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y growing plants can be achieved by producing biofuels from

Balance between the carbon released by biofuels and carbon uptake by growing plants can be achieved by producing biofuels from feedstocks (raw materials) that come from managed forests or sustainably cultivated crops.

Biodiesel is a type of bio-fuel which is used to fuel cars and other vehicles. Biodiesel is used as alternative petroleum oil. Biodiesel is special because it is a clean resource and is safe to use in our environment, compared to other fuels that pollute the planet. Biodiesel is made from renewable resources which make it easier to produce. Biodiesel also lubricates car engines, which decreases engine wear, making the engine last longer. Speaking of engines, biodiesel is compatible with most car engines that run on diesel. According to researchers, biodiesel can reduce the risk of cancer, which the emitting of petroleum oil have been known to cause.

A wind turbine gathers energy from the wind through the mechanical rotation of its blades. This is mechanically generated energy from kinetic energy that is then turned into electrical energy.

Waves are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean

. Ocean waves contain tremendous energy potential. Wave power devices extract energy from the surface motion of ocean waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface.  

Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, the number one greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Combustion of these fossil fuels is considered to be the largest contributing factor to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the 20th century, the average temperature of Earth rose 1 degree Fahrenheit (1°F). This was a period that saw the most prolific population growth and industrial development

Some estimates say our fossil fuel reserves will be depleted within 50 years, while others say it will be 100-120 years.

Somewhat surprisingly, the hot air that carries the heat from the earth at geothermal sites also contains carbon dioxide, CO2, the Greenhouse Gas that sends anti-technologists into a frenzy.  The suite of 20 geothermal sites from which Southern California Electric is obligated to buy electricity produces 730 tonnes of CO2 for every gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electricity produced.  Across the spectrum of all natural-gas power plants in the US, the average CO2 production is 519 tonnes per GWh.  That is, the geothermal power plants, which burn no fossil fuels whatsoever, produce 41% more CO2 than the run-of-the-mill natural gas power plant for the same amount of electrical energy produced.

What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatthours of electricity.  About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal. Energy sources and percent share of  total electricity generation in 2012 were:  Coal 37% Natural Gas 30% Nuclear 19% Hydropower 7% Other Renewable 5% Biomass 1.42% Geothermal 0.41% Solar 0.11% Wind 3.46% Petroleum 1% Other Gases < 1%

Although solar panels provide clean energy while in use, a variety of factors during the manufacturing and disposal of these panels have the potential to greatly damage the environment.

The most commonly used solar panels are silicon-based panels that share many of the same materials and manufacturing processes as semiconductors. Solar panels have the potential to create an e-waste burden if the proper infrastructure is not developed before the first wave of panels begins to come down.

There’s a much cheaper way to produce hydrogen: spray steam on white-hot coals and out comes mostly hydrogen gas (40 percent) and carbon monoxide (50 percent), a mixture known appropriately as “water gas.” It’s the least expensive way to make hydrogen. Unfortunately, the carbon monoxide produced along with it is highly poisonous. To extract the last bit of energy, the carbon monoxide can be burned, and that turns it into the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Electric cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells don’t produce greenhouse-enhancing carbon dioxide. But producing hydrogen does-and if we want to reduce our petroleum dependence, we’re going to have to reconcile ourselves to that fact.

Solar technologies produce few negative environmental impacts during collector operation.

Unlike fossil fuel power plants, no smoke is emitted from geothermal power plants, because no burning takes place; only steam is emitted from geothermal facilities. Emissions of nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide are extremely low, especially when compared to fossil fuel emissions. The binary geothermal plant, which currently represents around 15% of all geothermal plant capacity, along with the flash/binary plant, produce nearly zero air emissions. Even dry steam plants, which are considered to have the highest levels of air emissions, are considered environmentally benign compared with fossil fuels. For example, Lake County, California, downwind of The Geysers, has met all federal and state ambient air quality standards for almost 25 years. There are 21 power plants at The Geysers, comprising a significant complex of electric generation facilities, yet even despite this, air quality is excellent. At The Geysers, air quality has even improved as a result of geothermal development because hydrogen sulfide, which would ordinarily be released naturally into the atmosphere by hot springs and fumaroles, instead now passes through an abatement system that reduces hydrogen sulfide emissions by 99.9%. (1) See also Myth #2.

Photovoltaic cells are made of at least two layers of semiconducting material. The first layer has a positive charge; the next layer has a negative charge. When sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconducting material absorbs photons from the light. This process frees electrons from the negative layer, which move to the positive layer. This flow of electrons constitutes an electric current, which can be captured in a circuit connecting the two layers. The electricity generated by a photovoltaic cell can be used directly, stored in batteries or sold back to a utility company.

A 5,000-watt solar electric array on a roof that is 80% of an ideal site in terms of output, will generate about 4,800 kWh per year. Therefore, this solar energy will prevent 5,760 pounds of CO2 pollution from going into the atmosphere, every year.

Generating plant fuelled by biomass uses conventional steam turbine electricity generating plant as used in coal fired power stations with modifications to the combustion chamber and fuel handling systems to handle the bulkier fuel.