renewable energy – RenewablePowerFocus

What Is Alternative Energy and How It Can Be Used

Alternative energy is an interesting term since it is almost political or categorical as opposed to actually describing anything about the energy itself. When someone talks about energy and uses the term alternative energy, it’s important to understand that the normal energy they’re referring to is what comes from burning coal and oil.

Alternative energy is any type of energy that comes from a different source. Normally this refers to ways electricity is produced, although when it comes to cars, it can be used to talk about non-gasoline automobiles, as well. Alternative energy is the general name that’s given to a group of popular methods like solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and even, nuclear energy.

While there are some issues and arguments when it comes to nuclear energy and whether it fits into that category or not, generally speaking, it is accepted that way although when many people talk about alternative energy for environmental purposes, 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

Ten Interesting Wind Turbine Facts

Harnessing the wind to produce energy is not a new concept. For hundreds of years, windmills have been used for grinding grain and pumping water. Today’s industrial windmill is called a wind turbine and is used to generate electricity.

The blades of the turbine sit on top of a tower so they may capture the most wind. These towers are often more than 100 feet above the ground and at this height can take advantage of less turbulent and faster winds. There are typically two or three blades mounted on a shaft and forming a rotor. These blades catch the wind, turning the rotor to create energy which is later converted t electricity.

There are many wind turbine facts available to help understand just how wind energy works. There are proponents and opponents of wind energy, but the reality is that this is a good, renewable energy source and it is growing in popularity.

Here are ten wind turbine facts that will demonstrate just why wind energy is gaining such popularity.

The fastest growing source of electricity production in the world is wind energy.
Wind made up more than 36 percent of all new electricity generating capacity introduced between 2008 and 2012.
The largest renewable energy company in the United States relies on more than 10,000 net megawatts (MW) of wind annually. This wind is produced by more than 100 farms and produce more than 57 percent of the utilities entire energy production.
There is also a great deal of wind blowing offshore of the United States, creating more than 4,150,000 MW of wind each year.
Even though they are growing in popularity, wind turbines are not without their problems. Opponents talk about operational problems. These include fires, explosions and even, collapses.
The largest wind farm in the United States is located in Oregon. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm produces 846 MW, providing all of its electricity to Southern California Edison, Edison International’s utility company servicing southern California and providing electricity to more than 250,000 homes.
There are major corporations investing in wind energy. These include Google, which owns a 37.5 percent stake in a wind farm off of the Atlantic shore and Wal-Mart, which uses electricity produced by Duke Energy’s wind turbines. Duke’s wind accounts for more than 1,000 MW of wind and more than 15 percent of the energy requirements for 350 Wal-Mart stores in Texas.
Google also bought Makani Power, a start-up energy company. This company is perfecting the floating wind farm, a process capable of capturing high altitude winds. These winds churn out a great deal of energy, valued at more than $0.03 per kilowatt hour.
With wind energy production continuing to grow, General Electric offers more than 11 different types of wind turbines. Energy companies may purchase these turbines which start at 1.5 MW and 120 foot blades to an offshore model that produces 4.1 MW and comes equipped with 185 foot blades.
Wind power is expected to increase exponentially over the next few years. With the recent Congressional vote to extend the wind energy tax credit, wind is perfectly placed to become the next big renewable energy source.

These wind facts demonstrate that even though there is still much to be learned about harnessing the wind to produce electricity, it is clear that wind power is here to stay. Much will depend upon environmental regulations, available tax credits, technology advancements, and how competitive wind remains against other renewable energy sources.

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.