What is 'clean energy'?
We use ‘clean’ energy as shorthand for power from renewable sources – sun, wind, water (river dams, tidal or wave power) and biofuels (such as gas released by rotting food or crops[1]. Unlike electricity generated by burning dirty fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas, clean energy has very little impact in terms of climate change and air pollution. Although nuclear power has a smaller impact than fossil fuels in terms of climate change, we know a lot of people currently have concerns about buying nuclear energy, so none of the electricity covered by the tariffs on our site includes nuclear power.
[1] Although burning gas from decomposing organic matter releases carbon emissions, biofuels are considered renewable and low-carbon because the plants are replaced with new crops, which absorb an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide – one of the main gases contributing to climate change.
[1] Although burning gas from decomposing organic matter releases carbon emissions, biofuels are considered renewable and low-carbon because the plants are replaced with new crops, which absorb an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide – one of the main gases contributing to climate change.
Updated on: 10/10/2019
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