How Alternative Energy Works – Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Energy has been the topic of many discussions in recent years. What has sparked this fierce and sometimes violent debate is the fact that our Earth is running out of it. Fossil fuels are greatly depleted as wars are being fought for the control of these resources.
The natural solution to the shortage problem we’re facing is to find some other source of alternative energy. But, where can we find them? And if we do, how do we harness it sufficiently enough to save power in the long run? The answer to the questions is simple – let’s turn to the Earth4energy.
The main source of power for all living things on Earth is the sun. The light emitting from that flaming ball of hydrogen hanging in the vast reaches of space is used in plants as part of their photosynthesis. We humans, in turn, consume these plants and have the energy transferred to us.
But, we could use the energy contained in sunlight more directly in the form of solar power. In certain parts of India and the United States are vast collections of mirrors that reflect sunlight into a receiver that contains water. The concentrated heat produced boils the water and the vapor moves along several pipes and spins a turbine that causes it to generate electricity. However, the cost of erecting these huge structures is dear and they’re only feasible in certain regions. So far, civilian solar powered homes are not that effective in saving power and reducing electricity bills.
Wind power is also a popular option for those who don’t receive scorching sunlight all-year around. In the Netherlands, the government has built windmills, placed strategically on the nation’s wind-swept plains. The principle of the windmill is the same as solar cells, except that they use the wind to turn the turbines. This form of alternative energy is apparently efficient enough to power a whole country.
Geothermal energy is another way we can turn to the Earth4energy. We can actually harness the heat and power that is trapped between the Earth’s crusts and use it in our power stations. The potential of this alternative energy is vast, since this is the type of might that causes earthquakes and volcanic explosions.
The possibilities of alternative energy are still largely unexplored. What we need is proper funding and brilliant minds who can find cost-efficient ways to build windmills and solar cells. Fossil fuels are almost gone, people. We need alternative energy, like solar power and wind power to save power and reduce electricity bills.
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Categories: Alternative Energy - Solar - Wind - Geothermal - Water Tags: Flaming Ball, Main Source, Sunlight
Alternative Energy – What is It?
Alternative energy, renewable energy, green energy – all these terms and more get tossed around a lot these days. Just what is alternative energy?
Most energy today is used as fuel to generate electricity, provide heat or run internal combustion engines. Fossils fuels – coal, oil and natural gas provide the vast majority of it.
This wasn’t always the case. In the not too distant past, animals provided transportation and water mills powered small industries.
A windmill by a ranch house is an icon of the American west because thousands of windmills were used to provide power to pump water before electricity was available.
Early in the 20th century nearly 1/3rd of homes in Florida used solar hot water. The availability of cheap electricity in the 1940′s changed that. At one point electric companies were even giving away hot water heaters to encourage consumption.
On the stage of human history, the dominance of fossil fuels has been very brief and very recent. As it becomes harder and more expensive to meet our energy needs with fossil fuel, we’re returning to other ways of obtaining power.
So the current definition of alternative energy is: energy from a source other than the burning of fossil fuels (again coal, oil and its derivatives and natural gas).
While many people automatically assume that alternative energy sources are renewable, that isn’t necessarily so. For example, burning peat for heat is an alternative energy, but it is neither clean nor renewable.
However most sources of alternative energy are renewable as well as better for the environment than fossil fuel. That is why there is such interest in these types of energy these days.
The alternative sources people most commonly think of are solar power, wind power and hydropower. However, researchers are eagerly exploring other innovative sources as well. These include things such geothermal, biomass and tidal power.
In the not too distant future we can expect that these forms of energy will no longer be “alternative” but instead be our dominate sources.
Categories: Alternative Energy - Solar - Wind - Geothermal - Water Tags: Coal Oil, Forms Of Energy, Water Mills