Alternative Energy Sources

With people in most parts of the world experiencing unprecedented high prices of fuel at the gas pumps, and the cost of heating American homes in winter projected to soar by almost fifty percent, the importance of finding ways to lower the costs of energy used for transportation, businesses, homes and schools has been growing. Fossil fuels are our primary sources of energy, and these are depleting at a phenomenal rate, with populations and development increasing around the world, creating an insatiable hunger for them. Some scientists are of the opinion that if fossil fuels continue to be consumed at the rate they are, they will be practically exhausted by the time this century ends. Apart from factors like the cost and the supply, scientists have been warning for long that burning fossil fuels is causing damage to the environment, which will lead to catastrophic results for life on our planet. Hence, it has become a primary concern the world over to find and develop alternative energy sources to power our automobiles, businesses and homes, so that we can preserve the environment of the only home we humans have - Mother Earth!

In order to understand just how alternative energy sources can help in preserving the earth's delicate ecological balance, and also to help in conserving its non-renewable sources of fuel, we need to know what kinds of alternative energy resources we already have, which can be incorporated in our daily lives, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Given below are a few of the most popular ones:

Solar Power: Solar power is generally used for cooking, heating, the generation of electricity, and so on. It works by the sunlight being trapped into solar cells where it is turned into electricity. Silicon is mounted under non-reflective glass, which creates solar panels. These panels collect the photons given off by the sun, which is turned into DC power, which then goes into an inverter. The inverter turns this power into the AC power that is used in homes and other places.

Advantages – This is a practically endless renewable source of energy, because we can get this energy as long as the sun exists. Since there is no chemical reaction due to fuels being combusted, solar power does not create any air or water pollution. This source of energy is already in use for practical purposes like heating pools, water tanks, and spas, and in lighting.

Disadvantages – The biggest disadvantage is that energy cannot be produced when the sun does not shine, such as in cloudy days and during the night. It can be expensive to build solar power stations.

Wind Power: This form of energy is extracted by harnessing the wind's power to propel the blades of wind turbines. The rotary motions of the blades of the turbines are then converted into electricity with the help of an electrical generator. In the windmills of the past, the energy derived from the wind was used for turning mechanical machinery to pump water or crush grain. These days, wind farms containing wind towers are used to generate electricity, which is used in individual homes and national electrical grids.

Advantages – There is no pollution created by wind power, hence there is no damage to the environment. Plus, since there are no chemical processes taking place, as it happens when fossil fuels are burnt, no harmful by-products are left over. Also, as wind power is a renewable energy source, there are no chances of running out of it. Grazing and farming can take place in the land where wind turbines are erected, hence the land is put to other uses too, plus also help in producing another good source of alternative energy, biofuel. Wind farms can also be built off-shore.

Disadvantages – The generation of wind power is sporadic, since consistent and continuous wind is required for generating power continuously. If the speed of the wind decreases, the turbine slows down, resulting in less electricity being generated. Also, many people think that large wind farms affect the scenery negatively.

Geothermal Energy: The word 'geothermal' literally means 'heat from the earth'. This form of energy is derived by harnessing the energy of the heat present beneath the surface of the earth. Water is heated by the hot rocks deep underground, which produces steam. If holes are drilled in the area, steam is released, which is purified and used for driving turbines, which then power electrical generators.

Advantages - Geothermal energy creates no damaging after-effects, when done correctly. The plants, once built, are usually self-sufficient, as far as energy is concerned. These plants are usually small, and hence do not mar the natural landscape.

Disadvantages – Geothermal does have the potential of producing pollutants if not done correctly. If the drilling is done incorrectly, hazardous gases and chemicals can be released. Geothermal sites have a tendency of running out of steam.

Biomass Energy: This is a form of energy that is relatively unused in most parts of the world. However biomass research and production are being funded increasingly. This energy is created by using plant materials. It is another good source of renewable and relatively clean energy.

Advantages - It is an abundant source of energy, since it can be found in every part of the earth as trees, seaweed, or dung. It can be easily converted into fuel like gas or alcohol. Also, it is much cheaper compared to other alternative energy sources. The production of biomass often means the restoration of waste land, such as deforested regions. Since plants absorb carbon dioxide, the production of biomass energy does not result in the net increase of this gas.

Disadvantages - It does have the potential of contributing to global warming as well as lead to particulate pollution if it is burned directly.

These are just a few of the alternative energy resources being thought about and used around the world. As the need for such resources becomes more acute, there will be increased funding for the research and production of many other such sources.