Alternative Energy
Alternative energy generally refers to energies that are derived from non-fossil fuel sources, while renewable energies refer to those sources that are naturally replenishing such as biomass, hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and ocean thermal. These sources are basically unlimited in quantity; however, they cannot produce the amount of energy needed in a given time. Renewable energy also refers to energies that are clean, meaning they have very little effect on the environment, i.e non-pollutant and non-hazardous. It is therefore safe to say that not all alternative energies are renewable energies, based on the definitions provided. One common example is nuclear energy, which is alternative but not renewable.
One may ask the question, why do we need alternative energy? The answer includes many reasons such as the current alarming high prices paid for energies derived from fossil fuels. Furthermore, it is believed that the natural resources that are used for fossil fuel energies will one day run low. Therefore, alternative energies can not only help preserve some of these resources, but are clean and will protect our environment. Even though some may argue that alternative energies are not reliable and there might not be a constant supply them due to their sources, they can be great substitutes and can be connected to the city power, which can the serve as the alternative energy.
Some of the most widely used alternative renewable energies are solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower. These will be briefly introduced here, after which they will be discussed in detail.
Solar energy is a form of alternative energy that is becoming very popular in areas where there is a lot of sunlight. Millions of dollars have been spent on this technology in recent years to improve it, because of the advantages it offers. The most obvious advantage is that it is renewable, so as long as there is sunlight, solar cells can generate power at very low cost. This energy also clean to produce and therefore will be environmentally friendly.
Wind energy is also another type alternative energy that is readily available and is being used in many areas where there are high wind velocities. This form of alternative energy can be expensive to set up initially; however, the system will recover its initial cost within the first seven to fifteen years depending on the location. After this time period the energy produced will be virtually free and it will increase the value of the property. This type of alternative energy is now available for household purposes and is therefore a good investment.
Biomass alternative energy is produced from waste materials such wood chips, saw dust, waste paper, waste food, dead animals and basically anything that is considered garbage and can be burned to produce heat to boil water that drives turbines. Details about this form of alternative energy will be provided on the pages that follow.
The heat given off by the earth and hot springs, hot rocks, magma etc. far beneath the earth surface is a form of alternative energy called geothermal energy. This form of alternative energy has many advantages that it is clean, safe and sustainable. It now produces less than 1% of the world's energy.
Hydropower is a kind of alternative energy that is cheap since it uses the kinetic energy from falling water to drive a turbine which produces mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then converted to electrical energy. Large hydroelectric plants can produce enough alternative energy for millions of people.
The brief description of the alternative energies previous provided is enough to conclude that they are excellent investments for saving energy cost on a long-term basis. It is also a means of providing energy that is renewable, unlike fossil fuels. These forms of energies will be discussed more in depth.
