Aug
18
Given the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels, Alternative Energy, alternative fuel types and systems are being developed. The rising costs of energy, alternative fuels, Energy Alternatives and future energy sources are becoming increasingly important. Alternative Energy companies are constantly developing technology to provide alternate sources of energy for the future energy needs of a growing population. Alternative Energy and resources are sorted into six main groups:
* Solar Power or energy, electricity generation and heating
* Wind Power or energy, electricity generation
* Geothermal, electricity generation
* Tidal Power, electricity generation
* Hydroelectric, electricity generation
* Biomass Fuels, auto fuels and electricity generation
Solar: While solar energy is utilized mainly to heat homes and swimming pools,Solar Panels it is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative source of electricity for homeowners who want to become independant of the main power grid and for those in remote areas. A solar power system of the correct size can easily power the average home and any excess power generated can be fed back into the grid, reducing your power bill even further. It can also be used for recharging cars, running powerplants and powering space ships (it was used as backup power on Venture I and as power for Telstar, for example). Solar power is fast becoming one of the most popular alternative power sources. Energy consumption can be greatly reduced by the use of this free energy supply. This Alternative Energy solution can make you totally energy independent.
Wind: Energy is collected via windmills, or two hollow half-drum collectors, and turned into Alternative Energy power via turbines. This can then be stored in a battery system to be used for the household power needs. As with the solar power, any excess can then be fed back into the grid, from which homes and businesses, in turn, draw power for their daily needs.The original windmill was used for grinding grain or pumping water. These days electricity generation has become the principle application of the use of wind power . We now have large Wind Generatorsscale wind farms which are connected into the electrical grid which can provide electricity to locations that are isolated. Some experts consider wind power to be more environmentally friendly than many other energy sources, mainly electricity derived from fossil fuels as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits of wind power are, it is clean, renewable, plentiful and widely distributed. Between 2000 and 2007 wind power increased more than five times on a global scale. Worldwide capacity of wind powered generators was 94.1 gigawatts at the end of 2007. According to 2007 data, wind produces only about 1% of the electricity use world wide. Denmark has approximately 19% of its power use generated by wind, 6% in Germany and the Replubic of Ireland and 9% in Portugal and spain.
Geothermal: While not practical on a large basis yet, geothermal energy works by tapping into the planet’s internal heat, which generates steam to run a steam turbine, again generating electricity that is stored until needed. It takes advantage of water which is heated by Geothermal Plantmagma that is lying close to the surface of the earth. The magma can be around 2000 deg F. This system will most likely only last 10′s of years before the rocks have been cooled. This type of energy is limited to a few areas around the western area of the U.S. and is a non renewable resource. The heat is best tapped at geothermal hotspots, since drilling deeply enough into the earth is costly.
Hydroelectric: Hydroelectric dams store and release water at high pressures. When the water is released, the kinetic energy generated is transferred onto turbine blades, and electricity is generated. Power obtained this way is some of the least Hydroelectric Schemeexpensive energy available, once you get beyond the initial up front costs. The judicious use of Alternative Energy resources can not only help meet the rising demand for usable energy, but as an Alternative Energy source, it can help lower its cost, and lower the impact to the planet.
Tidal Power: Currently tidal power is still not at the stage where it is economically viable. At the moment it requires 25 foot tides. In some confined estuaries and bays the difference between high and low tide can vary significantly. In the Bay of Fundy a pilot project was set up to take advantage of the huge difference in water heights. A turbine system was set up to take advantage of the rapid rushes of water both in and out of the bay. A relatively new technology, tidal stream generators draw energy from currents in much the same way as wind turbines.. The higher density of water, approximately 830 times the density of air,means that a single generator can provide significant power at low tidal velocities (compared with the speed of wind). Similar to wind power, selection of the location is very important for the tidal turbine. Tidal stream turbine systems need to be located in areas with fast currents where natural flows are concentrated between obstructions, such as the entrance to bays and rivers, around headlands, rocky points or between islands or other land masses. Tides can also be harnessed by using their natural motion to fill reservoirs. The energy in reservoirs is then discharged to a grid using turbines.
Biomass Energy: Another energy alternative source being developed is biofuel. The most common use of biomass is plant matter that is grown to produce biofuel and to generate electricity. Biomass is classed as a renewable fuel and it is sometimes called carbon nuetral, Biomass Farmthough its use can still contribute to global warming. The same amount of CO2 still enters the atmosphere when biomass fuel is used as a replacement for fossil fuels, however, when biomass is used for the production of energy it is still considered carbon nuetral or a reducer of greenhouse gasses because of the offset of methane gas that otherwise would have entered the atmosphere.
Research into energy alternatives is ongoing as the world becomes more dependent on Alternative Energy resources because our natural resources are not an unlimited supply. Energy management plans have been implemented in most countries to develop alternative forms of energy. Alternative Energy solutions will become available more easily in the near future as they are developed and they will eventually replace our natural energy resources. Alternative Energy funds are being made available for the further research of energy alternatives.
The Advantages of Energy Alternatives: The many advantages of the most popular Alternative Energy sources are:
Solar Power:
* It is clean and non polluting
* Can work in the sunniest parts of the world and often the poorest parts.
* It is a free renewable resource with an endless supply that belongs to no one
* It is a safe system
* It is modular therefore flexible and systems can be resized according to your needs
* Fits in well with other systems
* Solar power is an ideal system for remote areas where there is no infrastructure
Wind Energy:
* It is Safe if maintained properly
* Wind energy is a free renewable resource
* It is clean and non polluting
* Wind supply is plentiful
* Suitable for less sunny regions
* Simple technology
* Cheap electricity as compared to other sources
* It is an ideal system for developing or island nations where infrastructure is limited
Tidal Power:
* It is reliable, and more predictable than wind or solar systems, because of the regular cycle of rising and falling tides
* It is truly renewable, is free, non polluting and no waste is produced
* Economical in the long term, setup costs are high but maintenance costs are low.
* Efficiency, A tidal turbine can be up to 80% efficient in converting tidal energy into electricity that is usable.
Biomass fuel:
* Totally renewable source
* Low costs to produce
* As stated above, can help in reducing greenhouse gasses because of the offset from methane gas that would have entered the atmosphere
