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'Green electricity' is power produced from sources that do not harm the environment. Green power production
technologies are those that that clearly reduce the harmful environmental impacts of energy generation. They
generally make use of renewable sources like wind, water, sun and biomass.
Wind Energy is energy harnessed from the wind. Man has used wind energy for over 2000 years. In many places,
wind energy was harnessed by windmills for pumping water and grinding grain. Windmills work by slowing down
the speed of the wind. The wind flows over the blades causing them to turn.
The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. Wind turbines
need a constant, average wind speed of about 14 miles per hour before the wind turbines can generate electricity.
For producing large amounts of electricity, many machines can be installed together to form a wind farm.
This is known as the rotor diameter. When the blades turn the mechanical energy produced by the blades has to
be converted to electrical energy with the help of a generator. The generator can be connected to a switchboard
to show the electricity produced.
If you are building the wind turbine at a windy spot, then a car alternator may be used as a generator but if you are
doing this indoors or as a model, then use a permanent magnet generator to get the wind. You can also use a fan
on a vertical stand to create the wind.
You can either install the turbine blades on the rooftop or a small open space. Make sure the area is not closed, as
it has to catch the wind. Remember it is better to put safety first when working with a wind turbine. Always ask an
adult to help you and work under adult supervision.
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/project_ideas/green_power/
Green electricity' means electricity produced from sources which do not cause these impacts upon the
environment. Of course, every type of electricity generation will have some impact, but some sources are much
greener than others. The cleanest energy sources are those which utilise the natural energy flows of the Earth.
These are usually known as renewable energy sources, because they will never run out.
Wind power
The winds that blow across the UK can be harnessed by turbines to provide electricity. Wind turbines sited in
suitable locations already provide a small, but growing percentage of the UK's electricity, and are used successfully
all around the world. In fact wind power is one of the worlds fastest growing energy sources! Wind turbine
technology has greatly improved over the last ten years, making wind turbines quieter and more efficient so that
electricity generated from the wind is now often competitive with traditional coal-fired and nuclear power
stations. Wind turbines are also beginning to be built at sea in the future much of our electricity could come
from these offshore windfarms.
Solar power
Many people believe that we don't get much solar energy here in the UK. In fact solar power is already being used
to provide essential power for many types of equipment being used in both remote and urban areas across the
country. A solar photovoltaic (PV) module works by converting sunlight directly into electricity (even on cloudy
days) using semiconductor technology. The vast majority of solar modules available today use waste silicon from
the computer chip industry as the semiconductor material. They can be integrated into buildings and even made
into roof tiles virtually indistinguishable from normal tiles.
Solar energy can also be used to heat water directly using specially designed collectors. Even in winter a useful
amount of hot water can be produced from roof top collectors. A third way to use solar energy is simply to design
buildings to make maximum use of the sun. Using this so-called 'passive solar' approach, much of the energy that
we currently use for heating, lighting and air conditioning can be saved.
Hydro power
Water turbines have been used to provide electricity for over 100 years and presently provide over 1% of the UKs
electricity. Although most of the possible sites for large hydropower stations in the UK have already been
developed, there is a large potential for smaller schemes. These can either use a small dam or work as a 'run of the
river' system which has a minimal impact on the local environment.
Wave power
Britain is blessed with some of the most powerful waves in the world. Many different devices have been designed
over the years to try and capture some of this huge energy resource. With the proper support, wave power could
provide a significant proportion of the UK's electricity needs in the future.
Tidal power
Tidal power has been used in Britain for over a thousand years at the time of the Doomsday book over 5,000
tide powered mills were recorded. Unlike other renewable energy sources, which depend on the weather, tidal
power is as predictable as the tides themselves. One way to capture tidal energy is to build a barrage across an
estuary, storing water behind it as the tide rises and then releasing the stored water through turbines at low tide.
Several sites around the UK could be suitable for this type of tidal system, the largest being the Severn Estuary.
Another way is to use marine current turbines, which work like underwater wind turbines, harnessing tidal
currents instead of the winds.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy comes from hot rocks deep underground. In some parts of the world steam comes to the
surface and can be used to run steam turbines to produce electricity directly. In other places water can be pumped
down and heated by the rocks to make steam. Geothermal energy can also be used to provide hot water and
heating for buildings.
Biomass
Either agricultural wastes or specially grown plants can be used as a fuel to run small power stations. As plants
grow they absorb carbon dioxide (the main gas responsible for climate change) which is then released when the
plants are burnt. So using biomass does not add any extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Specially grown
'energy crops' provide not only an environmentally sound source of electricity, but also an important new
opportunity for farmers. However, there are concerns about the sustainability of sourcing biomass from countries
where forests are being cleared to make way for fast growing plants that are then used as biomass.
Landfill gas
As rubbish decomposes in the landfill sites where our household waste is dumped, it gives off methane gas. This
gas can be captured and burnt in a gas turbine to produce electricity. Burning the gas does give off carbon dioxide
but since methane, which is emitted from the landfill site, is in fact a much more powerful greenhouse gas it is
better to burn it than to allow the methane to escape into the atmosphere. There are already many landfill gas
systems operating in the UK.
