What Does Clean Energy Mean?
Clean energy is the name given to production systems that do not create any pollution, especially greenhouse gases that cause climate change such as CO2.
Clean energy is energy obtained from sources that do not release air pollutants, while green energy is energy obtained from natural sources. Although they are often said to be the same, there is a subtle difference between these two types of energy.
Differences Between Clean and Renewable Energy Sources
Clean energy and renewable energy are two concepts that are used together, but it is important to understand the difference between them. Some types of renewable energy can cause pollution. For example, biogas and biodiesel are renewable energy sources and are obtained from natural, inexhaustible sources. However, unlike most renewable energies, they pollute the atmosphere by burning and emit greenhouse gases. Clean energies, on the other hand, do not pollute nature.
Renewable energy means power produced from constantly renewed sources. Renewable energy sources include wind and solar energy, which do not run out, unlike fossil fuels and gas.
However, although most green energy sources are renewable, not all renewable energy sources are included in the green energy class. For example, hydroelectricity is a renewable energy, but the “deforestation and industrialization” caused by the construction of hydro dams may not be considered green energy because they can harm the environment.
Perfect clean energy occurs where green energy meets renewable energy, such as solar energy and wind energy.
The easiest way to remember the differences between these types of energy is as follows:
• Clean energy = Clean air
• Green energy = Natural resources
• Renewable energy = Recyclable resources
Most clean energy is also renewable energy;
1. Wind energy
This kinetic energy obtained by converting the inexhaustible energy source wind into electricity. There are two types of wind turbines depending on where they are installed. Onshore wind energy and offshore wind energy.
2. Solar energy
Solar energy; is the conversion of light into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Like wind energy, solar energy falls into the categories of clean, renewable, local and inexhaustible energy.
3. Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric energy; is the use of the force of water falling from a height or flowing down to generate electricity.
4. Energy from green hydrogen
It is the production of hydrogen, a light, reactive and universal fuel, using a chemical process known as electrolysis. In this method, an electric current is used to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water. If the electricity used in the process is obtained from renewable sources, energy that does not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere can be produced.
5. Geothermal energy
The energy produced by using the heat radiating from the center of the earth is called Geothermal energy. The heat from the hot water layers flowing under the earth's crust and from the rocks is used.
There are many types of renewable energy, and they all have some things in common:
• They are environmentally friendly: clean energy does not release greenhouse gases or other polluting emissions into the atmosphere.
• They are limitless: They are obtained from natural resources that are inexhaustible or rapidly replenished.
• They promote energy independence: They use natural resources found all over the planet. This allows countries to develop their own technologies rather than relying on electricity produced abroad.
• They create jobs and strengthen the local economy: Intensive labor is spent to build, regularly maintain and operate renewable energy facilities. This creates jobs and contributes to the country's economy.
Clean energy provides a variety of environmental and economic benefits, including reduced air pollution. Clean energy supply reduces reliance on imported fuels and the associated financial and environmental costs.
Renewable clean energy has inherent cost savings, as resources are naturally renewable, eliminating the need to extract and transport fuels such as oil or coal.
Another industrial benefit of clean energy is the creation of jobs to develop and produce clean energy sources for the future.
Solar energy can be used to heat and light buildings, generate electricity, directly heat and cool water, and more. Solar panels allow the energy from the sun to be collected and converted into electricity. Solar panels are often used for small electrical tasks such as charging batteries, and many people today use solar energy for garden lanterns. This clean energy technology can be used to power homes or buildings, or on a larger scale, a city can be powered by a single panel.
Hydroelectric power is produced in hydroelectric power plants, which take water from rivers, streams, or lakes to generate electricity, and the electricity is made available to the public.
Wind energy is produced by connecting the rotation of windmill blades to a generator that converts it into power. This form of energy has been used for centuries to mill grain, pump water, or perform other mechanical tasks. Today, wind energy is used to generate electricity, with wind turbines on land and offshore becoming increasingly common.
In recent years, we have seen more renewable energy capacity installed globally than fossil fuel and nuclear capacity combined. Energy generated from renewable sources accounts for more than a third of the planet’s power capacity. As an example of this growth, in 2020, the entire country in the UK used renewable energy for two months.
As the world’s population continues to grow, there will be an ever-increasing demand for energy. Therefore, renewables are the most viable way to provide sustainable energy solutions and protect the planet from climate change.
As cities establish policies to increase the use of renewable energy, the use of clean energy is increasing. In the United States, 29 states have established renewable energy portfolios, requiring a certain percentage of the energy consumed to come from renewable sources. More than 100 cities worldwide are currently using at least 70% renewable energy.
In short, because fossil fuels are a finite resource, renewable energy is expected to be – exclusively – in our future, and its cost is expected to decrease.
Humans have been burning fossil fuels for over 150 years, and as their use has increased, so have the greenhouse gases released from burning these fuels. These greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and cause the Earth’s temperature to rise. The resulting global warming is a symptom of climate change, which is seen in increased extreme weather events, changes in wildlife habitats and populations, rising sea levels, and other effects.
Renewable energy sources do not cause global warming because they do not emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. While renewables mean that climate change is not progressing, measures such as reforestation can help mitigate the damage already done to the climate and can come together to reduce global warming.
As we mentioned above, humans have been using fossil fuels for decades, which means that the transition to clean energy is relatively new. As a result, renewable energy sources do not meet our global power demands. However, we can see that our energy needs can be balanced by efficient storage of renewable energy, and that demand will continue to increase. With experts saying that clean renewable energy could replace fossil fuels by 2050, many studies have been initiated around the world to develop clean energy infrastructure and storage capabilities.
Clean energy provides financial benefits in many ways. In particular, improving infrastructure, developing, installing and maintaining new clean energy solutions provides jobs and savings. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, the renewable and clean energy sector is growing, creating more opportunities in areas ranging from eMobility to energy generation and storage.
The expertise that comes with developing these next-generation power solutions increases employment.
The cost of clean energy is only part of the story right now, as the real incentive behind clean energy is to create a better future for the planet.
The most important aspect of clean energy is its global and environmental benefits. Clean, renewable sources also protect the world’s natural resources while reducing the risk of environmental disasters such as fuel leaks or natural gas leaks.
As dependence on fossil fuels continues to decline, clean energy appears to be the future of humanity’s power needs worldwide. As the shift towards clean, green and renewable energy continues, costs will also decrease.
More and more people are recognizing the environmental, social and economic benefits of clean energy, and this will continue to progress as more cities, states and countries sign on to a green energy agenda.
Clean energy is essential to sustaining social activities. With the climate crisis threatening all living things on earth, the most effective solution is to invest in clean energy.