Green electricity is a term used by some environmentalists to describe what they deem to be environmentally friendly sources of power. In particular green energy must be renewable and non-polluting. Green energy is generally considered to include:
- Geothermal power
- Wind power
- Small-scale hydropower
- Solar power
- Biomass power
- Tidal power
- Wave power
For green energy to be truly "ecological electricity" it must not include medium or large-scale hydroelectric power (which could produce waste water) or sources of air pollution such as burning biomatter or petroleum.
In several countries, current electricity retailing arrangements make it possible for consumers to buy green electricity, either by purchasing their electricity from a generating company that uses only renewable technologies, or by buying from a general supplier who undertakes to buy at least as much power from renewable sources as their "green" customers purchase. Generally green electricity commands a small price premium compared with standard supplies. Obviously this option is only available where common carrier arrangements have been put in place to allow competitive supply of power.
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