After the first year of green power in 2020, 2021 will usher in a new peak period of green energy development. So far, in addition to Google, Apple, Amazon and other major technology companies that have adopted nearly 100% of their green energy power generation, many multinational companies have also stepped into the ranks of green energy investment. After all, how does the green energy industry flourish internationally? Follow the information compiled in this article to understand the types of green energy power generation, the application situation in various countries, and take the lead in grasping the trend of green energy power generation!
What are The Types of Green Power Generation? Wind, Hydro, Biomass, and Solar
The types of green energy power generation are rich and diverse, and four types are mainly used in the world today, including wind power, hydro power, biomass energy, and solar energy. The following briefly introduces four common types of green energy generation:
Type 1 of Green Power Generation: Wind Power
Wind power generation is the use of wind energy caused by gas flow to generate electricity, which is suitable for windy places or areas with terrain differences.
Type 2 of Green Power Generation: Hydro Power
Hydro power is generated by the difference in height (potential energy) generated by the flow of water from a high place to a low place. It is suitable for applications in countries with abundant mountains. According to the different kinetic energy of water sources, it can be further subdivided into various types of hydroelectric power generation such as reservoir type, tidal type, and adjustment pool type.
Type 3 of Green Energy Power Generation: Biomass Energy
Biomass energy is the largest natural resource in the world. It is a way to generate electricity by converting biomass into energy. Compared with other green energy power generation methods, biomass energy is less restricted by factors such as climate and environment.
Type 4 of Green Energy Power Generation: Solar Energy
Solar power generation generates electricity by converting the energy of sunlight radiation, which is suitable for the development of areas that can receive sunlight for a long time. Compared with other renewable energy sources, solar energy is not easily subject to geographical restrictions. In addition, the power generation period meets the needs of human electricity consumption. More and more countries are actively developing solar energy.
What are the Limitations of Green Power Generation? Analysis of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Power Generation
Although the use of renewable energy for power supply is much more environmentally friendly than the use of fossil coal-fired power generation, it is still unavoidably subject to environmental conditions or climate factors. The advantages and disadvantages of various types of green power generation are listed below to help you understand the benefits and limitations of using these types of green power generation.
Wind Power
Advantage:
- The construction cost is lower than that of hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants
- No air pollution, radiation and other issues
Shortcoming:
- Can produce noise
- Must be constructed in an open and unstructured area
Hydro Power
Advantage:
- Reusable, high conversion efficiency
- Set a lower threshold
Shortcoming:
- Pumping water or building power plants may disrupt soil and water balance
- Small power generation, greatly affected by rainfall
Biomass Energy
Advantage:
- Reduce garbage and waste pollution, which can promote reuse and recycling
- Abundant biomass raw material resources
Shortcoming:
- Some energy sources are not immediately available
- Difficult to store after recovered raw materials
Solar Energy
Advantage:
- Energy is inexhaustible
- Safe power supply process, not easy to cause pollution
- Less susceptible to terrain
Shortcoming:
- Only suitable for areas with prolonged exposure to sunlight
- Requires a large area of land for construction
Environmental Sustainability Drivers: 5 Countries Make Efforts to Green Power Generation
- Bhutan
With a land area of only 38,394 square kilometers, Bhutan is similar in size to Taiwan, but its forest coverage rate is as high as 70%. It is the only country in the world that uses a constitution to protect forests. Because it is located in the Himalayas, it mainly relies on the height difference caused by melting icebergs to generate hydro power, and the stable power supply can even be sold to neighboring countries. In addition, the local government has also made special legislation to limit the number of domestic tourists to ensure that the environment will not be excessively damaged.
- Germany
Germany implemented the "Renewable Energy Law" in 2000 to acquire green energy with high funds, attracting industry players to invest in the construction of green energy power generation equipment, and expecting to drive the development of renewable energy technology. It is the first major industrial country to promote energy transformation. Germany has also achieved the goal of a non-nuclear homeland by 2022. In recent years, the government has also actively formulated relevant laws and decided to complete the goal of deactivating coal power by 2038.
- Sweden
Sweden is the first country in the world to implement a carbon tax. It has long been committed to promoting solar power generation. In addition to subsidizing the construction of solar panels in residential areas, it has also formulated relevant policies to encourage companies to develop renewable energy storage. The Swedish government also announced that in the 2021 policy budget, it will allocate 10 billion SEK to promote green initiatives, of which about 1 billion SEK will be used to promote green transition.
- Portugal
Portugal has a unique geographical environment and uses various renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind power, and hydro power in the country. In 2016, by virtue of the supply of renewable energy, it completed 107 hours of continuous power supply, reaching the historical record of 100% green energy supply hours in the EU at that time. In recent years, Portugal has also held a number of citizen consultation meetings through the National Energy and Climate Plan, and conducted cross-sectoral technical seminars and workshops, hoping to achieve the vision of carbon neutrality by 2050.
After understanding that countries are promoting the development of the green energy industry, they also understand the relevant policies and trends of the green energy industry. An industrial flywheel has been formed to let more developers know the vast green energy demand, and then expand the scale of investment to accelerate the development pace of green energy industry.
