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The Green Power Market Development Group has defined "green power" to include energy sources commonly accepted as having a relatively low impact on human, animal and ecosystem health. In particular, the Group considers green power to encompass renewable energy sources, including solar (PV and thermal), wind, biomass, landfill gas (for electricity and for direct use), and geothermal, and "clean" energy sources including fuel cells.
Green power technologies emit less conventional pollutants, such as SO2, NOx, mercury, particulates, and less greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as CO2, than conventional fuel sources. Public pressure for environmental improvement makes it likely that new regulations will emerge to reduce these emissions. Depending on the precise form of new policies, this pressure either could lead to increased costs for fossil fuels (especially coal) or could spawn new market mechanisms that offer financial rewards to customers and developers of emissions-free technologies (e.g., wind farms). Either way, green power would benefit relative to conventional energy sources.
Continuing environmental concerns, particularly regarding climate change, force energy managers to consider how existing energy costs might be affected by new regulations. More overtly, in a growing number of companies that have made voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, energy managers as well as environmental managers are effectively being asked to tap new energy sources with lower emissions profiles. These and other factors place new demands on energy managers - demands which green power technologies can help to meet. Not just an energy purchase anymore, buying green power can provide a hedge against price volatility and regulatory uncertainty, enhance a company's profile, and may even, in the near-future, generate income streams for corporations in the form of emissions reduction credits.
The Group has formed technology-based working groups to focus on specific renewable energy resources and technologies that support the development of green power. Workgroup activities include assessment of renewable energy resources and their environmental attributes, electricity conversion technologies, financial assessment, regulatory incentives and market analysis. The Group has enlisted the assistance of both technical and policy experts to provide guidance on technical issues and regulatory policy.
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To determine the emission reductions from different
green power technologies, try our Emissions Tool.
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