What Is Carbon-Free Energy?
When energy sources are labeled carbon-free, the energy is produced by a resource that generates no carbon emissions, such as nuclear or large hydroelectric. Although these resources help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they may impact the environment or the economy.
Carbon-free is electricity generation either does not use fossil fuels or does not emit carbon. For example, a state is carbon-free if all of its electricity is from clean energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear.
Renewable energy is energy that comes from resources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight and wind. Unlike fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, which cannot be replaced, renewable energy regenerates naturally in a short period.
The terms carbon-free and renewable are often used in similar contexts, but these two resources create different environmental and economic impacts.
On the other hand, renewable energy is classified as a naturally replenishing resource that produces zero emissions. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and biowaste, and eligible hydroelectric.
In addition, the energy projects may create additional environmental benefits on top of their emissions reductions, such as pollinator-friendly solar programs, or economic job benefits, through the construction of new projects.
When energy sources are labeled carbon-free, the energy is produced by a resource that generates no carbon emissions, such as nuclear or large hydroelectric. Although these resources help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they may impact the environment or the economy. For example, the waste produced by nuclear power plants needs to be safely stored long term, which can be cost-intensive.
Additionally, the creation of dams to build new, enormous hydroelectric resources has lasting environmental impacts on the surrounding ecosystems.
While all renewable energy is carbon-free, not all carbon-free energy is renewable. Only naturally replenishing sources are renewable.
“Clean” energy emits little to no greenhouse gas emissions and includes renewable and carbon-free sources.
This is in contrast to fossil fuels, which produce significant greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane.
Wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and small hydropower
Larger hydropower and nuclear as well as all renewable energy resources including: wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and small hydropower
Natural gas, coal, and oil
Carbon neutral means that any CO2 released into the atmosphere from a company’s activities is balanced by removing an equivalent amount.
Climate positive means that activity goes beyond achieving net-zero carbon emissions to create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Carbon negative means the same thing as "climate positive."
Carbon positive is how organizations describe climate positive and carbon negative. Unfortunately, it's mainly a marketing term and understandably confusing–we generally avoid it.
Climate Neutral refers to reducing all GHG to zero while eliminating all other negative environmental impacts that an organization may cause.
Net-Zero carbon emissions mean that an activity releases net-zero carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Net-Zero emissions balance the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) released and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
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Energy Commodity Solutions
·        Managed Contract Negotiation
·        Cost/Risk Management
·        Utility Bill Audits
·        Rebates and Rider Exemptions
·        Capacity Tag Management
·        Demand Response Solutions
Renewable Energy
·        Solar, Wind and Hydro Options
·        Green E-RECs
·        VPPA Development
Sustainability Planning
·        Strategic Planning and Advising
·        Scope 1 and 2 Emissions Strategies
·        Renewable and Low-Carbon Solutions
·        ASHRAE Level Assessments
Building Management Solutions
·        Energy Monitoring
·        Building Envelope
·        HVAC Systems
·        Ventilation Systems
·        Water Systems
Electrical Solutions
·        LED Lighting
·        Power Quality
·        Power Surge Control
·        Meter Aggregation
·        Transformers/Substations
·        EV Charging
Project Funding Support
·        $0 Down and Pay-as-you-go Financing Options
·        Equipment Leases/Consignment
·        On-Bill Funding
·        Grant Writing
·        Return on Investment Analysis
·        Rebate Processing
TPI’s energy procurement experts will guide you to the best fit to strengthen your business and its energy budget, assist in scaling your growth as your energy demands expand, keeping your goals top of mind.
