subject: Try Renewable Energy And How It Can Benefit You [print this page] We should not allow ourselves to fall into a crisis over energy. There is too much energy available for us to utilize. We have actually fallen behind in harnessing the energy available to us, and it seems that there is almost no limit to what we can do. We may need to some day assist other countries with an energy situation, as well as simply providing for our own. It will be a great day when we can flip a switch for electricity that is completely controlled by the power of the sun. Either by panels in our own yards, or by solar electric plants. Alternative sources are also sustainable sources and will not do away with the reserves of limited natural resources that we have now. Future generations will depend on these stores at a later time. The following will help you to learn alternative energy for your future.
There are different forms of alternative energy, and they can be used to provide heat and electricity for all sorts of purposes. An alternative source does not automatically make it a renewable source, however, like hydroelectricity which requires the use of large reservoirs. Upon filling, these reservoirs will have to be emptied in order to be used again, and the feat can be quite costly. We have made a lot of progress toward readying ourselves for the future with alternative sources of energy, however, we still have a long way to go before we are prepared to meet our own needs.
One way that we can convert solar energy into electricity is by using photovoltaic cells to change the solar radiation into direct current (DC). To meet the demand for these cells, the manufacturing has increased by twenty percent per year beginning in 2002. Your first solar calculator certainly did not have cells this powerful.
Solar thermal type collectors can also be used to turn solar radiation into energy, heat or electricity. There are three types of solar thermal collector, low, medium, and high temperature. The low and medium temperature collectors are both used to heat water. Low is used for pools, while the medium can be used for residential and commercial locations. High temperature collectors or not photovoltaic and convert the sun's radiation directly into electricity. With a high temperature collector, the sun is directed either toward lenses or mirrors.
Biomass has to do with the process of photosynthesis. This type of energy uses the plants ability to store energy for us. When we need fuel, we simply burn the plants for fuel and generate it.
Wind power is capable of running large turbines which can then generate enough electricity for commercial usage. Wind turbines require large amounts of land to be successful, and of course have to be placed in heavy wind areas. Several states are currently very active in using wind power.
Geothermal energy can make electricity from heat that is built up under the ground. The heat actually comes from the center of our earth and becomes trapped. When trapped, it creates steam, which we are able to convert into electricity.
Hydropower is as strong as its name implies. The Hoover dam is the larges hydroelectric plant in the world. One small stream of water can generate a massive amount of electric power, and there is a lot of water available to us.
We have really just hit the tip of the sunbeam so to speak in our efforts. We need to have solar panels in every yard and wind tunnels in every field, but we are getting there. You are on the way because you took the time to discover the future and learn alternative energy.
