“And the world will perish soon”… yes, that’s what Michel de Nostredame (aka Nostradamus) and the Mayan Calendar predicted and sooner or later their predictions will not prove to be the wrong ones. Most of the sources of energy that we use are non-renewable and some others end up being threat to nature – Earth. The fear that most of the energy we use they are rapidly being used up and will be exhausted soon while few other resources are danger, is creating a sort of energy crisis in the world. Now how to overcome the impending energy crisis?- keeping in mind that the sources don’t pollute our environment and the future generation too doesn’t have to suffer.
All forms of energy come from sources like the sun, water and fuel. Also, these forms of energy can be changed to forms of other. Alternative energy, however, is any form of energy that does not come from fossil fuels (about which everyone of us is familiar about), nor does it have a greater impact on environment, negatively (in a way reduces long-term ill consequences and effects). So here we go with the top 10 alternatives which can be replacements for the fossil fuels and are replenishable, causing less threat to our planet.
1. Hydrogen
Another type of nuclear fusion which can become an extremely good source of energy is Hydrogen, which contains large amount of energy in its chemical bond.This chemical in the form of energy, changes into electrical energy when reacts with oxygen and produces electricity in fuel cell. Also, when blended with natural gas ,becomes a transportation fuel, thus is a good candid as fuel. As a potential fuel for motive power, (natural agents like water, streams, wind etc) imparts motion to machineries and vehicles including cars and boats. Though, naturally, hydrogen is in abundance, but it can also be generated by reforming hydrogen production, water electrolysis or by other methods.
2. Uranium-The Nuclear Power
In a nuclear power station, when nuclear fission takes place, it produces a lot of heat energy. This heat energy is used used for producing electrical energy and turn the steam turbine. As the turbine turns the generator, it creates electricity, Nuclear power (uranium), an alternative power source uses the nuclear fission of uranium to generate heat and, then, through a heat transferring mechanism and turbines, it creates electricity. This steam turns the turbine to produce power, which is connected to a generator. This power does not solely rely upon natural phenomena to create or form or produce their power as it does not use fossil fuels or other non-renewable resources in the production of energy.
3. Natural Gas
This is an alternative to conventional fuels like petroleum, coal etc. When used in vehicles like cars and trucks, natural gas produces less harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel.Natural gas is useful as a fuel and as a raw material too. It is used as an energy for industrial purposes like making fertilizer, antifreeze, fabrics, and pharmaceuticals; for manufacturing chemicals like ammonia, propane and acetic acid. It is also used as a heat source in making steel, cement, glass, bricks, ceramics, tile, food products and many other commodities. As a fuel, it is used for heating and power generation. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is a promising alternative source of energy is used as a fuel for vehicles.
4. The Green Energy-Algae
Algae are marine organisms which produce energy by way of photosynthesis, like most other plants. The energy comes in the form of oil or biomass. When properly harvested, this oil gets converted to bio fuel, which is usable for all modes of transportation. Growing algae for biofuel does not only provides a viable source of alternative energy, but also yields importance in economic benefits. This green fuel uses photosynthesis to capture the energy from sunlight and produce carbohydrates and oxygen, creating a natural biomass oil product.This lipid oil is used to make biodiesel for trucks, cars, and airplanes. Using algae as an alternative fuel could never be compensated by any other fuel nor could be competed economically with fossil fuels.
5. Biomass Energy
The waste bio-mass like cattle dung, plant residues and sewage, etc, on fermentation in the absence of air produces a combustible gas called bio-gas. This biofuel ,can develop as a good source of energy as it causes less pollution than what the fossil fuels does. This clean renewable energy resource is derived from the wastes of human and natural activities. It excludes organic material, transformed into substances by geological process. Wood, wastes, and alcohol fuels are the largest sources of biomass energy. Some other contributors are agricultural crops, manufacturing wastes, garbage, animal manure, corn stalks, and dead trees, used tired and etc. which in forms of energy are used for cooking and agriculture growth, fuels, power production.
6. Geothermal Energy
The earth is like a “heating agent”, and deep into the surface of the earth are the hot rocks which exist and are nearly sufficient to produce steam . After producing steam, it can then be used to drive turbines and generate electricity in the usual manner. Geothermal which means, “Earth heat.” thus, is the thermal energy generated and stored in the earth.While the power is extracted from beneath the subsurface of earth, it can be used for heating and bathing purposes or any other way can be used, and will cost effective, sustainable, reliable and eco-friendly. A geothermal reservoir is a powerful source of energy which can supply to the demand of this source.
7. The Hydroelectric Power
The energy of water flowing in a river or stored in a dam is another potential sources of energy.It is the water producing electricity, which can be used as an alternative source. The energy of fast moving waters in rivers had been used by man for centuries, for rotating the wheels of water mills. When the wheels of the water-mills rotate, they drive various machines (operating mechanical devices like textile mills, water mills, power houses) which are connected to them and thus needs no physical effort. However, the more easiest way way of using the energy of water is to convert it into electrical energy by establishing hydroelectric power stations. Most hydroelectric energy comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator.
8. The Ocean Power
Also called as Marine energy, is available in many forms like ocean thermal energy, tidal energy, energy of sea-waves, energy from salinity gradient in the sea, energy from the nuclear fusion of heavy hydrogen present in sea-water, energy from sea-vegetation or biomass . All these forms of oceanic energy can be converted into “usable form” of energy like electricity to supply power to homes, transport and industries. The movement of the sea waves can be used to drive dynamos which will generate electricity. Oceans have a tremendous amount of energy and has the potential of providing a substantial amount of new renewable energy around the world. The high capacity of water enables the ocean to act as a big collector and storehouse of solar heat energy.
9. The Wind Energy
The blowing wind has been an important source of energy from ancient times, the energy of which is due to it’s motion. This energy is used to propel sail-boats, drive wind mills and aeroplanes and for generating electricity. When the blowing wind strikes across the blades of wind mills, it exerts a force which can be used to drive large number of machines like water pumps and flour mills.Older windmills were of an important use, as the wind energy which was produced, was further used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water. This efficient, convenient and cheaper source of energy, is converted into electricity with the help of wind energy power stations. An advantage of converting wind energy into electricity is that it does not produce any environmental pollution.
10. The Sun Energy
Sun is one of the major sources of energy which is renewable, also is the most abundant and everlasting source of energy on the earth. With the help of solar heating devices the energy of the sun can be trapped and can be converted to be utilized directly and indirectly – into electricity and chemical energy.Traditionally, this solar energy was used for cooking and heating purposes, for obtaining salt from the sea water, reducing moisture content in foodgrains after harvesting and most importantly for producing electricity, further driving a chemical reaction to make a fuel (hydrogen gas for instance). So the process includes simpler steps of capturing, converting and distributing the sunlight and further victimising it for harnessing.
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