Biomass EnergyIf we say that alternative energy comprises everything that is not based on fossil fuel consumption, the number of optional resources is impressive. This chapter will provide an overview only of the ones in use or development now, with each being further explored in subsequent chapters. There are, no doubt, alternative energy sources not included here, either because they are not yet at anything beyond a theoretical stage or simply because no one has thought of them yet.
Solar
This is the original energy source. Before humans learned to make fire, we were dependent-as were all the plants and animals with whom we shared the planet-on the sun for heat and light. In fact, although there were likely many factors responsible, the radiant output of the sun (which may have been affected by variations in the Earth's orbital path or by the Sun's orbital path within the galaxy, as well as by activity taking place on the sun or in space) contributed to the first global energy crises: the ice age(s), when large portions of the Earth were covered with thick sheets of ice and sea level dropped precipitously. There are two types of solar energy: passive and active. The former involves simply making use of the position, duration, and intensity of the sun's rays to best advantage, using it to heat an area or induce air flow from one area to another, without the use of extra technology beyond what's needed to store the energy. The latter involves using mechanical and electrical technology such as collection panels to capture, convert and store the energy for later use.
Wind
Wind has been used for many centuries as a source of power. It has fueled many a sailing ship and made possible the exploration of and trade with distant lands. Single windmills have powered a family's needs for crop irrigation, electric lights and water pumping. These days, however, most of the discussions concerning wind power involve not one or two windmills dedicated to a specific consumer but many, many wind turbines arranged to capture large amount of power at once and feed it to the grid. These are known as "wind farms," and have been in use around the world for many years, with the United States one of the few industrialized nations to be slow to accept the concept.
Biomass/Biofuel
Biomass energy production involves converting biological material or wastes into substances that can be used as fuel for heating, transportation or power generation. Carbon-based materials that have been converted over time into fossil fuels are not considered "biomass" (although in their original states they would have been) for the simple reason that the carbon they contain has been isolated from the current carbon cycle and would therefore figure differently in their effect on the carbon dioxide levels found in the atmosphere.
Hydrogen & Electric
Hydrogen is not, in fact, an alternative producer of energy. Rather it is a means for storing energy produced by other methods and is thus considered by many to be a safer, easier and more efficient way to deliver energy. Since weaning ourselves from a steady diet of fossil fuels will involve many direct and indirect changes in the ways we think about and do things, we include it here, along with discussions of storage and transmission in general, and an important part of energy planning. Likewise, electricity is not an energy producer but a form in which energy can be stored and delivered.
Nuclear
Nuclear power creates energy when its atomic structure changes. All the nuclear power plants in operation today are based on fission, in which the radioactive decay process is accelerated in a controlled chain reaction that splits an atom into two or more byproducts, including energy. Nuclear fusion involves the opposite-combining elements-for the same purpose. While fusion has enormous potential for energy production, the technology does not yet exist to instigate a controlled fusion reaction. Nuclear power has remained controversial worldwide for many reasons (discussed later), but its continued appeal lies in its ability to produce millions of times more energy than any fossil fuel of similar mass.
Ocean and Earth Power
The Earth itself offers many promising sources of power. Like solar energy, geothermal resources have long provided humans with a source of heat, although harnessing the heat of the Earth to generate electricity dates back only to the turn of the last century. Tidal power involves capturing the kinetic energy of the incoming and outgoing tides, as well as the local difference between high tide and low tide. Similarly, there is energy in the wave action in the oceans. One alternate form of energy production for heating is already relatively common: the heat pump. They come in two basic forms: geothermal (see above) and air-source. Geothermal heat pumps use the ground temperature, and are 40 to 60 percent more efficient than air source heat pumps, which use the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air for heating and cooling. There are also systems for ocean thermal conversion.
Alternative Energy is a crucial link in our energy future if we are to cut the oil cord. We present thoughts, ideas, info and news about alternative energy at Alternative Energy HQ. Get a copy of our FREE BOOK "Cutting the Oil Cord - Using Alternative Energy in Your Life" at - http://alternativeenergyhq.com
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