Alternative energy is available in numerous forms Arguably, the most widely known is solar power. Electricity is generated by photovoltaic cells as they absorb sunlight. The power of the Sun is multi-faceted as it can be for growing crops, space heating and cooling, cooking food and all the conveniences supplied by electricity. Solar power, along with several other forms of renewable energy, creates no pollution. There is still work to be done to more economically harness the power of the Sun. Due to the nature of sunlight, supplementation from local power, the use of lead-acid batteries or another form of renewable energy is still required.

A suitable way to supplement solar photovoltaic cells is with a wind turbine system. Wind Energy is actually the most invested in form of alternative energy; by private investors and governments combined. Wind farms have sprung up all over the globe. Large tracts of land and even areas of ocean are being employed to harness the power of the wind. There are no new ideas under the Sun, windmills have been used to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy to grind grain for centuries. Modern wind turbines are merely the new incarnations of a centuries old idea. Smaller wind turbines are available for individual use also. There is still more research to be done with wind energy technology, days without wind require a connection to local power or a store of lead acid batteries. Although, on days when demand is less than the power generated, many states have net metering laws, which ensure that electric companies pay individuals retail rates for energy they make available to the power companies.

Another source of alternative energy is hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric energy is power produced through the action of falling water. In other words, the motion of the water as it moves downhill is employed to spin turbines which generate electric power. It seems simple, but the effort and technology needed makes hydroelectricity complicated and expensive to produce. Usually a dam is built to provide more precise control over the flow of water. It is costly to build and operate a dam, not to mention the environmental impact. However, a dam is not always requisite to provide hydroelectricity. Small, run of river hydroelectric converters are available for the provision of electricity to individual homes, offices and even entire neighborhoods.

Geo-thermal energy is another form of alternative energy. Geo-thermal energy is the energy stored in the hot artesian waters trapped just below the earth’s crust. The water is heated by the earth’s core. A variety of methods are used to harness the energy stored in these waters. Dry steam power plants use geothermal steam to turn turbines for the production of electricity. Flash power plants draw hot, high-pressure water from deep in the earth. The high pressure water is released into low pressure tanks. The resultant steam is used to drive turbines which generate electricity. Binary cycle plants pass semi-hot geothermal water by a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point. The flash vapor from the secondary fluid is employed to drive the turbine.

There are still other sources of renewable energy being developed. An energy independent future seems to be within our grasp! Renewable Resources