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Alternative
energy is typically defined as coming from sources
that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment.
Wind power is a typical example. The term alternative
is used to contrast with fossil fuels according to some sources. Renewable
energy differs from alternative energy
in that it may have significant environmental impact,
as is the case for most hydroelectric dams.
Related
Sea
Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis
Mass extinction by 2050 Study
Image: Marine Coccolith Shell Info More
Oceana Effects NASA
Ocean Voyage More
Latest
Updates
NASA has just wasted a huge sum of money on its
new
space telescope. Of course it has a nefarious tasking capability but the 'official'
purpose of this mission
is to look far out into space for earth
like planets. Of course we could never reach these planets without warping space.
These missions and launches are a huge drain of resources.
They are a huge waste of $'s, provide a conduit for hiding money
and open the door to embezzlement and corruption by faceless bureaucrats and politicians.
All this while OUR global ocean is experiencing drastic
changes TODAY; like dropping pH
levels/rise in acidity. NASA turn that high powered perception
inward.
Video
Environmental Documentaries
Biofuel Energy
Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gas fuel
derived from recently dead biological material and is distinguished from fossil
fuels, which are derived from long dead
biological material. Theoretically, biofuels
can be produced from any (biological)
carbon source; although, the most common sources are photosynthetic plants. Various
plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacturing. Globally,
biofuels are most commonly used to power
vehicles and cooking stoves.
Algae fuel,
also called algal fuel, oilgae, algaeoleum or third generation biofuel,
is a biofuel from algae. Compared with second generation biofuels,
algae are high-yield high-cost (30 times more energy per acre than terrestrial
crops) feedstocks to produce
biofuels. Since the whole organism
converts sunlight into oil, algae can produce more oil in an area the size of
a two-car garage than an entire football field of soybeans. Everyday alternative
energy
scene is garnering bigger and important space in newspapers and industrial lives.
People are feeling the need for greener energy and cleaner environment.
Some
researchers are focusing their attention on one of the ancient
living organisms, the cyanobacteria.
The process of photosynthesis
occurred in cyanobacteria 3.7 billion years ago. This light harvesting
system imparted the cyanobacteria with blue (cyan) color. The bacteria used water
molecules to transport energy. They derived this energy from sunlight, while converting
carbon dioxide into oxygen. We all know how this activity proved helpful for the
plant and animal kingdom. Plants evolved by using bacteria to provide their photosynthetic
engines. Animals got oxygen to breathe.
But here scientists are trying to breakdown each and every mechanism of photosynthesis
of cyanobacteria to produce fuels like hydrogen, hydrocarbons or alcohols. [See:
Bacteria
could power the future] Algae fix the sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy
and that too very fast. Scientists want to utilize this quality for alternative
fuels. And when it comes to greener alternatives to fossil fuel what could be
greener than pond scum?
Geothermal Energy
Typical geothermal power
plants require high-temperature wells that are above 100 °C (212 °F).
Dry
Steam or Flash
Steam power plants can easily take advantage of these high temperatures by
using steam to drive a turbine. This technology
holds exciting prospects, as recently the US
Geological Survey identified over 120,000 MW of untapped low temperature geothermal
resources in the US. We can now have new
generators online very quickly compared to the construction of a new coal or nuclear
plant.
Solar Energy
Solar energy refers to the utilization of the radiant
energy from the Sun. Solar power is used interchangeably with solar energy,
but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by
photovoltaics, concentrating solar
thermal devices, or by an experimental technology
such as a solar chimney or solar pond. Solar energy and shading are important
considerations in building design. Thermal mass is used to conserve the heat that
sunshine delivers to all buildings. Daylighting techniques optimize
the use of light in buildings. Solar water heaters heat swimming pools and provide
domestic hot water.
In agriculture, greenhouses expand growing seasons
and pumps powered by solar
cells (known as photovoltaics) provide water for grazing animals. Evaporation
ponds are used to harvest salt and clean waste streams of contaminants. Solar
distillation and disinfecting techniques
produce potable water for millions of people
worldwide. Simple applications include clotheslines and solar cookers which concentrate
sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. More sophisticated technologies
concentrate sunlight for high-temperature material testing, metal smelting and
industrial chemical production. A range of experimental solar vehicles provide
ground, air and sea transportation.
Wave Energy
Wave power refers to the energy
of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work - including
electricity generation, desalination, and the pumping of water (into reservoirs).
Wave power is a form of renewable
energy. Though often co-mingled, wave power is distinct from the diurnal flux
of tidal power and the steady gyre of ocean currents. Wave power generation is
not currently a widely employed commercial technology
although there have been attempts at using it since at least 1890.
Developments
in wave power technology, from Portugal's wave farm to Finavera's AquaBuoy 2.0.
And now we are thrilled to announce that San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric
Co (PG&E)
has entered into a long-term commercial wave energy
power purchasing agreement (PPA) to use this innovative
technology. PG&E is the first US utility company to commit to wave power and expects
to start delivering wave-powered electricity into the grid by 2010.
Wave
energy is produced when
electricity generators are placed on the surface of the ocean. The energy
provided is most often used in desalination plants, power plants and water
pumps. Energy output is determined by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and
water density. To date there are only a handful of experimental wave generator
plants in operation around the world.
Wind Energy
Wind power is the conversion
of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity,
using wind turbines. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators
was 94.1 gigawatts. Although wind produces about 1% of worldwide electricity use,
it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in
Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland (2007 data).
Globally, wind power generation
increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007. The principle application
of wind power is to generate electricity. Large scale wind farms are connected
to electrical grids. Individual turbines can provide electricity to isolated locations.
In the case of windmills, wind energy is used directly as mechanical energy for
pumping water or grinding grain.
Wind
energy is plentiful, renewable, widely
distributed, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions when it displaces fossil-fuel-derived
electricity.
Therefore, it is considered by experts to be more environmentally friendly than
many other energy sources. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when
using wind power to supply a low proportion of total demand. Where wind is to
be used for a moderate fraction of demand, additional costs for compensation of
intermittency are considered to be modest.
Wind power is coming of age.
In 2007, some 20,000 megawatts of wind were installed globally, enough to power
6 million homes. Sadly, most wind power manufacturers are no longer American,
thanks to decades of funding cuts by conservatives. Still, new
wind is poised to be a bigger contributor to US (and global) electricity generation
than new nuclear power in the coming decades. Concentrated solar power could be
an even bigger power source, and it can even share power lines with wind.
Wind
energy is clean energy
but not without its usual baggage. Their noise
disturbs those who reside in the close proximity with a wind farm. Many a time
wind turbines are forced to operate under partial load so that residents and wind
farms can exist in peaceful coexistence. But operating under partial load means
lower energy production. Even high winds go un-utilized in residential areas.
The sources of the noises are many.
Over the past few years wind
energy converters were not performing optimally. The most important difficulty
is how wind generators will behave during voltage dips. A voltage
dip is an unexpected cutback in the potential in the electric grid followed by
a rapid return to its normal value. Voltage dips
can be caused by lightening, falling of trees on power cables or any commercial
unit consuming a huge power chunk suddenly. This voltage drop lasts for a few
milliseconds. But these few milliseconds are very crucial for a machine. In fact,
an interruption of half a second in a productive process can cause the whole process
to block and it may have to be reinitiated.
