What is Alternative Energy?
There are a lot of energy resources which are going largely untapped. If we could develop the necessary technologies to take advantage of these resources, we could begin to move away from fossil fuels and indeed, the existing electrical grid by using these alternative sources of 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 best known alternative energy technologies is solar power. Energy from the sun can be stored in solar cells, where it can be used to heat water for homes or to generate electrical power. Like wind power, solar energy does not generate any pollutants.
Governments and investors are looking into the possibilities of ocean wave energy. Already successfully in use in France and in the experimental phase in Ireland and the U.K., this may prove to be a growing source of energy in the future.
Hydroelectric power is not exactly a new idea; however, it is an effective means of generating clean electrical power. Of course, not every location can benefit from electrical power since this requires having a large dam. There have been small, local dams built in many places, but of course these can not generate the amount of power that a large river and dam can.
Geothermal energy promises to be a nearly limitless source of energy, once the technology to efficiently use it is developed enough. The heat of the Earth’s core turns water to steam, which in turn can drive turbines to generate electricity. With more research, this could become an important alternative source of energy.
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, a substitute for gasoline, is produced from plant matter. While corn-based ethanol is what generally comes to mind, Ethanol can be made from almost any vegetable matter. While some doubt that it can be efficiently produced to become a replacement for gasoline on a large scale, the extraction technologies are constantly becoming more efficient and sophisticated.
Biodiesel is a much cleaner burning alternative to petroleum based fuels and is created from plant oils such as rapeseed, soybean and sunflower oils. This is not yet produced on a large scale, but some corporations with the facilities to do so are taking notice of this relatively new technology.
Atomic energy is generated through nuclear fission. It is a very cost effective means of generating electric power, but there are concerns over the radioactive waste which is it s byproduct, since it takes centuries for this material to become harmless.
