glossary

Renewable Energy Terms

This glossary covers terms in the energy field.  Most terms relate to renewable energy covering solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and tidal power.

Glossary of Energy Terms

Alternating current (AC) -  the flow of electric current that reverses directions periodically.  This contrasts with direct current that moves in one direction only.

Bioenergy - Bioenergy is renewable energy derived from biological sources

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - Carbon Dioxide is a common gas created when fossil fuels are burned.  It is the main source of global warming gas emissions, and a key reason to switch to alternative energy sources that do not create CO2 gas.

Carbon Offsets -  Carbon offsetting is a method of using economics to balance the impact of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  Individuals and businesses are encouraged to track their carbon output and purchase "offsets" that will serve to reduce or eliminate that carbon output.  The simple example is to plant a tree, or pay someone to plant a tree, that will consume a certain amount of CO2 over it's lifetime.

Direct current (DC) - the flow of electric current in one direction only.  This contrasts with alternating current that reverses directions periodically.

Feed-in tariff - Feed-in tariff is the premium paid by a utility to it's consumers for excess power generated by their solar, wind, or alternative energy system.  Feed-in tariffs are used by government as incentive for consumers to adopt newer, cleaner, renewable energy sources  

Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Greenhouse gases are gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), that contribute to the "greenhouse effect" in the earth's atmosphere. 

Geothermal Energy - Geothermal energy harnesses the heat from within the earth.  Typically, the heat is used to create steam which spins a turbine and generates electricity.  Geothermal heat pumps are used for home heating and cooling by using the ground temperature air to regulate the temperature in the house.     

Gigawatt - A unit of measure for electrical energy equal to 1 Billion watts.  Gigawatts are the preferred measure of utility scale power plants. A Gigawatt is enough electricity to power 5000 homes for a year.

Inverter -  a device that converts a direct current source, like solar panels or batteries to alternating current.  Alternating current is what we get from a standard wall socket.

Kilowatt - A unit of measure for electrical energy equal to 1000 watts.  A killowatt is sufficient to light 10 - 100 watt lightbulbs.

Photovoltaics - The conversion of light into electricity through the displacement of electrons and the current created as a result.  Photovoltaics are the basis for the operation of solar panels.

Photons - a photon is an elementary particle and the basic "unit" of light.

Solar Energy - The light (photons) and heat from the sun.

Solar Power - The power (electricity) generated from the suns solar energy.

Tidal Energy - Tidal energy, tidal power, wave energy and wave power are terms used interchangeably to describe the methods of creating energy from the movement of water due to the  ocean tides, ocean waves, and currents in rivers.

Tidal Power -  Tidal energy, tidal power, wave energy and wave power are terms used interchangeably to describe the methods of creating energy from the movement of water due to the  ocean tides, ocean waves, and currents in rivers.

Turbines - the mechanical component of electricity generating systems that creates electricity.  Turbines rotate as water, air or steam push the blades of a rotor.

Megawatt - A unit of measure for electrical energy equal to 1 Million watts.  A megawatt is enough electricity to light 10,000 - 100 watt lightbulbs.

Wave Energy -   Tidal energy, tidal power, wave energy and wave power are terms used interchangeably to describe the methods of creating energy from the movement of water due to the  ocean tides, ocean waves, and currents in rivers.

Wave Power -  Tidal energy, tidal power, wave energy and wave power are terms used interchangeably to describe the methods of creating energy from the movement of water due to the ocean tides, ocean waves, and currents in rivers. 

Watt - A watt is a unit of measure for electrical energy.  It is equal to one joule of energy per second. 

Wind Energy -  The energy caused by the earth's weather patterns creating high and low pressure centers forcing wind to rush from high to low pressure

Zero-Carbon - Zero-carbon electricity is created from renewable energy sources.  Solar Energy is an example of electricity that can be generated from the sun's energy without any carbon emissions into the environment.  It is therefore cleaner and more desirable.