What does green electricity mean?
Green electricity is a term that refers to electricity produced with environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources. Such energy sources include, for example, solar energy, wind power, hydropower and biomass. Green electricity production aims to minimize environmental impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant factor in climate change.
What are the sources of green electricity?
Green electricity can be produced from several different renewable energy sources. The most common sources of green electricity are listed below:
- Solar energy: Solar panels convert the sun’s radiant energy into electricity. This is one of the cleanest sources of energy, as it produces no emissions at all during use.
- Wind power: Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity. Wind power is also a very environmentally friendly option, although it requires large areas of land and can affect the local ecosystem.
- Hydropower: Hydropower plants utilize the kinetic energy of flowing water to produce electricity. Hydropower is an efficient and stable source of energy, but its construction can affect the ecology of water bodies.
- Biomass: Biomass, such as wood, agricultural waste and other organic materials, can be used to generate electricity by burning or using other processes. Biomass is a renewable energy source, but burning it can produce carbon dioxide emissions.
Why is green electricity important?
Using green electricity is important for many reasons:
- Combating climate change: Green electricity reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant factor in climate change. The use of renewable energy sources helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.
- Protection of the environment: The production of green electricity causes less environmental damage compared to traditional energy sources. For example, solar and wind power do not produce pollution in the atmosphere or harmful substances in water bodies.
- Energy security: Renewable energy sources are local and decentralized, which reduces dependence on imported energy and improves energy security.
- Sustainable development: The use of green electricity promotes sustainable development and supports the transition towards a carbon-neutral society.
Green electricity certification
Certification of green electricity is a process that ensures that electricity has been produced with renewable energy sources. In Finland, for example, the EKOenergia label is used, which is an independent environmental label for renewable energy. Certification helps consumers and companies choose environmentally friendly energy solutions.
More information
If you want more information about green electricity and its benefits, you can consult the following sources:
