Welcome to the Glossary, your go-to resource for understanding key terms in the world of energy. Whether you’re new to the field or seeking clarification on specific concepts, this glossary provides comprehensive definitions to help you navigate the complexities of energy production, consumption, and sustainability.
A
Alternative Energy
Energy is generated from sources other than fossil fuels, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower.
Ampere (Amp)
A unit of electric current, representing the flow of electric charge. It is one of the basic units of electricity measurement.
Anaerobic Digestion
A process by which microorganisms break down organic materials, such as agricultural waste, without oxygen, producing biogas (methane) and other byproducts.
B
Baseload Power
The minimum level of demand on an electrical grid over a span of time, typically met by power stations that operate continuously.
Bioenergy
Energy is produced from organic materials (biomass), such as wood, agricultural residues, and animal waste, either through direct combustion or conversion into biofuels.
Biomass
Organic material that comes from plants and animals, used as a renewable energy source. Biomass can be burned or converted into biofuels like ethanol.
C
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
A technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and stores it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.
Capacity Factor
A measure of how often a power plant runs at full output over a period of time, expressed as a percentage.
Clean Energy
Energy that is generated with minimal environmental impact, often from renewable resources like solar and wind, or from low-emission technologies.
D
Demand Response
A system where energy consumers adjust their electricity usage in response to changes in energy demand, often incentivized by lower rates.
Distributed Generation
Small-scale energy production technologies (such as rooftop solar panels) that generate electricity close to where it will be used, reducing transmission losses.
E
Electric Grid
The network of power lines, substations, and transformers that transport electricity from power plants to homes and businesses.
Energy Efficiency
The goal of reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Energy-efficient technologies and practices can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits.
Energy Storage
Technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, store energy for later use, helping balance supply and demand.
F
Fossil Fuels
Natural resources like coal, oil, and natural gas that are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. When burned, they release energy but also contribute to pollution and climate change.
Fuel Cell
A device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, typically using hydrogen as fuel. It is highly efficient and emits only water as a byproduct.
G
Geothermal Energy
Energy derived from heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface, often used for electricity generation and direct heating applications.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change.
H
Hydropower
Energy produced by harnessing the power of moving water, typically from dams or rivers. Hydropower is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy.
Hydrogen Economy
A proposed system of delivering energy using hydrogen as a fuel for heat, transportation, and electricity production. Hydrogen can be produced from water and emits no harmful pollutants when used.
I
Intermittent Energy
Energy sources like solar and wind that are not always available, depending on environmental factors like sunlight and wind speed.
Infrastructure
The physical systems that support energy production, transmission, and consumption, including power plants, pipelines, and electrical grids.
J
Joule
A unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). One joule is the amount of energy used when one watt of power is sustained for one second.
K
Kilowatt (kW)
A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. It is commonly used to measure the power output of engines, electricity use, and the capacities of power plants.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A measure of energy consumption, representing the use of one kilowatt of power for one hour. Utility bills are often calculated in kWh.
L
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
A measure of the average total cost to build and operate a power-generating asset over its lifetime, divided by the total energy output, typically used to compare the cost of different energy technologies.
M
Microgrid
A small, local energy system capable of operating independently or in conjunction with the main electrical grid. Microgrids improve energy resilience and allow for more localized energy control.
Megawatt (MW)
A unit of power equal to 1,000 kilowatts or one million watts, is commonly used to express the output of power plants.
N
Net Metering
A billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid, allowing them to offset their energy costs.
Nuclear Energy
Energy is released from the nucleus of atoms through fission (splitting atoms) or fusion (combining atoms), typically used to generate electricity.
O
Offshore Wind Energy
Wind turbines located in bodies of water, typically oceans or large lakes, to capture wind energy more effectively than onshore wind farms.
R
Renewable Energy
Energy comes from resources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass.
S
Smart Grid
An advanced electrical grid system that uses digital technology to monitor and manage the transport of electricity from generation sources to consumers, improving efficiency and reliability.
Solar Energy
Energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar power is one of the most abundant renewable energy sources.
T
Turbine
A machine that converts kinetic energy (from wind, water, or steam) into mechanical energy, which can then be used to generate electricity.
W
Watt (W)
A unit of power is used to measure the rate at which energy is used or produced. One watt is equal to one joule per second.
Wind Energy
Energy is generated by converting wind currents into electricity using wind turbines. It is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources worldwide.