Alternative Forms of Energy

Most of the energy sources that nature has provided us with, are exhaustible. Some of these resources include coal, fossil fuels, petroleum and natural gas. Natural gas produces LPG that is used in fueling automobiles and some heating appliances. Heat energy derived from fossil fuels is used in industrial applications and generation of electricity. However, these resources are getting depleted at an alarming rate. It is definitely not a good idea, when people are using these resources as though the energy derived from them is unlimited. To combat any scarcity in fuel (should any arise in future), alternate fuels are sought after.

Alternative Sources of Energy Production

Here are some alternative energy sources that are favorable substitutes for the above stated thermal sources of energy, used as fuel:

Solar Energy
Sun is an abundant and free source of energy and of course, one of the major sources of energy. Ever since the concept of solar energy evolved, renewable energy sources are being researched upon persistently. The energy of the Sun is captured via a solar panel (made of silicon). Pertaining to the properties of silicon, the solar panel absorbs the sunlight and converts it into electrical energy. This benefit, however can be reaped only during the daytime. About 50% of solar energy captured by solar panels is converted to electricity.

Wind
You definitely must have seen huge wind farms containing windmills, while driving up countryside. Windmills are huge fan like standing structures which are used for generating electricity with wind as a source. The kinetic energy of the wind spins the blades of the mill, which is used for generating electricity. Wind is definitely a renewable source of energy. However, there is a lot of research and development on this subject as the investment costs are high and the pace at which the wind energy is reaped needs to be increased. But considering the long term benefits, wind energy is quite a boon for rural economies. In fact, countries like Norway are working on constructing massive floating wind turbines in the ocean (considering the fact that the intensity of wind in oceans is quite high as compared to land. These turbines can be installed as deep as 700 meters in the ocean and promise a good speed for the mills to rotate.

Water
Nature has gifted a few resources in abundance and one of them is water. About 70% of earth is constituted of water. This resource serves as an indispensable source of energy, which at the same time is renewable too. Many hydro power stations that generate electricity from water, contain a weir or a dam that stores huge amount of water and turbines which are connected to generators. The huge water reservoir serves as the source of potential energy which is converted to kinetic energy through a supply pipe or pen stock, connected to the turbine. This is one of the best examples that states conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. Hydro power generation has been proved to be about 95% efficient.

Biomass
There is an effective way of reusing wasted cornstalks, wheat, twigs, pine cones and dried up plants for generating fuel. Such sources of fuel are also known as biomass. The use of biomass as fuel is based on the fact that anything that decomposes or burns, is a palpable source for generating energy. After all, energy is something that cannot be created or destroyed. It can be only converted from one form to another. Biomass energy is an abundant source of energy as it can be found in various forms around the world. Through biochemical processes, biomass yields useful fuels like alcohols and methane. Even cooking oils which are discarded can be converted to biofuel (e.g.: biodiesel) through a series of chemical reactions. Although using biomass as an alternate form of energy in terms of concept may not be very new, but the implementation of using biomass as a source of fuel for generating electricity is still under research.

Geothermal Energy
Geothermal, as the name suggests implies "heat within earth". Some of the natural geothermal sources are natural hot water streams that can be pumped out with the help of high tech drilling equipment. This steam can be used for driving turbines to power electrical generators that produce electricity. However the only issue here is that the sites may run out of such sources. Although the sources of hot water are abundant within earth, tracking such sites is also a tough task.

To teach alternative forms of energy for kids, first you need to explain them the concept of energy, types of energy (potential energy and kinetic energy) and about the natural sources of energy (like air and water). Energy saving and a pollution free environment is what these alternate sources of energy aim at providing. So go green!!