Biogas is produced by the fermentation of organic matter. Deprived of oxygen, this waste from different sectors (agriculture, food industry, community, catering, sewage sludge, etc.) creates biogas through a process called “methanation”. Biogas is produced naturally or can be recreated artificially in anaerobic digesters. Composed of 50 to 70% methane, biogas is used raw or after transformation.
Wind energy is an energy source that depends on wind. The sun heats the Earth unevenly, creating zones of different temperatures and atmospheric pressure around the globe. These pressure differences create air movements, called wind. This energy is used to generate electricity in wind turbines, also known as wind generators, using the power of the wind.
Hydroelectric power is used to generate electricity in hydroelectric power stations, using the force of water.
This power depends either on the height of the waterfall (high or medium head plants) or on the flow of rivers (run-of-river plants).
A hydropower plant consists of 3 parts:
• The dam that holds the water
• The power station which produces electricity
• The power lines that evacuate and transport the electrical energy
Solar energy is an energy source that depends on the sun. It is used to generate electricity from photovoltaic panels or solar thermal power plants, using sunlight captured by solar panels.
Biomass energy is a renewable energy source that depends on the cycle of living plant and animal matter.
Biomass energy is the oldest form of energy used by humans since the discovery of fire in prehistoric times. It is used to produce electricity from the heat released by the combustion of these materials (wood, plants, agricultural waste, organic household waste) or from the biogas produced by the fermentation of these materials in biomass power plants.
Electrical energy is not a primary energy, it requires another energy or other upstream energies to produce it.
Electrical energy is energy available in the form of a stream of electrons (electricity). This energy is used directly to produce light or heat.
Fossil energy refers to energy produced from rocks that are fossilized by living beings: oil, natural gas and coal. They are present in limited and non-renewable quantities, and their combustion causes greenhouse gases.