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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources like geothermal, solar, wind, some forms of biomass and low-impact hydroelectricity. Customers in markets that are deregulated are able to add a small fee on utility bills to help promote renewable energy sources that are cleaner. Many renewable energy sources are less harmful to the environment than drilling for coal or oil. They can also aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Energy Solar energy is a favored green power source. Solar energy is a renewable resource because it never runs out. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels like coal, oil natural gas, and coal. This energy is a great alternative to nuclear power that requires mining extraction, storage and transport of radioactive waste. The sun's energy can be utilized to create electricity in a variety ways that include photovoltaic (PV) panels as well as concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar energy can be channeled directly into businesses and homes, or it could be delivered to grids that supply electricity to other customers. Some consumers can sell their excess energy to the utility company. This can lower electricity bills and offset rising utility costs. All types of solar energy create zero air emissions or pollutants, unlike fossil fuels that generate carbon dioxide and other harmful gases during their combustion. Solar energy can be used to power satellites spacecraft, boats and other devices in areas in areas where accessing the grid is a challenge or even impossible. Solar power can be utilized in smaller structures. Many homeowners put PV cells on their roofs to generate electricity. Passive solar homes allows these homes to absorb the sun's heat during the day and store it at night. Solar-powered homes also benefit from the fact that they require little maintenance. Hydropower is a kind of solar energy that uses the natural flow of streams, rivers, and dams. Hydropower, like biomass and wind, is a renewable resource since it can be replenished. If you are seeking to add hydropower to your home or business, check out the EPA's list for third-party certified options. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant utilizes the heat of the Earth to produce electricity. The process makes use of steam and hot water that naturally occurs a few kilometers below Earth's surface. It is an incredibly sustainable and renewable energy source that produces electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Geothermal power can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It is also one of the most eco-friendly sources of energy production. The most common geothermal power station is a flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182degree C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes and buildings. Iceland, for instance, uses geothermal power to melt snow, heat its sidewalks, streets 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 comprised of hot, dry rock heated by man-made or natural processes. HDR plants are simpler to construct and operate as they require less infrastructure. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there are enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current energy needs. The geothermal steam produced by plants can be used to produce electricity using a steam turbine generator, or it could be combined with a gas-fired generator for increased efficiency. The mixture is able to be converted into natural gas and then burned in a boiler to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is not only safe and reliable, but also has the lowest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, that use an engine to convert steam into electricity, produce minimal or no methane, nitrous oxide or sulphur dioxide. Geothermal energy comes with its own challenges, despite the benefits. The drilling required to establish geothermal power plants can trigger earthquakes and could cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure water streams into geothermal reservoirs can cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that could damage roads, structures, and pipelines. Biogas Biogas is an energy source made of renewable gaseous substances that can generate green energy. It is made from agricultural wastes, manure, plants, sewage, food wastes, municipal garbage and other organic wastes. Biogas can be used to produce electricity, heat and power and heat or converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas is also a great source of hydrogen that can be produced renewable to be used in fuel cells that are likely to play a major role in the future of energy systems. The most common method of valorising biogas is to generate electricity by using a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP process is used to assist in the process of fermentation of organic waste, and the electricity is then fed into the grid. In addition, it can be converted into natural gas, and then incorporated into existing natural gas distribution networks. Biogas can be used to substitute for natural gas imported from mines in commercial, ground transportation and residential buildings. Biogas is renewable energy source that can also help reduce greenhouse emissions of greenhouse gases. The CCAC is working to provide tools for measuring reporting and verifying (MRV) healthy cooking in households in low-to middle-income countries. This will assist the 67 countries who have included clean cooking targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions. By using biogas as a substitute for traditional natural gas for heating and cooling and to substitute fossil fuels used in the generation of electricity carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can be used in the production of liquid transport fuels that can be an alternative to oil, coal and other fossil fuels. By capturing and recovering methane by capturing and recovering methane, we can stop the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and the runoff of nitrogen that could otherwise pollute our water sources. The Plessis-Gassot landfill for non-hazardous waste in Claye-Souilly, France, for instance collects biogas and converts it into a renewable source of energy for the households that are connected to the system. Additionally small-scale biogas plants could be installed in cities to permit the collection and utilization of local organic waste, avoiding greenhouse gases caused by 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 cheapest renewable power source in the world. It does not emit direct greenhouse gases however it has significant environmental impacts. It is a very flexible green power source that is able to be adjusted to meet changing supply and demand. Its service life spans over 100 years and can be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance. The majority of hydropower plants that are traditional use dams to harness the power of falling water. A series of turbines converts the kinetic energy from the water into electricity at a speed that is proportional to the speed at which it travels. This electricity is then transmitted to the electric grid for use. Hydroelectric power plants require a significant investment in pipes and reservoirs. However, operating costs are low. Additionally, these plant can act as backups for other intermittent renewable power technologies such as wind and solar. There are two types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants have large impoundments that can store more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities draw water from rivers and streams that are free-flowing. Hydropower plants are usually located close to or in areas with a high density, where electricity demand is high. The environmental impact of hydropower depends on the size and location of a dam as well as the amount of water that is displaced, and the wildlife habitats and habitats affected by decomposition and flooding. These effects can be minimized and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of hydropower project. The standards contain measures to protect the river's flow and water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species, recreation, and cultural resources. Some hydropower plants are also the world's biggest “batteries” because they can produce renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a larger reservoir. When there is a need for electricity 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.