Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas contribute to climate change with their high emissions. Sustainable power generation is therefore becoming increasingly important and fortunately, more and more good, environmentally-friendly alternatives to polluting power generation are emerging. To give you an idea of the possibilities, we list some of the better-known and lesser-known ways.
Sustainable electricity is electricity generated from sources that are not harmful to the environment and/or reusable. It is therefore also known as green electricity or renewable electricity. So no fossil fuels are used in generating sustainable electricity. And that is a good thing, because fossil fuels are running out and, because of all the polluting by-products (read: CO2 emissions), are a serious burden on the environment.
Sustainable power generation can be done in several ways. After all, the world is equipped with inexhaustible energy sources we can use. And people are also becoming smarter and more effective at reusing energy. These are the most common ways of sustainable power generation:
Wind power is an important source for generating electricity. This is because the wind makes the large rotor blades of a wind turbine turn. That movement is then transmitted via gears to an electricity generator, which in turn supplies the electricity. A disadvantage, however, is that (large) wind turbines affect the view and cause nuisance for local residents.
Hydropower has been used to generate energy for hundreds of years. Just think of the water mills of the Middle Ages. Nowadays, turbines rather than mills are used. Here, the flow of the water turns a kind of ship's propeller, which in turn is connected to an electricity generator. The disadvantage of generating electricity sustainably with water is that turbines and dams can affect natural ecosystems.
Biomass is a slightly lesser-known renewable energy source – but no less important for that. Biomass is plant or animal material that can be burned in a biomass power plant to generate heat and electricity. Because these substances can grow again, biomass is considered renewable. However, the higher emissions compared to wind and water energy and possible damage to nature are points of discussion when using biomass.
Sustainable power generation with solar energy is perhaps the most environmentally friendly. Sunlight is captured in special solar panels and converted into electricity. Without emissions, without noise and without harming natural environments. Moreover, the panels are also suitable for private use. So you can also generate sustainable electricity at home with solar panels on the roof!
While wind and hydropower, biomass and sunlight are the main and most developed renewable sources, meanwhile, development continues steadily. As a result, energy can now also be gained by cycling (at home) or using the forces of magnets. Meanwhile, nuclear energy and geothermal energy (ground heat) also continue to play a role in sustainable power generation, and people are also investigating the possibilities of storing energy in hydrogen.
