Natural gas is seen in red. Click on the region to zoom into a group of countries, then click on the country to see where its electricity comes from. Fossil Fuels. Nuclear Fuels. Acid Rain. Climate Change. Climate Feedback. Ocean Acidification. Rising Sea Level. Natural gas power plant. Burning natural gas releases both, therefore, it contributes to climate change, while improving air quality.
When renewable energy techniques generate more electricity than can be used at that moment in time, artificial gas can be created with the excess electricity. First, the electricity is used to split water into its individual elements, hydrogen and oxygen, by electrolysis. Then the hydrogen is converted into methane by adding carbon dioxide in a process known as methanation.
The natural gas created can be transported using the existing German gas pipelines and storage facilities, and can be used for heating or as a vehicle fuel. The close links between natural gas and electricity continue at micro level.
Environmentally friendly electricity and heat can be generated with natural gas in fuel cells at home, perhaps in the cellar or basement. The heat generated by the process is not wasted, but used to heat the rest of the homes and provide hot water. This initiative will give individual homeowners the opportunity to make a real difference to the environment, as the fuel cells only emit around half the CO2 emissions of traditional solutions with the same output. Hydroelectric dams can generate large amounts of low-carbon electricity, but the number of sites suitable for new, large-scale dams is limited.
Hydroelectric power can also be produced by run-of-river plants but most of the rivers that are suitable for this have already been developed. The flooding of reservoirs behind dams and slowing the flow of the river system below the dam can also have a serious impact on the environment and local populations.
In terms of the number of deaths from accidents, hydroelectric power is the most deadly energy source. Nuclear power reactors use the heat produced from splitting atoms to generate steam to drive a turbine. No greenhouse gases are produced in the fission process, and only very small amounts are produced across the whole nuclear life- cycle.
Nuclear power is an environmentally-friendly form of electricity generation, and does not contribute to air pollution. In , nuclear power generated Nuclear power plants, like fossil-fuelled power plants, are very reliable, and can run for many months without interruption, providing large amounts of clean electricity, regardless of the time of day, the weather or the season. Most nuclear power plants can operate for at least 60 years, and this contributes to making nuclear electricity the most affordable when comparing to other electricity generators.
Nuclear fuel can be used in a reactor for several years, thanks to the immense amount of energy contained in uranium. The power from one kilogram of uranium is about the same as 1 tonne of coal. As a result, a correspondingly small amount of waste is generated. Just 5 grams of this amount is used nuclear fuel — the equivalent of a sheet of paper.
There are several management strategies available for the used fuel, such as direct disposal or recycling in reactors to generate more low-carbon electricity. Renewables, such as wind, solar and small-scale hydro, produce electricity with low amounts of greenhouse gas emissions across their entire life-cycle. In , wind and solar generated 4.
They do not produce electricity predictably or consistently due to their inherent reliance on the weather. Also in Coal explained Coal Mining and transportation Where our coal comes from Imports and exports How much coal is left Use of coal Prices and outlook Coal and the environment. Renewable sources. Renewable energy. Biofuels: Ethanol and Biomass-based diesel. Also in Hydropower explained Hydropower Where hydropower is generated Hydropower and the environment Tidal power Wave power Ocean thermal energy conversion.
Also in Biofuels explained Biofuels Ethanol Use and supply of ethanol Ethanol and the environment Biomass-based diesel fuels Use of biomass-based diesel fuel Biomass-based diesel and the environment. Also in Wind explained Wind Electricity generation from wind Where wind power is harnessed Types of wind turbines History of wind power Wind energy and the environment.
Also in Geothermal explained Geothermal Where geothermal energy is found Use of geothermal energy Geothermal power plants Geothermal heat pumps Geothermal energy and the environment. Also in Solar explained Solar Photovoltaics and electricity Where solar is found and used Solar thermal power plants Solar thermal collectors Solar energy and the environment.
Secondary sources. Also in Electricity explained Electricity The science of electricity Magnets and electricity Batteries, circuits, and transformers Measuring electricity How electricity is generated Electricity in the United States Generation, capacity, and sales Delivery to consumers Use of electricity Prices and factors affecting prices Electricity and the environment. Also in Hydrogen explained Hydrogen Production of hydrogen Use of hydrogen.
Electricity in the United States is produced generated with diverse energy sources and technologies The United States uses many different energy sources and technologies to generate electricity. Also on Energy Explained U. Frequently asked questions What is the difference between electricity generation capacity and electricity generation?
What is U.
0コメント