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Alternative Energy: Energy sources that are alternatives to fossil fuels, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power.
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Ampere (Amp): Unit of electric current; one ampere is the flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
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Battery: A device that stores electrical energy in chemical form and releases it as needed.
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Bioenergy: Energy derived from organic materials (biomass), including plants, animal waste, and wood.
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Biomass: Organic material used as fuel or for bioenergy production, such as wood, agricultural crops, or waste.
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Carbon Footprint: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organization, event, or product, typically measured in CO₂ equivalents.
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Carbon Neutral: Achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.
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Coal: A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock used as a fossil fuel.
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Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): A method of storing energy in the form of compressed air, typically in underground caverns, and releasing it to generate electricity.
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Current: The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A).
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Demand Response: Adjusting consumer demand for electricity in response to supply conditions, such as peak demand periods.
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Distribution Grid: The network that delivers electricity from transmission lines to end-users.
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Electrolysis: The process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, often used for hydrogen production.
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Energy Efficiency: Using less energy to perform the same task, reducing energy waste.
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Energy Storage: Technologies that capture energy for use at a later time, such as batteries, pumped hydro, and flywheels.
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Fossil Fuels: Energy sources derived from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.
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Fuel Cell: A device that generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without combustion.
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Geothermal Energy: Heat energy generated and stored within the Earth, often harnessed for electricity and heating.
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Grid: The network of power lines and associated infrastructure that delivers electricity from producers to consumers.
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Hydroelectric Power: Electricity generated by the movement of water through turbines in a dam or other water-based system.
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Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts, often used to measure electricity consumption or generation capacity.
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Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): A unit of energy representing the use of one kilowatt for one hour, commonly used for billing electricity consumption.
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Load: The amount of electrical power required by consumers at any given time.
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Microgrid: A localized grid that can operate independently or connected to the main grid, often used in remote or critical areas.
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Net Metering: A system allowing consumers to offset their electricity costs by feeding surplus energy back into the grid, typically from renewable sources like solar.
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Nuclear Energy: Energy released by nuclear reactions, typically used in power plants to generate electricity.
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Off-Grid: A system not connected to the main power grid, often powered by renewable energy sources with energy storage.
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Photovoltaic (PV): Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity, as seen in solar panels.
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Power: The rate at which energy is generated, transferred, or used, measured in watts (W).
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Renewable Energy: Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power.
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Smart Grid: An electricity network that uses digital technology to monitor and manage the flow of electricity, improving reliability and efficiency.
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Solar Thermal Energy: A technology that uses sunlight to produce heat, often for water heating or electricity generation.
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Tidal Energy: Power generated by harnessing the movement of tides and waves, usually with underwater turbines.
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Transmission: The high-voltage transport of electricity from power plants to substations near populated areas.
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Turbine: A device that converts kinetic energy from fluid flow (like water, steam, or wind) into mechanical energy, typically driving a generator.
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Voltage: The electric potential difference between two points, measured in volts (V).
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Watt (W): A unit of power equal to one joule per second, used to measure the rate of energy transfer or consumption.
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Wind Power: The use of wind to generate electricity via turbines.
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Zero-Emission: Technologies or processes that produce no direct greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce the carbon footprint.