GREEN POWER

(POLYMEET PSG, 2015)

ABSTRACT:The process of generating electricity for our daily activities can create a range of negative
impacts, including the release of greenhouse gases, air pollutants, and mercury, with their
attendant effects on human health and the environment, as well as habitat destruction and
depletion of valuable nonrenewable resources. We, as a society, are starting to demand electricity
with less environmental impact and green electricity can help respond to this demand.
WHAT IS GREEN POWER?
Electric energy produced by renewable, more environmentally-friendly sources.
Less air, water and natural resource impacts.
Typical green power technologies include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and lowimpact hydropower.
Biomass includes landfill gas and agricultural wastes.
WHAT IS GREEN ELECTRICITY?
Green electricity is electricity that has been generated from renewable resources with
minimal adverse environmental effects. Thus, it reduces the human health and environmental
risks while continuing to provide all of the associated benefits. Although the exact definition of
green electricity may vary by jurisdiction, it is generally defined as being generated from
renewable resources such as wind, solar and photovoltaic energy, low-impact hydro resources,
low-emission geothermal, low-emission sustainably produced biomass, or biogas. Once
electricity is generated at a facility, regardless of the way in which it is produced, it enters the
grid and is carried to you, the user. What makes the electricity green is the way in which it was
generated and the air emissions that it displaces from fossil-fuel sources on the grid, not the
electricity itself.

WHY GREEN POWER?

Federal and State Governments Push for Renewable Resources. Green Power Is In.
Two Basic Strategies:
1. PUC Mandate that a Percentage of Generation is Green by a Given Date. This
typically Fosters Installation of Large Blocks of Green Energy Installation such as Wind Farms.
2. Increase the Buy Back Rate and Let Market Forces (Typically IPPs) Install
Green Generation.
This typically Fosters Smaller Generators Installed on Distribution Systems.
Technological Advances have Reduced Green Power Costs.
HOW DO I KNOW IT IS GREEN?
Once electricity enters the regional electric system for distribution, it is not possible to
distinguish its source from any other. Some, but not all, electricity providers offer green
electricity directly to their customers. However, everyone can buy green electricity thanks to
Renewable Energy Certificates (also known as green tags). To ensure that you are receiving the

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AVC POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, MANNAMPANDAL, MAYILADUTHURAI
DEP ARTM ENT OF ELECT R IC AL AND E LECTRO N ICS
M.GAJENDRAN / M.GANESH PONDY

GREEN POWER
(POLYMEET PSG, 2015)

Green electricity or certificates you have paid for purchase products that are certified and
verified by an independent third party.

WHAT WE DO?
The mission of Green Power EMC, a not-for-profit corporation founded in August 2001,
is to find electricity produced from cleaner, greener Georgia sources, and add it to the
power supply mix.
Green Power EMC is a partnership of 38 Georgia electric membership cooperatives who
through working together have given Georgia residents the state's first choice of "green"
electricity. The Green Power EMC members represent more than three million Georgia
homes, businesses, factories and farms.
Green Power EMC contracts for electricity generated by renewable resources and the
green electricity is then distributed by the 38 distribution cooperatives.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROMOTE GREENPOWER ?
Right now, the only thing that competes in the news cycle besides the war in Iraq and the
upcoming election is green power, in all its forms. Consumers are buying compact fluorescent
light bulbs, utilities are promoting their latest options, and the experts are claiming that their
favorite source should prevail. And renewable energy sources including geothermal, solar, wind,
tide and hydropower area major component of most strategies for addressing global climate
change. As it turns out, not all policies that promote renewable are created equal. our research
shows that broad-based policies like emission fees are substantially more cost effective than
more targeted approaches, such as research and development subsidies, if the goal is to reduce
greenhouse emissions in the near and medium terms.

SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY

Enables Green Power Interconnected at the Distribution Level
Smart Grids Most Overcome Many Current Limitations:
- Over voltages including Ferroresonace
- Loss of Protective System Coordination
- Voltage Control
- Restoration Problems
Technological Advances Need to Handle High Penetrations of Green Power DGs and
make DGs a Source of Firm Power
IEEE Standard 1547 Technology Not Good Enough
TYPES OF GREEN POWER GENERATORS
Induction
Wind Power
Synchronous
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AVC POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, MANNAMPANDAL, MAYILADUTHURAI
DEP ARTM ENT OF ELECT R IC AL AND E LECTRO N ICS
M.GAJENDRAN / M.GANESH PONDY

GREEN POWER
(POLYMEET PSG, 2015)

Internal Combustion Engines

Small Hydro
Gas Turbines
Asynchronous (Static Power Converters)
Solar PV
Fuel Cells
Wind

