Have you ever wondered how fossil fuels are turned into electricity that powers your home? Our experts have got your back!

We know that fossil fuels are harmful to the environment and have externalities from extraction and transportation to refining and burning. But what is it about the refining and burning that causes these externalities?‍

Once fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, they are transported to large power stations. At those power stations, they are burned to heat up water. The steam from the water causes a significant increase in pressure, which forces a turbine to spin. ‍

The turbine is connected to a large magnet inside a generator. As the magnet spins, electrons are produced and the grid receives electricity.

So what’s the problem with using steam to move a magnet? The problem comes from Hydrocarbons, also known as fossil fuels. When hydrocarbons are burned in the presence of oxygen they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can see the chemical reaction layed out below.

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CH4   +  2O2    →   CO2   +  2H2O

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Image from the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, meaning it traps heat in the atmosphere. As you can see in the chart below, carbon dioxide was responsible for nearly 80% of the greenhouse gas produced in 2020.

“Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's carbon cycle (the natural circulation of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, plants, and animals). Human activities are altering the carbon cycle–both by adding more CO2 to the atmosphere and by influencing the ability of natural sinks, like forests and soils, to remove and store CO2 from the atmosphere. While CO2 emissions come from a variety of natural sources, human-related emissions are responsible for the increase that has occurred in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution… The main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation.”

                  - United States Environmental Protection Agency‍

To put it simply, carbon dioxide is a natural part of life and has always been around. However, we are producing more carbon dioxide than ever before and the natural sources that remove CO2 are struggling to keep up.

By switching to solar, you are lowering the amount of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere. Not only are you saving the planet, you’re also saving yourself money! Because fossil fuels are a limited resource with a negative impact on the environment, they are becoming more and more expensive. Solar on the other hand is the cheapest and most abundant form of energy.

When you install PV panels, you are giving yourself the opportunity to produce your own energy, lower your carbon footprint, and produce less CO2.

Interested in seeing what solar can do for you? Talk to our experts today.