What is Green Energy? All You Need to Know!
Many people in the UK will understand that our dependence on burning fossil fuels to generate heat and electricity harms the environment. The reason is that burning these fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, releases harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. That’s why the UK and the world have become aware of green energy.
In this article, I will tell you how you can benefit from green energy and positively impact the environment.
What is Green Energy?
Green energy is a concept that revolves around generating energy from renewable resources that have no adverse impact on the environment. Green energy is considered a clean and sustainable source of energy that provides numerous benefits in the long term.
A few benefits include lower energy consumption and reduced electricity bills. But that does not mean that to generate green energy, you must get involved in practices that harm the environment, i.e., drilling, deforestation, and mining.
How do the terms “green energy,” “renewable energy,” and “clean energy” differ from one another?
Many people need clarification on the difference between green, renewable, and clean energy. It is essential to know the distinction between these three terms.
As mentioned above, green energy is harnessed from renewable sources that do not emit harmful environmental emissions. Renewable sources generate energy from natural resources that can be replenished over time. On the other hand, clean energy is a source that does not release harmful environmental emissions.
The crux is that not all renewable energy sources are clean and green. Additionally, not all clean energy sources are renewable or green.
Why is Knowing About Green Energy Important?
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must minimise emissions of harmful gases into the environment and shift towards options that benefit the environment more positively.
The government has started the initiative to reduce half of the emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. To do that, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and shift it towards renewable sources.
According to an article from the United Nations, more than 80% of global energy production depends on fossil fuels. But the good news is that people have started to realise the importance of clean energy, and as a result, 29% of electricity is currently generated from renewable sources.
What Types of Energy are Green?
1- Biomass
Biomass is a type of green energy harnessed from organic materials that plants or animals produce. It is used to provide heat and electricity and is considered an essential green energy source, especially in developing countries without a power grid. The familiar sources of biomass energy include burning wood and wood processing waste, crops and waste materials, biogenic materials, animal manure, and human sewage.
However, the critical point to remember is that the procedures involved in converting biomass into energy should be sustainable; if not, it may have a negative impact on humans, including health hazards. Also, Deforestation, land degradation, and assault can all be serious issues linked to biomass production.
2- Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power is another source of green energy that uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. Hydroelectric power involves hydropower plants that capture the kinetic energy from the current of water flowing in streams and rivers. The procedure for generating hydroelectric energy consists of capturing the water in the reservoir and pouring it down a narrow path.
The gravitational potential energy stored by holding water increases, and when released through a narrow path, the water flow then spins a turbine consisting of blades. This turbine then activates a generator, which then creates electricity. But just like biomass, you must generate hydroelectric power sustainably, as it might impact humans and the environment and can be very expensive to set up.
3- Solar Energy
Solar energy is considered one of the cleanest and greenest renewable energy sources. It harnesses the sun’s radiation by using photovoltaics, or concentrated solar power, to generate heat and electricity.
It is a great way to enjoy unlimited sources of electricity while minimising your energy bills. But everything with positives has some negatives attached. With solar power, it is the setup cost and maintenance. Once you are ready to bear it, the long-term benefits are endless.
4- Wind Energy
Wind energy is a form of green energy that converts kinetic energy into electricity. It is considered the greenest and cleanest source of renewable energy. Harnessing the wind’s energy has minimal impact on the environment. The process involves the installation of wind turbines with rotating blades.
These blades convert the wind’s kinetic energy into rotational energy, which is transferred to a generator to produce electricity. Overall, it is a great way to generate green energy. However, there are a few disadvantages, as turbine machines require a lot of space and money to set up. Plus, it can become very noisy and disrupt the look of the landscape.
5- Geothermal Energy
Another source of green energy is geothermal, which harnesses the thermal power from the earth’s crust. Under the earth’s surface, there is heat held within fluids and rocks. The labour force digs mile-deep wells into underground reservoirs. This steam and hot water energy is then harnessed to power turbines connected to electricity generators.
Geothermal is considered one of the most environmentally friendly green energies, but just like others, it also has some drawbacks. These drawbacks include the expensive setup cost and environmental issues, as there are harmful gases stored beneath the earth’s surface that escape into the environment during the process.
Read more about: What is renewable energy?
Advantages of Green Energy
- Comparatively more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
- You can find utility providers that supply green energy.
- By choosing green energy, we can play our part in minimising pollution.
- The green energy supply is plentiful, as the renewable sources from which it is generated stay active over time.
- Harnessing green energy requires plenty of resources and managing them requires a workforce that creates job opportunities for many individuals.
Disadvantages of Green Energy
- Using green sources to generate green energy does not pollute the environment, but the resources used to create them might harm the environment when disposed of.
- The initial setup cost to generate green energy is expensive as it requires a lot of resources and space. Also, the environmental conditions should be favourable.
- The efficiency of devices that generate green energy is relatively low. This means you will still depend on fossil fuels even after setting up resources to create green energy.
What’s next for the future?
Green energy holds excellent promise as societies aim to transition away from fossil fuel dependence and minimise carbon emissions. Rapid technological innovations combined with growing public recognition of the need for sustainable energy solutions have given this sector a surge in growth.
Green energy generation should increase by creating and implementing more efficient solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric systems. Emerging energy storage technologies such as large battery systems will ensure a reliable renewable power supply even when the sun doesn’t shine, or the winds are calm.
Furthermore, advances in research on biofuels, geothermal energy, and tidal power provide opportunities to diversify the green energy landscape even more. Governments worldwide encourage investment in clean energy infrastructure through subsidies and regulations with emissions-reduction targets in mind.
As public support for sustainable practices grows and economies strive towards becoming carbon neutral, green energy will be essential in powering our world while mitigating climate change risks.
The information provided in this article has been collected from various sources. However, we suggest you consult local authorities, experienced installers, and legal professionals in your specific area before making any decisions, as every individual’s home situation is unique.