What is Alternative Energy?

By Donna Miller | January 31, 2010

There are a lot of great sources of energy out there which are going underused as of yet. Whether from lack of research and development efforts or simply because the merits are not yet appreciated, these energy sources are sure to grow in popularity as people come to see the value of lessening our dependence on fossil fuels and the benefits of clean energy.

One such source is wind power. This is an old idea, but one which has developed to the point where it is a cost effective energy source. Some countries have begun building “wind farms” to harness this energy – out of the paths of migratory birds; which has been a problem in the past.

One of the better known alternative energy sources is of course solar energy. The energy given off by the sun can be stored in fuel cells to generate electricity; and the sun’s heat can also be use to heat water for use in our homes. Solar energy, like wind power, does not create any pollution whatsoever.

Many governments and private investors are looking too ocean waves as being a potentially great source of energy. There is one generator which has been in use in France for sometime now with great success. In Ireland and the U.K., there are experimental generators in use as well.

Hydroelectric power has been around for some time. This is a clean and efficient way to generate electricity; bu8t does have the limitation that not every place has a large dam for the purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Small regional hydroelectric stations have been built – and you can expect this alternative energy source to be part of the overall energy production strategy for the foreseeable future.

Geothermal energy has a lot of potential. This is an energy source which lies largely untapped right under our feet – the heat of the Earth’s core turns water into steam, which can drive turbines to produce electrical power. More research and development must be done on geothermal power, but there is great promise here.

Waste gas energy is a novel idea which turns the usual energy/waste paradigm on its head. Methane gas, usually seen as a waste product can be used to charge fuel cells and even replace gasoline in generators.

Ethanol is a gasoline substitute sourced from plants; these sources include (most notably) corn, but can be produced from any cellulose-containing plant materials; even wood chips! There is still doubt that the extraction process can become efficient enough to really be a serious alternative to gasoline other than on a regional level, but the production process is becoming ever more efficient.

A cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum based fuels; biodiesel is made from plant oils such as rapeseed, sunflower and soybean oils. While not produced on a large commercial scale as of yet, many companies are looking onto the possibility of doing so.

Atomic energy is created through nuclear fission. This is an efficient and cost effective means of energy production; but there is some concern about the waste product, which is toxic and radio active and takes hundreds of years to become inert.

Donna Miller shows you how to cut your electric bill by 80%. Learn secrets to increase your gas mileage.

Article kindly provided by UberArticles.com

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Comments are closed.