What makes clean energy

It means sources of energy that are alternative to the most commonly used non-sustainable sources - like coal. Nuclear-generated electricity isn't renewable but it's zero-carbon 1 , which means its generation emits low levels or almost no CO2, just like renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy has a stable source, which means it's not dependent on the weather and will play a big part in getting Britain to net zero status.

All our tariffs are backed by zero-carbon electricity 1 and if you choose to switch to us, you could play your part now in achieving the net zero target. Although it sounds like a perfect renewable energy source, the amount of solar energy we can use varies according to the time of day and the season of the year as well as geographical location.

In the UK, solar energy is an increasingly popular way to supplement your energy usage. Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. Wind farms are an increasingly familiar sight in the UK with wind power making an ever-increasing contribution to the National Grid. To harness electricity from wind energy, turbines are used to drive generators which then feed electricity into the National Grid.

Find out more about wind energy on our wind power page. As a renewable energy resource, hydro power is one of the most commercially developed. By building a dam or barrier, a large reservoir can be used to create a controlled flow of water that will drive a turbine, generating electricity. This energy source can often be more reliable than solar or wind power especially if it's tidal rather than river and also allows electricity to be stored for use when demand reaches a peak.

Find out more by visiting our hydro power page. This is another form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine generators.

Find out more by visiting our marine energy page. Although it harnesses a power directly below our feet, geothermal energy is of negligible importance in the UK compared to countries such as Iceland, where geothermal heat is much more freely available. This is the conversion of solid fuel made from plant materials into electricity.

Although fundamentally, biomass involves burning organic materials to produce electricity, and nowadays this is a much cleaner, more energy-efficient process. By converting agricultural, industrial and domestic waste into solid, liquid and gas fuel, biomass generates power at a much lower economic and environmental cost. Fossil fuels are not a renewable source of energy because they are not infinite. Plus, they release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere which contributes to climate change and global warming.

On the one hand, wood is a renewable resource — provided it comes from sustainably managed forests. Compressed biomass fuels produce more energy than logs too. On the other hand, burning wood whether it be raw timber or processed waste releases particles into our atmosphere.

As world population rises, so does the demand for energy in order to power our homes, businesses and communities. Innovation and expansion of renewable sources of energy is key to maintaining a sustainable level of energy and protect our planet from climate change.

In , the UK hit a new amazing renewable energy milestone. On Wednesday 10th June, the country celebrated two months of running purely on renewable energy for the first time ever. This is a great step in the right direction for renewables. This will drive down the price of renewables — great for the planet, and great for our wallets.

EDF Renewables. Wondering what new and innovative ways scientists are looking at in order to reduce our dependence on traditional fossil fuels? And if you're after some more technical knowledge, find out how our innovation team use Big Data to create better value out of offshore wind farms.

Find out what it's like working in renewable energy. Find out what green energy tariffs are and how to know the difference between real green tariffs and 'green washed' ones. Would you like to reduce your carbon emissions at home? Read our easy and free tips. Read our guide for students on how to manage your bills with your housemates. The zero carbon electricity purchased is supplied into the National Grid.

Customers receive electricity via the National Grid, not directly from zero-carbon generators. It causes over 1.

Short term effects include coughing, lung irritation and exacerbation of respiratory disease. Long term effects include chronic lung disease and even cancer. Particulate matter is a type of air pollution more commonly referred to as soot. Exposure to particulate matter is especially harmful to people with lung disease e.

Carbon dioxide CO2 is a climate change gas that causes global warming. Global warming can lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. It also contributes to air quality problems, which increase the health effects of other air pollutants.

Long-term effects associated with fossil fuel burning could be even more alarming than air pollution-related deaths today. Nuclear energy poses the unique threats of radioactive waste and radiation. Waste from nuclear energy facilities is dangerous to transport and to dispose of. In addition, there is potential for a disastrous nuclear accident, like Chernobyl.

Health effects of radioactive waste include cancer, sterility and even death. Radiation may cause immune system damage, leukemia, miscarriages, stillbirths, deformities and genetic mutations. Mercury is a highly toxic metal that is released from coal-fired power plants.

Mercury accumulates in the fat cells of fish and other animals. When humans eat the fish, they are exposed to mercury. Mercury causes permanent damage to the liver and central nervous system, causing loss of motor function, slurred speech, tunnel vision, and loss of hearing.

Fuel cells offer a highly efficient and fuelflexible technology that cleanly produces power and heat with low or zero emissions. Learn about the Energy Department's efforts to advance technologies that drive down the cost of solar energy in America.

Geothermal energy is heat energy from the earth. Learn about the Energy Department's investments in harnessing this important domestic heat source. Learn how the Energy Department is working to sustainably transform the nation's abundant renewable resources into biomass energy. Nuclear power, the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity, provides around 6 percent of the world's energy. Learn More. How Do Wind Turbines Work?

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