Waste incineration
The UK generates an enormous amount of waste, and space at landfill sites is quickly running out. The best
solution would be to recycle as much of the waste as possible, but instead incinerators are being constructed to
burn the waste. In some cases the energy is being used to generate electricity. However many environmentalists
are still concerned about the emission of harmful dioxins and also about the loss of a valuable resources that could
have been recycled.
http://www.greenelectricity.org/what-is-green-electricity.php
Zero emission green power is generated from renewable energy sources without creating air pollution.
SunSolar radiation that reaches Earth's surface can generate electricity in several ways. Photovoltaic systems
use semiconductors to convert light to electricity. Solar concentrators heat water to create steam, which turns
turbines to generate electricity.
WindThe kinetic energy of wind can be harnessed to generate electricity using wind turbines of many different
sizes and applications.
WaterFlowing water can be directed through hydropower turbines to generate electricity.
EarthIn a typical geothermal facility, heat from within the Earth heats water to create steam, which turns
turbines to generate electricity.
TideTidal power facilities operate by focusing the tides' daily cycles of movement into an electricity generator.
WavesIn a wave power facility, a water column moves up and down to turn a turbine to generate electricity.
OceanThe thermal energy of the ocean can be harnessed to generate electricity. Closed-cycle systems use the
ocean's warm surface water to vaporize a working fluid, which then expands and turns a turbine. Open-cycle
systems boil seawater to produce steam for use in a turbine.
Other green power is generated from renewable energy sources while producing some air pollution.
BiomassIn a typical biomass facility, waste wood is burned to heat water to create steam, which turns turbines
to generate electricity. Biomass facilities emit air pollution, but use a renewable fuel source.
Landfill GasLandfills produce potent greenhouse gases like methane, which can be captured and used to
generate electricity. In a typical landfill gas facility, the combustion of these gases is used to create steam, which
turns turbines to generate electricity. Landfill gas facilities emit air pollution, including nitrogen oxides, but use a
waste gas fuel source that would otherwise contribute to global climate change.
Municipal WasteIn a typical municipal waste incinerator facility, waste from many sources (including
construction, residential and business trash) is burned, creating steam to turn generating turbines. All waste-to-
energy incinerators carry air permits regulating the amounts of air pollution they emit, and all reduce the volume
of material entering landfills.
UraniumUranium is the primary fuel source for nuclear power. In a typical nuclear power plant, fissionable
atoms are split in a controlled reaction to heat water to create steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity.
Undesirable impacts of nuclear power generation include radioactive waste storage and protection,
decommissioning costs, risks of catastrophic accidents, uranium-mining costs, and dependence on foreign sources
of uranium.
CoalIn a typical coal-fired power plant, coal is burned to create steam, which turns turbines to generate
electricity. In a cogeneration facility, the heat produced by burning coal may be used for other purposes in addition
to electricity generation. Undesirable impacts of coal-fired power plants include air pollution and coal-mining costs
and associated environmental damage.
Natural GasNatural gas is a fossil fuel composed primarily of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In a typical gas-
fired power plant, gas is burned to heat water to create steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity. When
gas is used in a cogeneration facility, the heat produced is used for other purposes in addition to electricity
generation. Undesirable impacts of gas-fired power plants include air pollution and gas-drilling costs.
OilOil (also called petroleum) is a fossil fuel composed of various liquid hydrocarbons. In a typical oil-fired power
plant, oil is burned to create steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity. Oil may also be used in a
cogeneration facility, where the heat produced by burning oil is used for other purposes in addition to electricity
generation. Undesirable impacts of oil-fired power plants include air pollution, oil-drilling costs, and dependence
on foreign sources of oil.
TiresIn a typical tire-fired power plant, tires are chipped and burned to create steam, which turns turbines to
generate electricity. Tires may also be burned in a cogeneration facility where the heat produced is used for other
purposes in addition to electricity generation. Undesirable impacts of tire-fired power plants include air pollution.
http://www.mainegreenpower.org/generic/sources.shtml
There are many sources of energy that are renewable and considered to be environmentally friendly
and harness natural processes. These sources of energy provide an alternate cleaner source of energy,
helping to negate the effects of certain forms of pollution. All of these power generation techniques can
be described as renewable since they are not depleting any resource to create the energy. While there
are many large-scale renewable energy projects and production, renewable technologies are also suited
to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in
human development.
10 Tidal Power
9 Wave Power
8 Solar Power
7 Wind Power
6 Hydroelectricity
5 Radiant Energy
4 Geothermal Power
3 Biomass
http://listverse.com/2009/05/01/top-10-renewable-energy-sources/
Benefits of Renewable Energy Use
Renewable energy wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass provides substantial benefits for our
climate, our health, and our economy:
Each source of renewable energy has unique benefits and costs; this
page explores the many benefits associated with these energy
technologies. For more information on their potential impacts
including effective solutions to mitigate or avoid them entirely
see The Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-
renewable.html#.V4OlcdIrLDe