In Britain, roughly two thirds of our nation’s electricity comes from sources like coal and gas, which is burnt in power stations. This is not environmentally friendly, as they release millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, which subsequently contributes to climate change. The remaining fraction of our electricity is generated from nuclear power, which is also very worrying, as the waste it produces is highly radioactive. This can lead to major health problems, because radiation damages living cells within the body, and can therefore lead to cancer.
Green Electricity is the better alternative, as electricity is produced from sources which do not have these negative impacts on the environment around us. They often use natural energy sources from around the Earth, and are known as renewable because they will never run out.
Turbines, or windmills, around the UK are used to channel the wind, to create energy. These are often placed in areas of high altitude where the breeze is much stronger, such as on a mountain or in coastal locations. Wind power is now very effective, and used across the world as a fairly large percent of our green energy sources.
Solar energy can be collected from light produced from the sun, even on cloudy days, and turned into electricity. It uses semiconductor technology, which is often integrated into the roofs of buildings. This energy can heat water directly, making it a cleaner alternative to gas, coal or nuclear.
Hydro Power is the collection of energy provided by water which runs at speed, such as a river, or the tide of the sea. This is often processed by water turbines, which have been in use for over 100 years, and are currently responsible for 1% of the UK’s electricity.
Geothermal energy can be produced from hot rocks deep underground in various parts of the world, for example Iceland. If the steam comes to the surface of the Earth then it can be used to operate steam turbines. Otherwise water can be pumped down and heated by the rocks, to generate steam. This type of energy is often used to provide hot water and heating.
Waste produced from many farms across the country can be used as fuel to function small power stations. Plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide, which is emitted upon combustion, therefore it does not add to climate change.
This is created from the methane gases produced by rubbish dumps, as waste decomposes. It is collected and then burnt, which is better for the environment as because this is a much more harmful gas than Carbon Dioxide, its more beneficial to burn it.
Incinerators are used to burn waste, which then creates energy that can be used to generate electricity. However, many people are concerned that recycling is a better alternative.