Print This Page | Text Size: A A A
Play our viral game 'Extreme Green'

Glossary

Wind energy

WindScotland is the windiest country in Europe so wind energy is an important generator of electricity. The most common way of getting energy from the wind is through setting up ‘wind farms’. Wind power enables electricity to be produced in an environmentally friendly way – the turbines don’t produce smoke, ash, harmful gases or radioactive waste like conventional power stations and they don’t require mining for fuel.

Back to top

Bio-mass – Bio-energy

BiomassBio-energy is energy from organic materials such as wood, grasses or plant and animal wastes, which were living matter relatively recently in comparison to fossil fuels. These materials are called ‘Bio-mass’. bio-mass can be burned for heating buildings directly and boilers can also be connected to electricity generation equipment.

There is potential in Scotland to develop a highly successful bio-mass industry as Scotland has considerable and growing forestry resources.

Back to top

Conservation, Ecology and Sustainability

Conservation, Ecology and SustainabilityRefers to those activities which are directly related to the management of the natural heritage, or those that help people to understand or enjoy it. Natural heritage includes plants and animals; landforms and geology; and natural beauty and amenity.

Sustainable economy

Back to top

Water/Hydro

Water/Hydro/MarineHydro-electric power is the most common form of generating electricity from water. Water from reservoirs or rivers is piped through turbines and the force of that water turns electricity generators.

Hydro power is a technology long established in Scotland, and accounts for a significant proportion of our existing renewable output. It contributes around 10% to Scotland’s total electricity generation. Most output is produced by large-scale hydro schemes. There are, however, an increasing number of proposals for small run-of-river hydro projects and these, together with the continuing refurbishment of the large hydro schemes, will ensure that hydro will continue to play its part in Scotland’s renewable energy mix.

Marine

Tidal Power

This system works by using the rising and falling tides, which are created by the gravitational pull of the moon, to produce energy. There are several different methods of capturing this tidal energy: from trapping tides in lagoons or reservoirs to underwater turbines, like propellers in tidal streams.

Wave Power

The second way of getting power from our coastal waters is by using the energy carried by waves. The waves around our vast coastlines are thought to be ideal for producing electricity.

There are several different ways to capture wave energy: from trapping waves to bobbing buoys. Wave energy devices can be fixed to the shoreline or placed out at sea.

Back to top

Micro renewables

Micro renewablesMicro renewables is the term given to small-scale renewable technologies that are of a scale used on individual buildings. As well as wind, small hydro and bio-mass, micro renewable technologies also include:

Solar Energy Systems

Buildings can be designed to make the best of natural light and heat from the sun, and solar panels can also be added to existing buildings for space heating, hot water or electricity generation.

Heat Pumps

A heat pump operates like a domestic fridge in reverse, extracting free, renewable heat energy from the earth, water or air and upgrading that heat via a compressor and a heat exchanger before transferring it to a water heating system, normally underfloor heating or radiators.

Increasingly, home owners, businesses and other organisations are looking for renewable technologies to help them save money on energy bills and help the environment.

Back to top

Sustainable economy

A sustainable economy is one which:

Do you want to find out more about the variety of jobs available in these key areas?  Take the Career Paths journey.