And what’s the difference between green energy, renewable energy and clean energy?

Often these terms are used interchangeably, but there are some differences. One thing that green, clean and renewable energy all have in common is that they're being increasingly used to generate electricity in order to phase out the use of fossil fuels, like coal and gas, which are a key cause of climate change.
 

What’s the difference between green energy and renewable energy?

The terms ‘green energy’ and ‘renewable energy’ are often used interchangeably, but there is one essential (and sometimes confusing) difference between them. While most green energy sources are also renewable, not all renewable energy sources are considered entirely green. Renewable energy comes from sources that are constantly and naturally renewed (hence the name), such as wind power and solar power. Renewable energy is also often called sustainable energy. A renewable energy source may not be considered ‘green’ if, for example, some carbon emissions are associated with the processes used to generate the energy such as the building of infrastructure.
 

Clean energy is energy that, when used, creates little or no greenhouse gas emissions. As with renewable energy, some types of clean energy may not always be considered entirely green.
 

Renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that won’t run out. They are natural and self-replenishing, and usually have a low- or zero-carbon footprint.
Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power, bioenergy (organic matter burned as a fuel) and hydroelectric, including tidal energy.
Burning fossil fuels to create electricity has long been a major contributor in the emission of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, so these renewable sources are considered vital in the race to tackle climate change.
 

Wind power is the largest producer of renewable electricity in both the EU and the US. Onshore and offshore wind farms generate electricity by spinning the blades of wind turbines. The turbines convert the kinetic energy of the spinning blades into electric energy by turning a drive shaft and gear box, which is connected to a generator. Electricity is then converted into higher voltages and fed into the national grid.

Solar Sunlight is one of the planet’s most freely available energy resources, which you’d assume would make it the number one source of renewable energy. But of course, the amount of sunlight we get can vary greatly depending on location, season and time of day. Solar power generates electricity by capturing sunlight on solar panels in a joint chemical and physical reaction, known as the ‘photovoltaic effect’ (or PV).
 

Hydroelectric Hydro power is created using the movement of flowing or falling water.Hydroelectric power plants are found at dams and generate electricity through underwater turbines that turn a generator. Hydro power also encompasses wave and tidal power, which rely on ocean forces to generate electricity at the mouths of large bodies of water, using similar technology.

Bioenergy Electricity can be generated when organic matter is burned as a fuel source. These fuels are known as biomass and include anything from plants to timber to food waste. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted when bioenergy is made, but these fuel sources are considered renewable because they can be regrown and absorb as much carbon as they emit across their lifespans.
 

Fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil, are examples of non-renewable energy sources. These sources can occur naturally, but they are finite in their amount. A disadvantage of non-renewable energy sources is thatthey often take hundreds of thousands of years to form, and have to be extracted from the earth and burned in order to create the energy that generates electricity. They also emit harmful greenhouse gases like CO2 when they’re burned.
 

There are several reasons why harnessing the power of renewable energy sources is so important for our future. As they’re in much more plentiful supply, compared to fossil fuels, governments across the world are looking to develop renewables to exclusively power their nations. Perhaps most importantly, renewables produce little or no harmful emissions when used, so the clean energy they provide will play a crucial role in preventing further global warming. It’s why so many of our net zero goals in the future hinge on increasing their use today.
 

The terms ‘green energy’, ‘clean energy’ and ‘renewable energy’ are often used interchangeably, but there is a key difference between them. Clean energy produces electricity without emissions. However, its manufacture or maintenance can sometimes have a ‘carbon cost’. For example, natural environments have to be cleared to create hydroelectric plants with a dam, and the work to construct them often creates carbon emissions. Green energy comes from totally natural sources, which have low or no environmental impact in their creation or use. They can both be renewable, which essentially means that they come from a source that can’t be depleted. So, while most green energy sources are renewable, not all renewable energy sources are considered green.