Introduction
In our everlasting search for sustainable power sources, eco-friendly electric generators are shining even brighter. When society considers the very real consequences of a warming climate and the even more pressing need to reduce CO2 emissions, these generators represent a family of not-so-little “Mirandas”—a stormy, tempestuous, all-bells-are-galvanized-to-ring wake-up call for what clean, reliable or renewable power can cost on this not-so-green-anymore Earth. No wonder they’ve attracted such fervent attention; the first couple of installations have elicited a tub-thumping round of applause. But when it comes down to it: How green are these generators, really?
To answer that, we must go beyond the simple, sunny promises made by eco-friendly uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and electric generator manufacturers—and look at the full life cycle of the low-CO2 machines we are told will drive the low-carbon world.
The Green Credentials of Eco-Friendly Generators
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Electric power generators that are eco-friendly draw their power from the sun, wind, moving water, and plants. Unlike traditional generators fueled by finite resources like coal and oil and fueled by limited types of plants and animals (biomass), the eco-friendly types are shouldered by resources that can, in theory, be around forever—and in practice, can be relied on for a very, very long time. They also operate with a much lighter footprint than traditional generators.
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Solar generators—of which solar panels are the most visible part of an installation—produce no greenhouse gas emissions once they are operational. They do have a limited environmental impact when made, mostly in greenhouse gas emissions; however, compared to their lifespan of 30-plus years and the amount of energy they produce, the solar panels that make up the most visible part of a solar generator have a very favorable GWP (global warming potential) when compared to other forms of energy generation, such as coal or natural gas.
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Wind generators convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity. They do so without harmful emissions and often without taking up space that could be used for something else, like farmland.
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Generators using the power of water: The power of moving water is harnessed to produce electricity in hydroelectric generators, thus costing very little to those who build them. Although the ecological effects of large-scale dams are a matter of debate, few argue that the power of waves or tides is as destructive as coal-burning or gas-guzzling power plants. Meanwhile, small-scale, low-impact hydro power is still an option worth promoting.
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Biomass generators are an alternative energy source that uses organic matter such as wood chips, agricultural waste, or energy crops. Although they produce some emissions, what they emit is part of a “closed loop.” This means that if they release carbon during combustion, it’s carbon that was absorbed by the plant while it was growing.
Life Cycle Assessment: A Holistic View
For a complete understanding of the ecological consequences of environmentally friendly electric generators, we have to look at their whole life span. This starts with the extraction of materials from the earth and the production of the parts and the whole machine. Then, we should add to the reckoning the climatic effect of their installation over their useful life of about 20 years. Finally, the generators are either buried in landfills or recycled after what can be assumed to be an almost incalculable amount of hot air-has-been emitted during their political approval process. Starting with the upfront work, a generator’s components—be they photovoltaic panels or wind turbines—demand both raw materials and energy during their production. But while this mostly takes place in factories using lots of energy, the generators themselves makeup for that. And in fact, during the stages before friendly generators enter service, their environmental bill is often comparable to that of a friendly generator, if not, in the case of some contentious modules, worse.
The Bigger Picture: A Net Positive Impact
Although not entirely devoid of environmental impact, sustainable electric generators undoubtedly contribute to an environmentally friendlier world. They are, by all means, a huge improvement over traditional short-term power solutions in terms of their overall ecological footprint. By running on batteries that can be recharged from renewable energy sources, they cover the dire necessity for relevant solutions in the temporary power industry, one where the usage of traditional gas generators has grown greatly. This is by no means a small accomplishment, but it seems clearly to be part of our near term, low hanging fruit solution toward greater efficiency and ecological effectiveness in the mobile and temporary power industry.
Conclusion
The use of electrical generators that are kind to the environment is a promising development in the fight against climate change. It is also a significant stride toward the use of sustainable energy. Though they have their side effects, these generators produce far less pollution and other kinds of environmental harm when compared to the use of fossil-fuel-powered ones. They are not without their critics. But as we shall see, few of the criticisms hold up when such generators are compared to…
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