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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced by renewable resources such as geothermal, solar, wind and biomass, as well as other forms of biomass, and hydroelectricity with low impact. It's available to customers in deregulated markets who want to help support green energy sources by paying the cost of their utility bill. Renewable energy sources are generally less damaging to the environment than drilling for oil or mining coal. They also help reduce our greenhouse gas emission. Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most well-known green energy sources. Solar energy is considered to be renewable because it will never be depleted. It is a clean, efficient 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 is an excellent alternative to nuclear power, which requires the extraction and mining of uranium as well as long-term storage of radioactive waste. The sun's energy can be used to generate electricity in a variety of ways such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar thermal collectors. Solar power can be distributed directly to businesses and homes or to grids which distribute electricity to other. Some consumers may sell their excess energy to the utility company. This can help reduce electricity bills and offset rising utility costs. All types of solar energy create no air emissions or pollutants unlike fossil fuels, which generate carbon dioxide and other harmful gases during their combustion. Solar energy can be used to power satellites, boats, spacecrafts and other devices in areas where accessing the electric grid is a challenge or even impossible. On a smaller scale solar can also be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners install PV solar panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar home design allows these houses to welcome in the sun's rays during the day to provide warmth and then retain it at night. Solar-powered homes also have the advantage of needing minimal maintenance. Another type of solar power is hydropower, which makes use of the natural flow of water in rivers, streams and dams to produce electricity. 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 look into the EPA's list of third party certified options. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant utilizes the heat of the Earth to produce electricity. The process involves steam and hot water that naturally occur just a few kilometers below the Earth's surface. this is a remarkably sustainable and renewable energy source that generates electricity all day long and 365 days of the year. Geothermal energy is a great way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and is among the most eco-friendly methods of power generation. The most common geothermal power plant is the flash-steam plant. This uses water at temperatures of approximately 182deg C (360deg F) to power turbines and generate electricity. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes or even buildings. Iceland, for instance, uses geothermal power to melt snow and heat its sidewalks, streets and parking areas during the frigid Arctic Winter. Another source of geothermal energy is a hot dry rock (HDR) power plant that taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rocks that have been heated by either natural or human-made activities. HDR plants are simpler to construct and operate as they require less infrastructure. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there is enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current energy needs. The steam from geothermal power stations can be utilized as a source of electricity by using steam turbine generators or a gas fired turbine to boost efficiency. The mixture is able to be converted into natural gas, and then burned in a boiler to produce electricity. In addition to being safe and reliable, geothermal energy 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, and sulphur oxide. However, despite its benefits geothermal energy has its challenges. The drilling required to construct geothermal power stations can cause earthquakes and may cause groundwater pollution. Injection of high-pressure streams into geothermal reservoirs could cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking process that can cause damage to roads, structures, and pipelines. Biogas Biogas is a natural gaseous energy source that can be utilized to produce green energy. powered mobility scooter can be made from manure, agricultural wastes plants and sewage food wastes, municipal garbage, and other organic wastes. Biogas can be converted into transport fuels, electricity, heat combined with energy, or electricity using the Fischer-Tropsch method. Biogas is also a valuable resource for producing renewable hydrogen for use in fuel cells which are expected to play a significant role in the future of global energy systems. The most common method of valorisation of biogas is to generate electricity using the use of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat from the CHP process is used to assist in the fermentation of the organic waste and the electricity generated is fed into the grid. It can also be converted into natural gas and incorporated into existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can be used to substitute for imported mined natural gas in commercial, ground transportation and residential constructions. Biogas is a renewable energy source that can also reduce greenhouse emissions of greenhouse gases. The CCAC is working to develop tools to measure, report and confirming (MRV) of healthy cooking in households and communities in countries with low to middle incomes to assist the nations that have included clean cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Biogas can be used as a substitute for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating, and to replace fossil fuels for the production of electricity carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transportation fuels as a sustainable alternative to coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. Recovering methane from food and animal manure waste prevents the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as preventing nitrogen runoff that would otherwise cause water pollution. The Plessis Gassot waste landfill, which is non-hazardous in Claye-Souilly, France, for example, captures biogas and turns it into a renewable source of energy for households connected to the system. In addition small-scale biogas facilities can be set up in cities to permit the collection and utilization of local organic waste which will reduce greenhouse gases associated with the transportation and treatment of these materials. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that is based on the kinetic energy of water flowing. It is the most sought-after and least expensive renewable energy source in the world. It doesn't produce direct greenhouse gases but it does have significant environmental impacts. It is a flexible form of green power that can be easily modified to meet changes in supply and demand. It has a service life of more than 100 years and is able to be upgraded for better efficiency and performance. Most traditional hydropower plants use dams to harness the energy generated by falling water. A series of turbines converts kinetic energy from the water into electricity at a rate that is proportional to its speed. This electricity is then transmitted to the grid of electricity for use. While building an hydroelectric power plant requires huge investments in reservoirs, dams and pipes, operating costs are quite low. Furthermore, these plants are able to serve as backups to other intermittent renewable power sources like solar and wind. There are two kinds of hydroelectric plants which are run-of-river and storage. Storage plants have large impoundments, which can hold more than a season's worth of water. Run-of-river facilities draw the water of streams and rivers that flow freely. Hydropower facilities are usually located near concentrations of population, where there is a huge demand for electricity. The environmental impact of hydropower depends on the size and location of a dam as well as the amount of water displaced and the wildlife and habitat affected by decomposition and inundation. These effects can be minimized and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of the hydropower projects. The standards include measures for the flow of rivers, water quality protection and fish passage, as well as aquatic ecosystems protection endangered and threatened species as well as recreation and cultural resources. Hydropower plants can also be the largest in the world “batteries” because they generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. When electricity is required the water from the lower reservoir can be used to power generators. The water from the reservoir above can then be pumped downhill by a turbine to generate more electricity.