards for construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards contain measures to safeguard the flow of rivers as well as water quality as well as protection of fish passage and aquatic ecosystems, watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation and cultural resources. Certain hydropower plants are the world's largest “batteries” because they generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. When electricity is needed, the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir is then pumped downhill via a turbine in order to create more electricity.