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TEEIC - Energy affairs Category: Earth and Environment > Energy terms Date & country: 28/02/2017, UK Words: 518

HAP
Hazardous air pollutant.

Haul out, hauling out
The place or the act of an animal crawling or pulling themselves out of the water and onto land, ice, or other object, such as a buoy

Groundwater
The supply of water found beneath the earth's surface, usually in porous rock formations (aquifers), which may supply wells and springs. Generally, it refers to all water contained in the ground.

Guy wires
Wires or cables used to secure and stabilize support structures (e.g., wind turbines, meteorological towers, transmission towers, etc.).

Habitat
The place, including physical and biotic conditions, where a plant or animal lives.

Greenhouse gas
(GHG) Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation (i.e., that traps heat) in the atmosphere. Natural and human-made greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Greenhouse Effect
Trapping and build-up of heat in the atmosphere (troposphere) near the Earth’s surface. Some of the heat flowing back toward space from the Earth's surface is absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and several other gases in the atmosphere and then reradiated back toward the Earth’s surface. If the atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases rise, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will gradually increase.

Glucose
(C6H12O6) A simple six-carbon sugar. A sweet, colorless sugar that is the most common sugar in nature and the sugar most commonly fermented to ethanol.

Glycerin
(C3H8O3) A liquid by-product of biodiesel production. Glycerin is used in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants.

Granitic
Medium- to coarse-textured, light-colored, intrusive igneous rock composed predominantly of felsic minerals (i.e., silicate minerals, like feldspar, that are enriched with lighter elements such as aluminum, sodium, and potassium).

Geothermal resource
The natural heat of the earth that can be used for beneficial purposes when the heat is collected and transported to the surface. Typically found in underground reservoirs of hot water or steam created by heat from the Earth, but also exist in subsurface areas of dry hot rock.

Geyser
A spring that shoots jets of hot water and steam into the air.

Global warming
An increase in the near-surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is today most often used to refer to the warming some scientists predict will occur as a result of increased anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

Geothermal reservoir
Underground storage of water trapped in porous rock capable of providing hydrothermal (hot water and steam) resources.

Geothermal gradient
The rate of temperature increase in the Earth as a function of depth. Temperature increases an average of 1° Fahrenheit for every 75 feet in descent.

Geothermal Heat Pump
(GHP) Device that takes advantage of the relatively constant temperature of the Earth's interior, using it as a source and sink of heat for both heating and cooling. When cooling, heat is extracted from the space and dissipated into the Earth; when heating, heat is extracted from the Earth and pumped into the space.

Geothermal energy technology
Broadly defined as an activity, application, or device designed to harness energy from geothermal resources in order to perform useful work.

Geothermal energy
The Earth's interior heat made available to man by extracting it from hot water or rocks.

geomorphology
The study of the character and origin of landforms, such as mountains, valleys, etc.

Geological hazard
Extreme natural events in the crust of the earth that pose a threat to life and property. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis (tidal waves) are examples of geological hazards.

Geology
The study of the materials, processes, environments, and history of the earth, including rocks and their formation and structure.

Generator
A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. See also Induction generator.

Geologic sequestration
The collection and placement of carbon dioxide into suitable underground formations for storage.

Gathering pipelines
Pipelines within a field that transport gas or oil from the well to a central production facility or to the point of sale.

Geological resources
Material of value to humans that is extracted (or is extractable) from solid earth, including minerals, rocks, and metals.

Gathering
The movement of oil or gas from a production well to the treatment facility.

Gasification
A chemical or heat process to convert a solid fuel to a gaseous form.

FWCA
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.

Fracturing
A method of stimulating oil or gas production by opening new flow channels in the formation surrounding a production well. It involves pumping of crude oil, diesel, water, or chemical into a reservoir with such force that the reservoir rock is broken and results in greater flow of oil or gas from the reservoir. Also known as hydraulic fracturing or fraccing.

Fugitive dust
Airborne particles emitted from any source (such as activities associated with construction, manufacturing, or transportation), other than through a controllable stack.

Formation
A rock/mineral deposit or structure covering an area with the same physical properties.

Fossil fuel
An energy source formed in the Earth's crust from decayed organic material. The common fossil fuels are petroleum, coal, and natural gas.

