Glossary
Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER)
**The U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER)** program, initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office in 2019, aims to accelerate the development of marine energy technologies by providing developers and researchers with access to the nation's leading test facilities and technical expertise. Managed by the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET), TEAMER facilitates collaboration between technology developers and a network of U.S.-based...
Textile waste
**Textile waste** refers to discarded textile materials generated across the lifecycle of clothing, footwear, household fabrics, industrial textiles and production processes. It includes pre-consumer waste, such as fabric offcuts, defective items and unsold stock, as well as post-consumer waste, such as used clothing, linens, carpets and other textile products that are thrown away, donated, collected or exported. Textile waste can arise from overproduction, fast fashion, poor product quality,...
The Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP)
The **Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP)** is a voluntary international initiative that helps oil and gas companies measure, report, and reduce methane emissions from their operations. Launched in 2014 by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it provides a structured framework for companies to track methane sources and demonstrate mitigation progress. The updated OGMP 2.0 framework introduces a measurement-based reporting system that...
Thermal Inertia of Oceans
**Thermal Inertia of Oceans** refers to the capacity of the world's oceans to absorb and store heat, causing a delayed response in temperature changes. This concept is critical in understanding the broader impacts of climate change. Due to the distinct properties of water, such as high specific heat capacity, the oceans can hold a substantial amount of thermal energy. This means that even as atmospheric temperatures fluctuate, the ocean's temperature changes more gradually, acting as a...
Thermal Neutron
A **Thermal Neutron** is a type of neutron that has been slowed down through interactions with a moderating material to reach thermal equilibrium with its surrounding environment. Typically, this environment is characterized by standard room temperature, approximately 293.6 K (20.5°C or 68.9°F). Thermal neutrons possess low kinetic energy, around 0.025 electron volts (eV), which corresponds to the thermal energy of particles at room temperature.
The significance of thermal neutrons lies in...
Thermochemical Conversion
**Thermochemical Conversion** refers to a process that uses heat and chemical reactions to convert organic materials into useful energy products such as biofuels, chemicals, and gases. This method captures the energy stored in biomass through processes like pyrolysis, gasification, and liquefaction. These processes break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds, making it easier to extract valuable energy and other by-products.
Pyrolysis involves heating biomass in the absence...
Thin-Film Solar Cells
**Thin-Film Solar Cells** are a type of photovoltaic technology that converts sunlight into electricity using extremely thin layers of semiconductor materials. Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, thin-film solar cells are crafted by depositing one or more layers of photovoltaic material onto a substrate like glass, plastic, or metal. This allows for a more flexible, lightweight, and versatile solution, making them ideal for a variety of applications ranging from building-integrated...
Thorium Fuel Cycle
The **Thorium Fuel Cycle** is an advanced nuclear power generation method that utilizes thorium-232 as a fertile material. Unlike traditional nuclear fuel cycles that predominantly use uranium or plutonium, the thorium cycle offers several notable advantages, including higher safety margins and reduced long-term radioactive waste. In this cycle, thorium-232 absorbs a neutron to become thorium-233, which subsequently decays into uranium-233, a fissile material capable of sustaining nuclear...
Tip Speed Ratio (TSR)
**Tip Speed Ratio (TSR)** is a crucial dimensionless parameter in the design and analysis of wind turbines. It represents the ratio between the speed of the tip of a turbine blade and the actual speed of the wind. Specifically, TSR is calculated by dividing the tangential speed of the blade tip by the wind speed. This ratio is fundamental in determining the efficiency with which a wind turbine converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy.
The optimal TSR varies depending on...
Tokamak
A **Tokamak** is a device used to contain hot plasma with strong magnetic fields in order to sustain a controlled nuclear fusion reaction. Originating from the Russian term "toroidal chamber with magnetic coils," the Tokamak is a hopeful contender in the quest for clean and virtually limitless energy. The design aims to replicate the sun’s nuclear fusion process, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium and release vast amounts of energy.
The tokamak configuration involves a toroidal...
Toxic Smoke
**Toxic smoke** is a hazardous mixture of airborne gases, vapours and fine particulate matter released during the burning or overheating of materials, particularly waste, chemicals, plastics and synthetic products. It typically contains substances such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and fine particles (PM2.5 and smaller). The exact composition depends on the materials involved,...
Transition Bonds
Transition Bonds are debt instruments that finance emissions-reduction projects and transition activities within carbon-intensive and hard-to-abate sectors. They help companies in industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, aviation, and energy implement decarbonisation strategies, improve operational efficiency, and adopt lower-carbon technologies. Unlike green bonds, which fund activities already considered environmentally sustainable, transition bonds support the process of moving toward...
Transport Emission Reduction Certificates (TERCs)
**Transport Emission Reduction Certificates (TERCs)** are tradable digital certificates representing verified greenhouse gas reductions associated with low-carbon transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, or ethanol. Developed as a voluntary market mechanism in the United States, TERCs are used to support Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions mitigation and sustainable-fuel procurement strategies. Each certificate typically corresponds to a quantified amount of avoided CO2-equivalent...
Tropospheric Ozone
**Tropospheric Ozone** refers to ozone located in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending up to about 10 kilometers above sea level. Unlike stratospheric ozone, which forms a protective layer high above the Earth and shields us from harmful ultraviolet radiation, tropospheric ozone is a ground-level pollutant and a key component of smog. It results from complex chemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of...
Turbine Generator
A **Turbine Generator** is an advanced mechanical device that converts kinetic energy from a fluid, such as water, steam, or air, into electrical energy. The process begins when the fluid flows through the turbine blades, causing them to spin. This mechanical motion is then transferred to the generator, which uses electromagnetic induction to produce electricity. Turbine Generators are a critical component in power plants, playing a pivotal role in harnessing various renewable and...