The world is getting warmer by the day as a result of the massive use of fossil fuels on a large scale for electricity and heat production.
Coal alone, provides 28 percent of the energy used in developed countries, and at this rate, it could only last for another 115 years until they get completely depleted (coal reserves).
It gets worse for oil, because the known reserves in the world today can last only about 50 years if the production and consumption remains at the level of today.
Conventional sources of energy are damaging the environment and they lead to global warming and climate change.
What Source of Alternative Energy is Available in Your Area?
Maybe it’s time to ditch fossil fuels, and start thinking about using renewable energy, which represent a greener alternative to the dirty and limited fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Wherever you live on the planet, there is at least one alternative source of energy available for all the people living there.
If you find what is that source of clean power in your area, you already have a green alternative to conventional fuels.
1. Wind energy
Wind energy is the largest renewable source of energy available in the United States compared to any other form of renewable energy. It is a clean and affordable source of sustainable energy.
If you live in an open area where you don’t have large trees, tall buildings, or relief forms such as hills and mountains, you can rely on wind energy produced by smaller wind turbines that can generate power day and night because they don’t require the presence of the sunlight to work.
Statistics for the past decade show that wind energy use in the U.S. has been increasing at an average of 30 percent per year.
2. Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is heat derived from the earth’s core. The internal heat of the planet reaches the Earth’s surface under the form of hot water and steam. Geothermal power plants use this steam to spin large turbines and produce clean energy.
Geothermal energy has a great potential to generate clean power that can replace the dirty energy produced by fossil fuels. However, the initial costs of producing geothermal energy could be relatively high, but they are slowly absorbed being part of the alternative energy sources basket.
3. Nuclear power
Nuclear power has started its production of energy in the 50’s, and has grown to become the second largest source of low-carbon energy on the planet.
Nuclear power has a share of 11 percent in the energy mix of the planet. Currently, it is generated from 445 nuclear reactors, and about 70 more that are still under construction.
The disadvantages of nuclear energy are produced by the risks generated by the nuclear waste which is very dangerous for any living being, and also by the high investments required for building a new nuclear power plant, or the costs of decommissioning an old and outdated nuclear power station.
4. Biofuels
Biofuels are produced through biological processes such as anaerobic digestion.
Biofuels can be produced today, even from garbage, domestic and commercial waste, wood waste, energy crops, etc.
Being produced from waste, biofuels are considered a source of renewable energy because trees regrow, and garbage is produced every day.
Biodiesel is another biofuel used in diesel engines of large cargo ships, cars and even buses.
5. Hydroelectric Energy
Humans have learned to capture the energy of the moving water since ancient times.
Today, mankind still uses the water cycle (a natural process on our planet) and gravity to produce clean electricity.
Water is collected in large dams at a higher elevation and lead the water downward through pipes and tunnels to spin turbines and producing power this way.
The dams are also used for supplying water to households and farms. Hydroelectric energy has social and environmental consequences because entire communities could be displaced when the dams are constructed, whereas rivers are blocked in the process, degrading the water quality.
6. Solar Energy
Solar power is the cleanest and the most abundant source of free and renewable energy available on the planet that can be used to generate electricity and thermal energy.
The cost of buying and setting up a solar panel system is affordable today if we get governmental incentives because the PV system will seriously reduce our energy bills on long term.
To encourage the use of solar power in the country, the US government provides besides incentives, also solar tax breaks, bringing down the cost of installing a new solar PV system between 30 and 50 percent.
7. Wave Energy
Wave energy has been in use for hundreds of years, because the first patent was signed in Paris in 1799 with the intent to use it to drive heavy machinery such as big pumps and mills.
The modern utilization of wave energy is a costly endeavor thus its low uptake. It involves capturing ocean surface waves to perform various useful tasks such as pumping water, desalination and electricity generation.
8. Hydrogen gas
Hydrogen energy is produced today by combining hydrogen and oxygen molecules (obtained from water through a process called electrolysis) and generating electrical current.
Hydrogen energy has also been embraced in the automotive industry with the invention of the hydrogen fuel cells that are powering electric cars. Today, we have about 40 hydrogen refueling stations in the Unites States.
9. Tidal energy
Tidal energy is an abundant source of clean power and its potential is highly underutilized.
Tides on our planet are produced by the gravitational forces (combined) of the Sun, Moon and our planet.
The Sun and the Moon are pulling the water upwards, while the Earth’s gravitational force is pulling the water downwards, and this movement creates kinetic energy that is used to spin powerful underwater turbines and produce electric power.
Conclusion
Conventional sources of energy are no longer a viable solution for the future of mankind, and this is the reason why we need to develop the generation capacity for clean, renewable and free sources of power.
