| A-G H-Z |
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| Carbon emissions |
The generic term used to describe the equivalent carbon content of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere whenever fossil fuels are burned. |
| Carbon footprint |
The total carbon emissions produced as a result of the activities of an individual or organisation. The Climate Group, amongst others, helps organisations to reduce their carbon footprint. |
| Carbon free electricity |
Carbon free electricity is produced without burning fossil fuels.
The real issue here is the point in the electricity generating life cycle at which we start and stop measuring carbon emission levels. With electricity generated by burning fossil fuels directly, for example in a coal or oil fired power station, it’s pretty straightforward. Carbon is emitted at every stage in the life cycle.
With electricity generated using nuclear power, while no carbon is emitted during the actual generation process, plenty is generated during the uranium mining and enrichment process. Likewise at the end of the life cycle, considerable carbon is emitted during the nuclear waste management process.
With electricity generated using renewable, clean energy such as solar, wind, wave and geo-pressure, carbon is emitted during the infrastructure build stage in the life cycle but not during the generation process. |
| Carbon free |
The term used to describe energy sources that do not emit carbon when used, to produce power. Examples include wind, wave and solar power and geo-pressure energy. |
| Carbon PPM |
Scientists frequently use this measure of the pollution from carbon dioxide and other toxins. PPM stands for parts per million and represents a unit of concentration in a larger volume, such as the earth’s atmosphere or envelope of air. |
| Carbon savings calculation |
How carbon savings to be made by using geo-pressure energy are calculated. The carbon-saving calculations used in this website were undertaken by 20C, according to the conversion factors and procedures set out by Defra and validated by independent environmental consultants. |
| Centralised generating |
The current model for generating electricity throughout the world based on a small number of (usually) large fossil fuel or nuclear power stations, connected by a national grid. The opposite model is distributed or decentralised generating. |
| Clean energy |
Clean energy is energy whose use does not produce carbon emissions. Most renewable energy sources are also clean energy sources. |
| Climate change |
The Earth retains its temperature thanks to "greenhouse" gases in the atmosphere, which trap energy from the sun. Without this greenhouse effect, the average global temperature would be more than 30°C colder than it is now.
However, every time we switch on a light, use a computer, watch television or travel by any form of motorised transport, we are creating carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal contributor to global warming. And, as human activity increases, the concentrations of greenhouse gases - mainly CO2 but also Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (NO2), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) - in the atmosphere build up. This causes the world to heat up unnaturally, and the weather to become more extreme. The heating process is often referred to as global warming, and the overall effect is known as climate change.
About two-thirds of greenhouse gas pollution comes from the CO2 emitted when we burn fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil. |
| Climate change levy |
The levy came into effect on 1st April 2001 and applies to energy used in the non-domestic sector (industry, commerce, and the public sector). The aim of the levy is to encourage these sectors to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. It is administered by Defra. |
| Climate change review |
The UK government's climate change review, being produced by Defra, should offer a blueprint for a greener Britain and the government's last chance to meet its ambitious political pledge to slash emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 20% by 2010. The long-delayed review on how to achieve this is now not expected until next year. |
| Decentralised energy |
Another term for distributed energy |
| Defra |
The UK government’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the organisation responsible for implementing the government’s energy policy. |
| Dirty energy |
Dirty energy is energy derived from burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity (and to produce any other kind of power) results in carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere. This causes carbon levels in the atmosphere to rise which in turn creates a greenhouse effect, which in turn causes the planet’s temperature to rise. |
| Distributed energy |
Distributed, or decentralised, energy is where energy in the form of either heat or electricity is generated close to or at its point of use. All types of buildings - ranging from terraced houses to the largest factories – cease to be just passive consumers of energy, as they currently are, and instead become power stations themselves, the constituent parts of local energy networks. |
| Europe climate exchange |
A commercial venture where organisations, subject to the climate change levy, can trade their carbon emissions. |
| Geo-pressure |
Natural gas emerges from the ground under intense pressure that varies typically between 50 to 300 bar, in other words up to 300 times our own atmospheric pressure and about the same pressure as in a fully charged scuba diving cylinder.
The creation of this pressure results from natural intrinsic earth processes, in this case the dissipation of the earth’s core temperature through liquid (oil or water) or gas (air, steam, gas etc.) and the location below the surface of the earth. Geo-pressure is the name we’ve given to the energy contained in the naturally occurring gas pressure, when it is used to generate electricity.
Geo-pressure has the same renewable and clean energy characteristics as geo-thermal energy - where the heat contained in the hot water, resulting from the same natural intrinsic process, is harvested. |
| Greenhouse gases (GHG) |
The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy, warming the Earth enough to support life. Over time, the heat (infrared) is radiated back to space, leaving the earth’s surface temperature reasonably constant. Greenhouse gases (GHG) absorb this infrared (heat) energy on its way back to space and trap it in our atmosphere. An excessive build up of GHGs will cause air temperatures to rise creating global warming.
Most mainstream scientists believe a human-driven increase in "greenhouse gases" is increasing the effect artificially.
These gases include carbon dioxide, emitted by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, and methane, released from rice paddies and landfill sites.
The list of GHGs as described in the Kyoto Protocol are, Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4 )
Nitrous oxide (NO2)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) |
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