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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources like geothermal, solar and wind biomass, energy and hydroelectricity that has a low impact. Customers in markets that are deregulated can add a small premium on utility bills to help promote green energy sources. Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the environment than coal mining or oil drilling mining. They can also help us reduce our greenhouse emissions of greenhouse gases. Solar Energy Solar energy is among the most popular green power sources. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it never runs out. It is a clean, efficient and safe energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollution from conventional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. This energy source is also a viable alternative to nuclear power, which requires the extraction and mining 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 either be delivered directly to homes and businesses or to grids that distribute electricity to other. Some consumers even can sell their surplus energy back to the utility company which helps keep electricity bills low and even offset rising utility costs. Solar energy produces no air pollutants or emissions unlike fossil fuels that emit harmful gases and carbon dioxide when they are burned. Solar energy can be utilized to power satellites, spacecraft, boats, and other devices in areas where accessing the grid is difficult or impossible. Solar power can be used in smaller buildings. Many homeowners install PV cells on their roofs to produce electricity. Passive solar home design allows these homes to receive the sun's warmth throughout the day and keep it in the evening. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require very little maintenance. Another form of solar power is hydropower, which makes use of the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to produce electricity. Hydropower, just like biomass and wind is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. Take a look at the EPA's list of third party certified hydropower options if you would like to incorporate it into your office or at home. Geothermal Energy A geothermal energy plant uses heat from the Earth's interior to generate electricity. The process makes use of hot water and steam that naturally occur a few kilometers below Earth's surface. It is a renewable and sustainable energy source that generates electricity 24 hours a day all year round. Geothermal energy can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is one of the most eco-friendly forms of power generation. The most popular geothermal power plant is the flash-steam plant. This makes use of water at a temperature of about 182deg C (360deg F) to power turbines and generate electricity. Steam can be utilized to heat industrial processes or even buildings. Iceland for instance relies on geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its sidewalks, streets and parking areas in the cold Arctic winter. Another source of energy from geothermal sources is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant, which taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rocks that are heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants require significantly less infrastructure than geothermal power plants, which makes them more affordable and less costly 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 generated by geothermal power plants can be used to create electricity using a steam turbine generator, or be coupled with a gas-fired turbine to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted to natural gas, which can be burned in a traditional boiler to generate electricity. In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy also has the smallest carbon footprint of all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants that employ an engine to turn steam into electricity generate minimal or no nitrous oxide, methane, and sulphur oxide. Geothermal energy is not without its problems, despite the advantages. The drilling required to establish geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and could cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure water streams into geothermal reservoirs may also cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that could damage roads, structures pipelines and buildings. Biogas Biogas is a renewable gaseous energy source that can generate green power. It can be produced from agricultural wastes, manure, plants wastewater, food wastes, municipal garbage, and other organic wastes. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat and combined heat and power and can also be transformed into fuels for transport using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to make renewable hydrogen which is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are predicted to play a significant role in the future energy systems in the world. The most popular method to valorize biogas is by generating electricity in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP process is used to aid in the fermentation of the organic waste, and the electricity is fed into the grid. Biogas can also be compressed into natural gas and incorporated into existing natural gas distribution systems. Biogas can be used as a substitute for imported natural gas in commercial, ground transportation and residential structures. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from cooking conventionally. The CCAC is working to develop instruments for measuring, reporting and confirming (MRV) of clean cooking in communities and households in low- to middle-income countries, to help the 67 countries that have incorporated clean cooking as a goal in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Utilizing biogas to substitute fossil fuels to generate electricity and as a substitute for conventional natural gas for cooling and heating will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as other air pollutants. Biogas is also a sustainable substitute for oil, coal and other fossil fuels for the production of liquid transportation fuels. By taking methane and reusing it to prevent the release of greenhouse gasses into the air and the runoff of nitrogen which could otherwise pollute our water resources. Plessis-Gassot is a non-hazardous waste disposal in Claye-Souilly (France) for example is a biogas capture facility that converts into a sustainable source of energy for households who are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can also be constructed in cities, which allow for the collection and utilization of local organic waste. 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 renewable energy source in the world. It does not emit direct greenhouse gases however it has significant environmental impacts. scooter green power is a flexible form of green energy that is able to be adjusted to meet changing demand and supply. mobility power scooters than a century and it can be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance. The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the power of the falling water by using dams. The water's kinetic energy is converted into electricity through the turbines which spin at a speed proportional to the speed of the water. This electricity is then sent to the grid for use. Hydroelectric power plants require a significant investment in pipes and reservoirs. However, operating costs are low. Furthermore, these plants are able to serve as backups to other intermittent renewable power technologies like wind and solar. There are two major types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants have large impoundments, which can hold more than one season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities draw water from rivers and streams that flow freely. Hydropower facilities are typically situated near or in proximity to areas of population, where there is a huge demand for electricity. The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and location of the project, the amount of water that is being displaced, and the habitats and wildlife that are affected by decomposition and inundation. 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 river flows as well as water quality, fish passage and protection of aquatic ecosystems, watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation, as well as cultural resources. In addition, to generate renewable energy Hydropower plants also function as the world's largest “batteries.” These are known as storage facilities pumped by the government and work by pumping water upwards from a lower pool to a larger reservoir. When electricity is required then the water from the lower reservoir could be used to power generators. The water from the upper reservoir can then be pumped downwards via a turbine in order to generate more electricity.