FPPA
Farmland Protection and Policy Act.

Fraccing
(rhymes with `fracking`) A method of stimulating well production by increasing the permeability of the producing formation. Under extremely high hydraulic pressure, the fracturing fluid (water, oil, dilute hydrochloric acid, or other fluid) is pumped into the formation that parts or fractures it.

forebay
The part of a dam's reservoir that is immediately upstream of the powerhouse.

Forb
A broad-leafed flowering herb other than grass.

footprint, carbon
A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Typically measured in tons of CO2 emitted annually, one's carbon footprint is directly related to consumption of fossil fuels and of electricity from nonrenewable energy sources.

Flyrock
The fragments of rock thrown and scattered during quarry or tunnel blasting.

Fluidized bed catalytic tar reformer
A unit where the syngas and vapor compounds are bubbled through a catalyst that converts any tars in the mixture to additional syngas.

Fly ash
Small particles of airborne ash produced by burning fossil fuels. Fly ash is expelled as noncombustible airborne emissions or recovered as a by-product for commercial use (e.g., as a replacement for Portland cement used in concrete).

Fluidized bed boiler
A large, refractory-lined vessel with an air distribution member or plate in the bottom, a hot gas outlet in or near the top, and some provisions for introducing fuel. The fluidized bed is formed by blowing air up through a layer of inert particles (such as sand or limestone) at a rate that causes the particles to go into suspension and continuous motion. The super-hot bed material increases combustion efficiency by its direct contact with the fuel.

FLPMA
Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

flow
Volume of water passing a point in a given amount of time, expressed as cubic feet or cubic meters per second.

Fiber optics
The transmission of light through optical fibers for communication or signaling.

FIFRA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Flare
Process that burns and evacuates unused gases.

Flash steam
Steam produced when the pressure on a geothermal liquid is reduced. Also called flashing.

Fetch
The unobstructed distance over water in which waves are generated by wind of relatively constant direction and speed. Wind fetch is a term used to describe the open area and distance across a bay or body of water in which wind can exert energy on waves to cause them to be higher and more forceful upon impact with shorelines.

facility
Any building, structure, system, process, equipment, or activity that fulfills a specific purpose on a site.

Feedstock
Any material that can be converted to another form of fuel or energy product.

Feedstock plant
Raw material used in a processing plant. The most important feedstock for the European petrochemical industry is naphtha.

Fermentation
A biochemical reaction that breaks down complex organic molecules (such as carbohydrates) into simpler materials (such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and water). Bacteria or yeasts can ferment sugars to ethanol.

Executive Order
A President’s declaration that has the force of law, usually based on existing statutory powers, and requiring no action by the Congress.

Exploratory well
A well that is drilled to evaluate the resources that may be present. In some cases it is used to evaluate the feasibility of sequestering carbon dioxide in the subsurface.

FAA
Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Ethanol production plant
A plant that converts biomass to ethanol for use as an additive to gasoline. Ethanol is most often produced from corn or sugarcane by utilizing enzymes to convert starches to simple sugars and yeast to ferment the sugars into ethanol. Ethanol can also be produced from cellulose by a hydrolysis process requiring a pretreatment step to break down the hemicellulose and lignin that surround the cellulose in a protective sheath prior to the fermentation process. Examples of different types of ethanol production plants include those for corn ethanol, hydrolysis cellulosic ethanol, and gasification cellulosic ethanol. Ethanol can also be used for purposes other than a gasoline additive (e.g., alcohol).

Estuary
A transitional zone along the coastline where ocean saltwater mixes with freshwater from the land. A term used to describe the open area and distance across a bay or body of water in which wind can exert energy on waves to cause them to be higher and more forceful upon impact with shorelines.

Ethanol
(CH3CH2OH) A colorless, flammable liquid produced by fermentation of sugars. Ethanol is used as a fuel oxygenate.

Environmental justice
The fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and educational levels with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPCRA
Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act.

Erosion
The movement of exposed soil caused by the action of rain, snowmelt, or wind.

ESA
Endangered Species Act.

Enhanced Geothermal System
(EGS) An engineered reservoir that can extract economic amounts of heat from geothermal resources.

Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) A document required of federal agencies by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for major proposals or legislation that will or could significantly affect the environment. It describes the positive and negative effects of the proposed and alternative actions.

Energy crops
Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops such as corn and sugarcane.

ENERGY STAR^®
A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Energy transmission
The process of moving electrical energy, a gas, or a liquid energy source from its point of generation or extraction to its point of distribution or consumption. Electrical energy is transmitted via transmission lines, while liquids and gases are transmitted through pipelines.

Energy
The capability of doing work; different forms of energy can be converted to other forms, but the total amount of energy remains the same.

Energy content
The amount of energy released when a given unit of fuel is combusted.

Endangered species
Any species (plant or animal) that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range. Requirements for declaring a species endangered are found in the Endangered Species Act.

Electrostatic precipitator
A device that removes particulates from a gas stream by inducing a negative charge to the particles and collecting them on a positively charged or grounded plate.

Embayment
An indentation in the shoreline forming an open bay.

Emissions
Substances that are discharged into the air from industrial processes, vehicles, and living organisms. In the context of global climate change, they consist of important greenhouse gases (e.g., the release of carbon dioxide during fuel combustion).

Electromagnetic interference
(EMI) Any electromagnetic disturbance that interrupts, obstructs, or otherwise degrades or limits the effective performance of electrical equipment. It is caused by the presence of electromagnetic radiation.

Electricity
A form of energy characterized by the presence and motion of elementary charged particles generated by friction, induction, or chemical change.

electromagnetic fields
(EMF) Fields that surround both large power lines that distribute power and the smaller electric lines in homes and appliances. Generated when charged particles (e.g., electrons) are accelerated. EMFs are typically generated by alternating current in electrical conductors.

Electrical power grid
A system of synchronized power providers and consumers connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers.

Electric current
The flow of electric charge. The preferred unit of measure is the ampere.

Electric power
The rate at which electricity does work — measured at a point in time, i.e., with no time dimension. The unit of measure for electric power is a watt. The maximum amount of electric power that a piece of electrical equipment can accommodate is the capacity or capability of that equipment.

Effluent
The liquid or gas discharged after processing activities, usually containing residues from such use. Also discharge from a chemical reactor.

Electric and magnetic fields
(EMF) Fields that surround both large power lines that distribute power and the smaller electric lines in homes and appliances. Generated when charged particles (e.g., electrons) are accelerated. EMFs are typically generated by alternating current in electrical conductors. Also referred to as electromagnetic fields.

Ecological resources
Biota (fish, wildlife, and plants) and their habitats, which may be land, air, or water.

Ebb tide
The period of tide between high water and the succeeding low water; a falling tide.

Dry steam
Very hot steam that does not occur with liquid.

Dry steam power plant
A geothermal electricity generating plant where steam (at temperatures greater than 455°F [235°C]) is piped directly from a geothermal reservoir to run turbines that power a generator.

DSIRE
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

Dust abatement
The reduction or elimination of dust pollution.

Drivetrain
The mechanical connection between each of the major components of the wind turbine/generator. The drivetrain includes the blades and rotor hub and a mechanical transmission that converts the angular momentum from the rotating blades into power that is transmitted to the induction generator.

Dredging
Underwater excavation activity or operation with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing them at a different location. Sediment that has been dredged from the waterway is called dredged material or dredge spoil.

Drill rig
The mast, draw works, and attendant surface equipment of a drilling unit.

Drilling fluid
Fluid used to lubricate and cool the drill bit, to assist in lifting cuttings from the borehole, and to control pressures in the borehole.

Drilling mud
The circulating fluid used to bring cuttings out of the well bore, to cool the drill bit, and to provide hole stability and pressure control. Drilling mud includes a number of additives to maintain the mud at desired viscosities and weights. Some additives that may be used are caustic, toxic, or acidic.

Dredge
An apparatus used in the removal of substrate usually to deepen water passages.

DOT
U.S. Department of Transportation.

Domestic waste
Solid wastes of the type routinely generated by households.

DOE
U.S. Department of Energy.

DOI
U.S. Department of the Interior.

Dissolved solids
The total amount of dissolved material, organic and inorganic, contained in water or wastes.

Distillation
The process of separating the components of a liquid mixture according to their different boiling points.