What is Alternative Energy?

What is Alternative Energy?

There is a lot of energy that can be harnessed as we continue to do research and development using current day technologies. It is imperative to begin getting away from the fossil fuels that have been used for decades and we must turn to different energy resources.

Wind power is a great source for alternative energy. Wind turbines continue to be developed that are progressively more energy efficient and less costly. Throughout the world, wind farms have been showing up in many areas and even more so over time since they do not harm birds or any other kind of wildlife, unlike the original wind turbines did.

Another alternative energy resource is the one that is most well known: solar energy. To manufacture solar cells it is vital to gather and focus the energy given directly from the sun, and then transform it into electricity or sometimes hot water. As with wind energy, solar energy creates absolutely zero pollution.

Ocean wave energy is seen by governments and investors as having enormous energy generating potential. The generator that is located in France has been operating for years and is known to be largely successful and now the Irish and Scots are operating experimental facilities.

Hydroelectric power has been with us for a while, and wherever it is set up, it is a powerful generator of electricity and is cleaner than a grid. Unfortunately, there are limitations on where a large dam can be built and not many places are available for this type of project. Several run-of-the-river hydroelectricity or localized hydroelectric generators have been set-up in recent times due to that type of limitation.

Geothermal energy is extremely abundant, since it lies directly beneath our feet, just a few miles below the earth’s surface. This energy is produced by the heating of water through the actions of earth’s fantastically hot molten core. The water turns into steam, that can be harnessed and used to drive turbine engines that will generate electricity. A lot of research and development is needed in order to further our usage of geothermal energy tapping.

Waste gas energies, which are essentially methane, reverse the usual energy-pollution relationship by creating energy from waste that lies in the dumps and from some air pollutants. This gas is used in fuel cells and can be used in standard gasoline generators.

Ethanol is a gasoline substitute and is created from such things as wheat, sugarcane, grapes, strawberries, corn, and even wood chips and wood cellulose. There is controversy over this fuel with regards to it ever becoming truly economical or practical except in very localized areas, however, technologies for its extraction and admixturing are continuously being refined.

Biodiesel energy is created out of the oils contained in plants. Today we have large commercial stores containing biodiesel that have been created by using soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower oils. At the time of this writing, biodiesel is typically produced by entrepreneurial minded individuals or those who want to experiment with alternative energy, and there is commercial interest from companies also on the rise. It burns much cleaner than oil-based diesel.

Atomic energy is created in atomic energy plants using the process of nuclear fission. This energy is extremely efficient and can generate huge amounts of power. It has been the concern of some people on what to do with the small amount of waste products that atomic energy gives off, since it is radio active and will take many years for it to decay and become non-toxic.