Alternative Energy – RenewablePowerFocus

What Is Alternative Energy?

The term “alternative energy” is really about how energy is produced as opposed to actually describing anything about the energy itself and is almost always used to describe energy that is not produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas.

Alternative energy is any type of energy that is produced from resources that are readily replenished. Normally this refers to ways electricity is produced, although when referring to motor vehicles the term generally refers to vehicles that are not powered by petrol or diesel. In regular use, alternative energy is the term used to refer to a group of generating methods such as solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal power, heat pumps and even nuclear power.

There is some debate when it comes to nuclear energy and whether it should in fact be described as alternative energy although generally speaking, its use is accepted although when many people talk about alternative energy with respect to environmental concerns, they may not include nuclear.

It’s important to understand what is alternative energy because this is a topic that easily becomes political or environmental, but it’s critical for the future of our economy and the advancement of society. Energy needs continue to grow while gas and oil are finite supplies.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is one of the least commonly used alternative energy sources, in large part because on a large scale you need volcanic or extreme natural heat from the Earth for it to be viable on a large scale. Places that have access to that type of flow can use geothermal as a natural, clean, and powerful energy source for environmentally-friendly electricity.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is another extremely popular option with several US states and even some European countries receiving anywhere from 20% to 50% of all their energy from wind sources. These are the giant white windmills that you may see in fields or even lined up in rows out in an ocean. The motion generated by the wind becomes electricity. In many areas, this is one of the fasted growing forms of alternative energy.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is probably the most well known out of all the alternative energy options, and as the technology is getting better and better, solar energy is becoming inexpensive and more efficient. Many homes have individual solar panels to supplement power, and there are even backpacks and street signs/lights that have little solar panels helping to power them throughout the day.

The sun’s rays are always going to come back – so it makes sense to look at solar power as a long term option.

When you want to know what is alternative energy, that’s what people are talking about. Energy that is environmentally friendly and comes from sources that can be renewed. Think non-fossil fuel sources for electricity and you’re on the right path to more fully understanding the alternative energy movement. This is a shift that is going to continue for the long term.

By Editor

Is Nuclear Energy Renewable And Safe

Many people wonder is nuclear energy renewable, however, it is not. Although it’s not a renewable energy source, it’s far from the end of the discussion. Nuclear power has incredible potential, as well as incredible dangers. It has very definite advantages that make it worth considering compared to other sources of energy. It also has drawbacks that are quite unique.

Basic Principles

Nuclear power is, in principle, very simple. Purified radioactive elements – most commonly uranium, but the process can use others – are assembled carefully in an arrangement that allows controlled fission. As atoms split apart, they release heat and neutrons. The heat is captured and used to turn water into steam, and the steam drives generators. The reason nuclear power shows up on lists of “clean” energy sources is because the byproducts released by a well-designed, well-maintained nuclear plant are minimal. It’s true that nuclear power produces radioactive waste, but the volume of waste involved is usually vastly over-stated. Storing and disposing of it safely is a real problem, but not an insurmountable one.

The Limitless Potential

The real appeal of nuclear power is in its great efficiency. Over the past sixty years, it’s been discovered that uranium is a relatively common element within the earth. The process required to refine it and prepare it as nuclear fuel has also been streamlined and made as efficient as possible. The efficiency of nuclear power comes into play because of just how little uranium is required to run a reactor. The electrical needs of an average household can be sustained for a year by just a few grams of uranium.

Clean, But Not Renewable

As mentioned above, radioactive waste is a problem that can be dealt with. When operating within normal parameters, a nuclear power plant releases virtually no contaminants into the environment. This sets it apart from all the other non-renewable energy sources currently in use. However, because there is an inevitable limit to the amount of uranium available, nuclear energy cannot be considered renewable in the same way that solar or wind power are.

The Very Real Risks

Notice the qualifiers required above in discussing the safety of nuclear power. A well-maintained reactor is safe and a well-designed reactor will not melt down. A nuclear power plant releases no contaminants when it’s run properly. The problem that nuclear power advocates can’t avoid is that when things break down with nuclear power, they break down in a very frightening, very disastrous way. Whether it breaks down to poor design, such as at Three Mile Island or because of negligence as at Chernobyl or even through natural disaster like at Fukushima, a malfunctioning reactor can spread radiation into the environment and cause a serious long-term health risk. Additionally, in the modern age, it cannot be denied that nuclear power presents a security risk. While it would be difficult for terrorists to cause a serious breakdown, stealing potentially-harmful waste and fuel is a threat that calls for constant vigilance.

So, is nuclear energy renewable? No, not really and it has more than its fair share of other drawbacks. Yet still, it is such an efficient source of power that it deserves careful consideration. To meet the ever-growing needs of an ever-growing civilization, nuclear power remains a viable option, just not an ideal one.

By Editor

Tidal Power Could Be The Renewable Energy Of Tomorrow

Tidal power or energy is produced by ocean waters surging during the rise and fall of the tides. Tidal energy is a source of renewable energy. In recent years, engineers developed methods for harnessing tidal movements to generate electricity. This is most successful in areas where there is a significant range between high and low tide.

Special generators are used to create electricity from tidal energy. This industry is still very young and the energy produced so far minimal. While there are some commercial power plants harnessing tidal energy to produce energy, there are not many.

The first of these plants is located in La Rance, France. The largest plant is in South Korea at Sihwa Lake. There are no tidal energy plants within the United States and actually only a few sites where producing tidal energy would be cost effective. Russia, China, Canada, and England are all better situated for producing tidal energy.

The issues with producing tidal energy in the United States are numerous. To begin, there are legal problems concerning environmental impact and ownership of underwater lands. Since the industry is so new, there is little information or guarantees on its effectiveness or if it will actually make any money. This makes investors uneasy and hesitant to provide any money.

There are engineers and scientists working on improving the technology and developing more cost effective methods of harnessing tidal energy. They are also looking for ways to decrease the environmental impact and still earn a profit for the energy companies.

Harnessing the Energy

There are three methods to harness tidal energy. The first is within the tidal stream. Tidal turbines or energy generators are placed in the stream and gather energy from the flow of the tidal waters. These waters flow very quickly as they are created by the tides.

Tidal waters produce more energy than wind since they are much denser. Additionally, tides are stable and predictable, unlike the winds. Using tidal generators or turbines produces a reliable, steady stream of electricity.

Another method of harnessing tidal energy is to use a barrage. This is a large dam which causes the tidal waters to spill over and through the dam’s turbines to create energy. Barrages are constructed across bays, tidal rivers, and estuaries.

The last method of creating energy from tides is to create a tidal lagoon. This is a body of water which is partially enclosed by a manmade or natural barrier. A tidal lagoon can also be an estuary which is fed by freshwater.

The tidal generator which uses tidal lagoons operates very similar to a barrage. Tidal lagoons, however are built along the natural coast line. This means a tidal lagoon energy plant could also produce continuous power, its turbines working as the lagoon fills and empties.

Tidal lagoons have a minimal environmental impact. Most are built from natural materials, such as rock and are constructed much like a low water sea wall. These walls are submerged during high tide and visible when the tide is low.

The structure also provides other benefits such as a place for animals to swim and for other marine life to grow. The larger predators would not be able to invade the lagoon because of the sea wall, so the smaller fish and crustaceans would do well.

The drawback to all of these methods is that tidal power output is still low. Scientists and engineers are still working on improving energy output of these methods, but until they do, the energy output may not be worth the cost of creating it.