Energy

20 Environment terms

Coal
Noun
A hard, black substance that is dug from the earth in pieces, and can be burned to produce heat or power, or a single piece of this.
Example: Wood, coal, oil, petrol and gas are all different kinds of fuel.
fr: Charbon
Diesel
Noun
A type of heavy oil used as fuels
Example: My new car runs on (= uses) diesel.
fr: Diesel
Electric vehicle (ev)
A type of vehicle that runs on electricity, usually one that does not use any other source of power.
Example: The company was a pioneer in electric vehicle development in the 1990s.
fr: Voiture électrique
Fossil fuel
Noun
A fuel such as gas, coal, and oil that has been produced in the earth from plants and animals.
Example: The impression given is that fossil fuel use will continue to rise, and that coal is the fuel of the future.
fr: Énergie fossile
Fuelwood
Noun
Any wood used as a fuel. (=firewood)
Example: Rubber plantations offer income, fuelwood, a good microclimate, and even new cultural identities.
fr: Bois de chauffage
Gas
Noun
A substance in a form like air that is used as a fuel for heating and cooking.
Example: Do you prefer cooking with electricity or gas?
fr: Gaz
Green power
Noun
Electricity from moving water, wind, the sun, or plant or animal waste, rather than from coal, oil, or gas.
Example: The company has entered into a 20-year green power agreement with a windfarm in Iowa.
fr: Énergie verte
Hybrid car
Noun
A vehicle that has both a petrol engine and one or more electric motors.
Example: A hybrid car uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
fr: Voiture hybride
Hydraulic
Noun
Operated by or involving the pressure of water or some other liquid.
Example: The plane’s hydraulic systems can withstand incredibly high temperatures.
fr: Hydraulique
Hydrogen fuel cell
Noun
A hydrogen fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen to produce electricity.
Example: Since hydrogen fuel cells only emit water, there are no carbon dioxide emissions or other pollutants released into the atmosphere.
fr: Pile à combustible d’hydrogène
Hydropower
Noun
Hydroelectric power (= the production of electricity by the force of fast moving water)
Example: A total of 90% of all renewable energies apart from large-scale hydropower were produced under the system of guaranteed input prices.
fr: Hydroélectricité
Nuclear fission
Noun
The process of dividing the nucleus of an atom, resulting in the release of a large amount of energy.
Example: Nuclear fission, moreover, is viewed as one of the better ways of addressing 'climate change', with saving and efficiency relegated to secondary importance.
fr: Fission nucléaire
Nuclear fusion
Noun
The process of joining two nuclei to produce energy.
Example: If so, there was no need to conjecture the occurrence of a novel phenomenon of electrochemically induced nuclear fusion.
fr: Fusion nucléaire
Nuclear power plant
Noun
Nuclear power plants are a type of power plant that use the process of nuclear fission in order to generate electricity.
Example: In addition, there was strong criticism surrounding the lack of financial control over the third nuclear power plant.
fr: Centrale nucléaire
Oil
Noun
petroleum (= the black oil obtained from under the earth's surface from which petrol comes)
Example: Reports are just coming in of a major oil spillage in the North Sea.
fr: Pétrole
Petrol
Noun
A liquid obtained from petroleum, used especially as a fuel for cars and other vehicles
Example: We stopped at the services to get petrol.
fr: Essence
Power
Noun
Electricity, especially when considering its use or production.
Example: You should disconnect the power before attempting to repair electrical equipment.
fr: Électricité
Renewable energy
Noun
Energy that is produced using the sun, wind, etc., or from crops, rather than using fuels such as oil or coal.
Example: With sky-high energy prices and increased demand for renewable energy, developers are taking another look at tidal power.
fr: Énergie renouvelable
Solar panel
Noun
A device that changes energy from the sun into electricity.
Example: Thus, more solar cells could be installed on the solar panel, which could improve the performance of solar arrays.
fr: Panneau solaire
Wind farm
Noun
A group of wind turbines (= tall structures with blades that are blown by the wind) that are used for producing electricity.
Example: One further wind farm has been approved, containing 26 turbines.
fr: Parc éolien