Green Electricity – Where Does It Come From
Green electricity can be provided in several different ways. First, let’s take a look at one of the longest running sources of green electricity in the world.
Hydroelectricity has the advantage over many kinds of green electricity for being the longest-lived green-source electricity. There are hydroelectric plants throughout the world that have been in operation in excess of 100 years. Hydroelectric power is currently experiencing renewed growth in areas of the world like Asia, with China currently taking the lead in development.
Hydroelectricity features the conversion of water energy into electricity. At its most basic, hydroelectricity works by utilizing the gravitational flow of water to meet and turn turbine blades. The turbine drives a rotor in a generator that produces electricity. Many hydroelectric plants are associated in the general mind of the public with large hydroelectric dams, although plants using straight river flow also produce hydroelectricity. Hydroelectric power is generally regarded as being one of the cleanest methods for the production of green electricity.
Geothermal power is another source used to produce green electricity. Geothermal power utilizes the natural heat from below the earth’s surface to create and capture steam. There are several ways of doing this. One is to simply pipe out the natural steam from under the earth’s surface and use it to run steam generators that produce electricity in a way that is similar to hydroelectric generators. Another method is to run water through pipes under hot magma rock. The magma superheats the water in the pipes into steam and the steam is then used to drive electric generators.
The most widely preferred source of green electricity is solar power. In using solar power, photons are collected by the sun. The photons create DC electricity. In most solar energy systems, the DC electricity is converted into AC electricity through the use of a device called an inverter. The electricity generated through solar energy can be stored in batteries. In residential applications there are normally two kinds of solar power options available. One is called bill reduction, and is used to supply electricity back to your grid. Your electric company then discounts your bill depending on how much electricity you generate with your solar panels. The other residential option is blackout protection, where your green electricity is stored in batteries and used in case of a power failure.
Another type of green electricity is generated by wind power. Wind is air in motion that is caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the earth. Wind turbines use blades to collect the energy of the wind. Similar to hydroelectric power and geothermal energy, the wind is then used to turn a rotor that drives an electric generator.
Green electricity is constantly evolving and there are other ways of generating electrical power from green sources. One of these is wave technology, in which the ocean is used as a source of electrical power generation.
Certainly, green electricity is the trend of the future, as more and more people turn away from the environmentally degrading use of fossil fuels to clean energy driven electricity.
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Green Living Editor