ECONOMICS
Renewable energy credits are either purchased on top of the cost of regular electricity or
electricity is purchased through a green power pricing program. These programs have been
growing in popularity over the years and their existence has contributed to the growing
renewable energy market. These credits help to contribute renewable energy to the greater
electricity grid. One renewable energy credit is equal to one megawatt hour of renewable
electricity production. The new performing arts center will consume approximately 504,000 to
750,000 kWh of electricity per year, based on the following assumptions. These numbers were
determined by using the electricity use of an education building, 8.4 kWh per square foot per
year, and the electricity use of a public assembly building, 12.5 kWh per square foot per year,
then applying these numbers to the Performing Arts Center. LEED requires a building to
purchase 35% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. Therefore using this range HWS
can assume that they will have to purchase between 176,400 kWh and 262,500 kWh of
electricity to fulfill this LEED requirement. In the year 2009, HWS bought 529,320 kWh of wind
energy through NYSEGs Catch the Wind Program. The 4 Catch the Wind Program has been
certified through Green-E Energy since 2003. This is one of only three programs that offer
certifiable RECs in New York State. This program is partnered with Community Energy Inc.
This company was founded in 1999 and since then has been initiating and expanding the
voluntary market for Renewable Energy Credits. In 1999 there were less than 10 megawatts of
operating wind farms east of Mississippi. By 2009, Community Energy had over 2000
megawatts of installed capacity from West Virginia to Maine. These wind farms not only
provide huge environmental benefits through their production of clean energy, they also benefit
the farmers who own the land on which the turbine resides. The land owners are paid for their
land and the turbines do not hinder the use of the land for grazing purposes. The business which
these farms bring to rural areas helps to increase the tax bases of the towns, brings both short
term construction jobs and long term management jobs, and provides educational value to the
land.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVE

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AVC POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, MANNAMPANDAL, MAYILADUTHURAI
DEP ARTM ENT OF ELECT R IC AL AND E LECTRO N ICS
M.GAJENDRAN / M.GANESH PONDY

GREEN POWER
(POLYMEET PSG, 2015)

The other benefits to buying wind energy are the environmental benefits it brings to
the world. Today, the electricity we purchase is produced by burning different fossil fuels; a
process which emits tons of CO2 into the air. In 2009, HWS purchased approximately
11,841,610 kWh of energy. The emissions from this purchased electricity produced 4517 metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCDE) and made up 25% of HWSs total greenhouse gas
emissions. In order to provide a visual aid, the following facts should be considered. One acre of
forest can only consume 3 tons of CO2 per year. In order for HWSs output alone to be
consumed, there would need to be a forest located adjacent to the electricity plants which was at
least 1505 acres large. This forest would only consume HWSs CO2 output, not any other
schools, homes, or businesses in the area. If one were to think of this in terms of cars he/she
could consider that the colleges output of 4517 MTCDE was the equivalent of putting 864
passenger vehicles on the road. According to our current renewable energy credit purchasing
policy, 4.47% of our total energy consumption or 529,320 kWh/yr, is equal to removing only 72
cars from the road.
SUCESSIVE STORIES : HWS
We currently have an opportunity to take this idea even further. The Climate Action
Plan determines that HWS will be climate neutral or achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
by 2025, but why not take this opportunity and make the Performing Arts Center the first
climate neutral building on campus? In order to do so, HWS would have to buy between $
12,600 and $ 18,750 worth of renewable energy credits to contribute the same amount of kWh to
the electricity grid in green power that we are consuming through typically produced power.
HWS was credited as being the first higher education institution in New York State to enroll in
a program to utilize wind power as an alternative energy source. This was a reflection on the
purchase that had been made; HWS was buying approximately 5% of its annual electricity needs
through a new program created by NYSEG. The program had given customers an opportunity to
buy energy sourced from wind. This program began in 2002 and has since developed into the
Catch the Wind program from which HWS currently buys renewable energy. Since 2002 there
have been numerous renovations, new buildings, and an increased student body seen on campus.
All of these happenings have created many avenues through which our electricity consumption
increases. Our Climate Action Plan provides data through which this increase can be seen. As a
result of the new construction, renovation, and an increased student body, HWSs greenhouse
gas emissions have increased from a total of 14,692 MTCDE in 2001- 2002 to a projected 17,301
MTCDE during our current fiscal year. Simultaneously as this increase has been occurring, our
knowledge about our own impact on the environment has also expanded. Why hasnt the percent
of wind energy we buy to contribute to the electricity grid done the same?

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AVC POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, MANNAMPANDAL, MAYILADUTHURAI
DEP ARTM ENT OF ELECT R IC AL AND E LECTRO N ICS
M.GAJENDRAN / M.GANESH PONDY

GREEN POWER
(POLYMEET PSG, 2015)

GREEN POWER ISLAND:

OPERATIONS:

CONCLUSION:

Submitted by:
M.Gajendran, EEE, AVC Polytechnic College
M.Ganesh Pondy, EEE, AVC Polytechnic College

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AVC POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, MANNAMPANDAL, MAYILADUTHURAI
DEP ARTM ENT OF ELECT R IC AL AND E LECTRO N ICS
M.GAJENDRAN / M.GANESH PONDY