Bulent Licis: What is Clean Energy?

When we think about clean energy, we usually think of energy sources such as the sun and wind.

So what exactly is clean energy, and which energy sources are really clean?

We asked these questions to the business person and environmental engineer, Bulent Licis.

Bulent Licis stated that “We believe clean energy is renewable energy that does not emit greenhouse gases or other pollutants.” He added that some claim that nuclear energy, natural gas, and even clean-burning coal are clean energy. In this article, we will hear from Bülent Licis about different clean energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, and ultimately why “clean” should be synonymous with “renewable.”

1. Solar Energy

“We experience this great source of clean energy through its light and heat. We can use this energy to generate electricity through solar panels or condensed solar power plants. In other words, to produce electricity without any emission or pollution. ”

2. Wind Energy

“Another clean energy source is wind energy; it’s technically another form of solar energy. Because the sun is partially responsible for all weather formations on Earth, they are considered two different types of energy because of how electricity is produced, one produced by solar panels and the other by wind turbines. The power generated from solar energy and wind turbines does not have any air pollutants. Therefore, we can easily add it to our clean energy list. ”

3. Bioenergy

“This type of renewable energy is created by living organisms such as algae, wood, crop residues. It can also be obtained from a food of waste, dumpsites, and fermented products. Bioenergy is a versatile form of energy. Because besides electricity, it is used for transportation to replace fossil fuels. We need fuel for everything from cars to airplanes, and bioenergy reduces the carbon impact on the environment.”

4. Geothermal Energy

“Unlike water, sun, and wind, geothermal energy is energy in the form of heat coming by the Earth itself, not from the sun. Most often, geothermal is used to heat and cool off homes. To generate geothermal electricity, the Earth’s heat energy is used to boil water to compose steam, and then this spins the turbines that generate energy with steam. It looks like a coal-fired power station, but instead of burning fossil fuels, it runs on Earth’s heat. ”

5. Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric is another technically solar-powered energy source, which is powered by the water cycle. The sun evaporates the water, and then it creates clouds that cause rain and snow to form large puddles. Hydropower is based on kinetic energy from flowing water, and it converts it into electricity through rotating turbines in moving water. Therefore, hydropower can be a large-scale operation such as the Hoover Dam, or it can be small-scale without a dam. Most importantly, this process does not generate greenhouse gases while generating electricity. ”

6. Nuclear Energy

“Technically, nuclear energy is emission-free and highly efficient. One pellet of uranium fuel is equivalent to about 150 gallons of gas or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas. To put it in another perspective, five grams of this tiny pellet can generate enough energy to power an ordinary home for six months. When nuclear power is not used correctly, it emits radiation and pollutes the air and water. However, even at terrifying outliers such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, there isn’t a massive risk of pollution if there are many security systems.

So, is this energy source really clean? In my opinion, nuclear power is not clean because there is a hazardous waste at the end of energy production. However, we cannot deny that nuclear power significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels’ needs. You are the person who has to decide whether this is clean energy or not.

7.Natural Gas

“This is the most controversial topic on the list. The Ministry of Energy does not even list natural gas as a clean energy source. It is listed under the fossil fuels section, mainly because fossils produce natural gas, and when natural gas is burned, it produces greenhouse gas emissions, mostly methane. According to the US Energy Information Administration, burning natural gas is less pollutant than coal or oil products to create the same energy source. It is considered clean as it is technically cleaner than other fossil fuels. However, it has its disadvantages, especially when you consider hydraulic fractures. I won’t go into the details behind how this process works, but we can say that this is a low-cost way to extract natural gas from rock. Fissure requires much water, and it creates much wastewater. It is also known to cause earthquakes and pollute water resources. ”

Bulent Licis: What is Clean Energy?

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