Alternative Green Energy
Alternative Green Energy Facts
Alternative green energy refers to any form of electricity generation that is sustainable and has a limited negative impact on the environment. There are a range of methods. Some of these have been well received like wind, solar and hydro power. Others are more controversial and include using geothermal power and biofuels.
Wind power is a highly versatile form of alternative green energy. Wind is able to propel the vanes of a windmill which can then drive an electric turbine. Wind power does have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that wind is free and abundant. The disadvantages include the noise of the rotating vanes if windmills are placed close to residential areas. Conservationists have also argued that too many windmills together are an eyesore that mars the beauty of the countryside.
Solar Energy
Some people consider solar energy the most promising of all alternative green energy solutions. The earth receives more energy from the sun than all the power produced by conventional methods for homes the world over. The potential of solar power is augmented by the versatility of its applications. It can be used as a source to convert water to hydrogen gas for power stations. It can be adapted for domestic use by heating homes and water. It can also be converted into electrical current with solar panels. Producing photovoltaic cells, which are components of solar panels, is expensive and has some environmental implications that are still being addressed by researchers.
One alternative green energy solution that has enjoyed widespread implementation is hydroelectric power. Many countries such as the US and Egypt have substantial hydro power plants that are capable of supplying electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Indeed for some countries, hydroelectric power is the principal if not sole method for supplying electricity to the national grid. As this alternative green energy relies on water to drive the turbines, the resources needed are quite easily and cheaply available. The problems associated with this energy solution are with the dam infrastructure needed to run them. In order to create dams, lands have been flooded and rivers are caused to stop flowing. This has led to some criticism of hydroelectric power.
Geothermal power seeks to generate electricity by tapping heat locked deep down below the earth’s surface. Rock that is heated by magma deep inside the earth is the source of energy for geothermal power. Water is pumped down through boreholes to acess these extremely high temperatures below ground and then forced back out again to run steam generators.
The use of geothermal power to operate power plants is very expensive to set up mainly due to the high costs of drilling. Opponents to geothermal technology further argue that the drilling processes involved could potentially cause earthquakes.
More Alternative Green Energy Sources
Biofuels are a controversial type of alternative green energy. Plants that are rich in oils or sugars are specially grown to be processed into fuel for powering engines. Biofuels are regarded as renewable energy because there is no limit to the amount of times a specific plant can be grown, unlike fossil fuels which are finite. The main argument against biofuels is the land that is needed to grow them which could alternatively be used for growing food for human consumption. Also, burning biofuels still produces carbon emissions although the amount is thought to be cancelled out by effect of growing the fuel crops in the first place.
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