Types of Energy

Carbon Positive: Carbon positive energy sources are fossil fuels like oil and coal; operations that consume these energy sources release CO2 into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming.

Carbon Neutral: Carbon neutral energy sources like Solar and Wind neither emit CO2 into the atmosphere nor reduce CO2 emissions. While carbon neutral operations do not release additional CO2 to worsen global warming, they don't do much to reduce the CO2 level that is already in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis can take carbon out of the atmosphere and provide useful fuel. If all the carbon taken out is returned to the atmosphere when a fuel is burnt, the process is roughly carbon-neutral. Some bio-fuels may qualify as carbon neutral.

Carbon Negative: During the consumption of certain energy sources, if more carbon from the atmosphere is removed than it is released, thereby bringing in a net positive reduction of carbon, then such energy sources are termed as carbon negative. Biochar offers the possibility of carbon negative energy production, significant long-term reduction in atmospheric CO2 combined with the production of significant amounts of energy. Biochar is the fuel from plant material, which can also be buried to sequester carbon for a very long time.

Renewable Energy solutions

Solar: The Sun is the source of nearly all renewable energy on Earth. Wind, Hydroelectric, Biomass, and all other renewable energy solutions (except geothermal), get their energy from the Sun. The total Solar energy absorbed by the Earth in one hour is more energy than the world uses in one year. The amount of Solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface in one year is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined. The source of all energy radiated by the Sun lies in its core, a central region comprising only 1.5% of its total volume. This is a very large thermonuclear reactor where hydrogen atoms are fused together to form helium, releasing energy at the rate of 3.86 x 1026 joules per second. The fusion reactions in the Solar core take place because of the very high temperatures and very large pressures present in this region of the Sun. Physical models of the Sun suggest that the core temperature is around 15 million degrees and the central pressure is about 250 billion atmospheres (250 billion times the pressure on the Earth at sea level).

Wind: Wind energy is a converted form of Solar energy. The Sun's radiation heats different parts of the Earth at different rates, most notably during the day and night, but also when different surfaces (for example, water and land) absorb or reflect at different rates. This in turn causes portions of the Earth’s atmosphere to warm differently. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface, and cooler air is drawn in to replace it. The result is Wind. Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of that motion ("kinetic energy"). A Wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the Wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for practical use. Wind electric turbines generate electricity for homes and businesses and for sale to utilities. There are two basic designs of Wind electric turbines: Vertical axis and Horizontal axis Horizontal axis Wind turbines are most common today, constituting nearly all of the "utility-scale" (100 kilowatts capacity and larger) turbines in the global market.

Biomass: Biomass energy is from plants and plant-derived materials. Wood is still the largest Biomass energy resource today, but other sources of Biomass can also be used. These include food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, oil-rich algae, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Fumes from landfills (which are methane, a natural gas) can be used as a Biomass energy source. Biofuels are obtained by converting Biomass into liquid fuels for transportation or other uses. Biopower is obtained by burning Biomass directly, or converting it into gaseous or liquid fuels that burn more efficiently, to generate electricity. Bioproducts are obtained by converting Biomass into chemicals for making plastics and other products that typically are made from petroleum