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Baseload. The minimum level of demand on an electrical supply system over 24 hours. Biodiesel. A vehicle fuel for diesel-powered cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from oilseed crops such as soy, rapeseed (canola), and mustard oil, or from other vegetable oil sources. Bioenergy. Renewable energy produced from organic matter. The conversion of the complex carbohydrates in organic matter to energy. Biofuels. Fuels - such as ethanol and biodiesel - that are made from biomass. Biogas. A combustible gas, typically 50 to 60 percent methane, that is derived from decomposing biological waste. Biogas digester. Converts animal and plant wastes into gas usable for lighting, cooking, heating, and electricity generation. Biomass. Renewable organic matter including agricultural crops and residue, wood and wood waste, animal waste, aquatic plants and organic components of municipal and industrial wastes. Biomass power and heat. Power and/or heat generation from solid biomass such as wastes from forest products, agriculture, municipalities or industrial sources. British Thermal Unit (Btu). A unit of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. Capacity factor. The ratio of actual electrical energy produced relative to the theoretical electrical energy, for a given power production facility. Carbon capture and storage. The process by which carbon dioxide is captured from the combustion of fossil fuels and permanently stored to prevent its release into the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration. The absorption and storage, naturally or otherwise, of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon sink. The process, in locations such as forests and agricultural lands, by which more carbon is absorbed than is released into the atmosphere. Carbon stock. A pool of stored carbon, typically related to forestry and vegetation. Spans living forestry to harvested wood lumber and processed paper products. Cellulose. Cellulose, the main carbohydrate in living plants, forms the skeletal structure of the plant cell wall. Co-firing. The combustion of two different materials simultaneously, such as burning biomass alongside coal in a coal power plant. Combined heat and power. The cogeneration of useful heat and electrical power in a single process. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Large solar facilities that use mirrors or lenses to concentrate solar energy to heat fluids to power turbines to make electricity. Energy Purchase Agreement (EPA). A long-term contractual arrangement between power generator and power utility for the supply of power. Emission Trading System (EU-ETS). A scheme for green gas emission allowance trading, with demand through emission regulation of polluting companies and supply through carbon credit projects. The price per tonne of carbon emissions reflects prevailing supply and demand of carbon emission permits. Energy crops. Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops and nonfood crops, of which there are multiple varieties. Ethanol. A vehicle fuel made from biomass (typically corn, sugar cane or wheat) that can replace ordinary gasoline in modest percentages or be used in pure form in specially modified vehicles. Feed-in tariff. A policy that sets a fixed guaranteed price at which power producers can sell renewable power into the electric power network. Some policies provide a fixed tariff while others provide fixed premium added to market or cost related tariffs. Feedstock. A very broad term, including biomass, that includes any material that can be converted to another form of fuel or energy product. Flexible Fuel Vehicle. A vehicles with single fuel tank capable of being powered by conventional petroleum; alternative fuels (such as ethanol or biodiesel); or any intermediate blend. Fuel cell. A device capable of generating electrical energy through conversion of active chemicals, such as fuel and oxygen, supplies from external sources. |
Generation capacity. The maximum rated output of a generator, prime mover, or other electric power production equipment under manufacturer conditions. Usually indicated in units of kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW). Geothermal plant. A steam turbine driven power plant, where steam is produced from hot water or by natural steam that derives its energy from heat in rocks or fluids beneath the surface of the earth. The energy is extracted by drilling and/or pumping. Geothermal power and heat. Heat energy emitted from within the Earth, usually in the form of hot water or steam, which can be used to produce electricity or direct heat for buildings, industry and agriculture. Greenhouse gases. Gases that trap the heat of the sun in the Earth´s atmosphere. Water vapor and carbon dioxide are the primary greenhouse gases however others include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide. Hydro power plant. A plant that produces electrical power from moving water. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC). An advanced design for higher-efficiency power plants that generate and burn synthetic gas from coal, petroleum residues or biomass. Investment tax credit. Allows investment in renewable energy to be fully or partially deducted from tax obligations or income. Kilowatt hour (kWh). A measure of electricity, measured as one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power expended for one hour. One kWh is equivalent to 3,412 Btu. Landfill gas. Gas that is generated by decomposition of organic material at landfill disposal sites. The gas is a mix of methane, carbon dioxide and water vapour. Large hydropower. Electricity, typically 10MW+, from water flowing downhill, typically from behind a dam and a substantial reservoir. Nameplate Capacity. See generation capacity above. Net metering. Allows a two-way flow of electricity between the electricity distribution grid and customers with their own generation. The customer pays for the net electricity used. Ozone. Tropospheric ozone, or smog, is formed when volatile organic compounds, oxygen and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of sunlight. Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). See EPA above. Production tax credit (PTC). Provides the investor or owner of qualifying property with an annual tax credit based on the amount of electricity generated by that facility. Renewable energy target. A commitment, plan, or goal by a country to achieve a certain level of renewable energy by a future date. Renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Also called renewable obligations or quota policies. A standard requiring that a minimum percentage of generation sold or generation capacity installed be provided by renewable energy. Obligated utilities are required to ensure that the target is met. Small/mini/micro/pico hydropower. Some installations drawing power from running water, usually without a large reservoir. The prefix defines the scale of facility. Solar home system. A rooftop solar panel, battery, and charge controller that can provide modest amount of power to rural homes not connected to the electric grid. Solar hot water/heating. Rooftop solar collectors that heat water and store it in a tank for use as domestic hot water or for space heating. Solar photovoltaic. Converts sunlight into electricity. Cells are the basic building block, which is then manufactured into modules and panels. Solar power plant. A plant that produces electrical power from radiant energy from the sun. Syngas. Similar to natural gas, produced through gasification of biomass, and can be cleaned and conditioned to form a feedstock for production of methanol. Tradable renewable energy certificates (RECs). Each certificate represents the certified generation of one unit of renewable energy (typically one megawatt-hour). Certificates provide a tool for trading and meeting renewable energy obligations among consumers and/or producers, and also a means for voluntary renewable power purchases. Wind class. The 1-to-7 scale (low to high) developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to describe power contained in wind. Class 5 to 7 winds have speeds between 13.4 and 21.1 mph at 33 feet above the ground. | |||||||||
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