alternative energy sources | Technology

By AdrianFletcher
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Word Count: 526

Fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil are a limited energy resource. The cost of using these resources gets more expensive and will continue to increase as more gets used up. Fossil fuels are also thought to contribute to environmental problems like global warming and destroying the ozone layer. So going forward, are there any alternatives to these traditional sources of energy. There certainly is. This article will cover a few of the alternative energy sources.

Probably the most common alternative to fossil fuels is solar energy. The sun has been used as a source of energy since earliest times. Although we have come a long way from those times and now use it to power all sorts of appliances.

Solar energy provides us with two sources of energy. There is heat and light energy.

Using the heat supplied from the sun is the most obvious application of using the sun's energy. You can use it to get hot water or dry clothes or cook food. In fact, this has gone on for thousands of years.

Utilizing the sun's light energy has required the development of new technology. This technology is called the photovoltaic cell (PV). PV cells react with sunlight to create direct current (DC). Depending on the number of PV cells and the strength of the sunlight more current will be produced. DC can be used to run many appliances. It can be stored in a battery for later use or it can be transformed to alternating current (AC). AC current is used in most homes and to move electricity from one place to another.

Wind power is also getting a bit of attention, mainly because of the wind turbines that are popping up all over the countryside. Depending on your perspective (and possibly your location in relation to them) they are intriguing structures or horrid eyesores.

A wind turbine is a modern and extremely more efficient wind mill. Huge blades are turned by the wind. This kinetic energy is used by a generator that makes electricity. This alternative method of energy is particularly popular in Scandinavian countries but many other European countries seem to be using them now.

Using water is another alternative to fossil fuels. The most common use is by building a dam and producing hydroelectric power. This is an expensive option and has damaging consequences to the area where the dam is built.

Wave energy is another alternative source of energy that is getting some mention. There are two types currently being used. Fixed and floating. The principle behind them is to use the energy in a wave to turn a generator. This could be directly or by increasing and decreasing the air pressure around a generator to turn it.

Geothermal energy is another useful alternative to fossil fuels but it is location specific. Geothermal energy is the use of heat from the Earth's core. The earth is still cooling down and it gets hotter the closer to the center you get. Areas that are volcanic have faults lines that release the heat. This can be used to heat water. The water can be used itself or transformed to steam that can power a generator for electricity.

About the Author

For more details on solar water heating visit solarpowerappliances.com. You will also find solar powered products and solar garden lighting.

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