Alternative Energy Sources

What is the problem with Alternative Energy? What is leading us to look into Alternative Energy?

As the population of the world grows so does the energy crisis. Now that people know the damamge that carbon dioxide emissions can cause they are trying to prevent these with other forms of energy. The main problem with the oil being used right now is that we are running out, there are 26 billion gallons used annually by the world, and through new discoveries we are only able to find 5.5 billion gallons a year. (Youngquist, 1998) The problems involved in alternative energy vary with the different types of energy being used. One problem is the inadequate ways of storing solar energy. There is also the building of photvoltaic cells, converting sugars into fuel, and burying carbon dioxide. The combustion engine has been obsolete, but the oil companies dont want the technology to come out becuase it will put them out of business. These problems are what cause the set back in human use of alternative energy (Brahic, 2007). Another concern to experts is the fact that the worlds energy consumption is expected to be 40% higher in 2020, than it is today. Energy solutions, and improvements to human use of energy can help to reduce this percentage, but they will not be enough. The increase in this use is a natural consequence to the growth in human population. (Chevron Human Energy, 2006)

Emmitance of Carbon Dioxide and other harmful gases released from fossil fuels. (Science News for Kids)

Who is interested in the use of Alternative Energy?

The applicability and use of alternative energy technology is an international issue. Countries all over the world are working on using different types of alternative energy's in place of fossil fuels. (Cunningham&Saigo, 2001)

How long has this issue been in existence?

Different alternative energy ideas including solar energy and biodiesel, became an issue in the 1970's during the Carter administration. Oil prices went up when the war in the Middle East began and at the same time supplies were thought to be running out. There was an oil crisis and Carter was trying to get the United States to take action. (Chevron Human Energy, 2006)

What role do humans have in creating the Alternative Energy problem?

That governments are having to look into alternative energy is due to the fact of human overuse in the oil industry, as well as their overuse of other existing fossil fuels. Since humans today are accustomed to living a comfortable life they feel no problem in the amount of carbon that they release into the atmosphere while living this life, homes are getting larger and with this comes an increase in the wiredness of the homes, along with an increase of the carbon those homes are emitting.(Chevron Human Energy, 2006) The total amount of carbon emissions for the world last year was around 30 billion metric tons.(Holly, 2007)

With the fossil fuels in use today, humans in the United States are relient on foreign oil. This is a problem due to the fact that pricing is a monopoly, one year can be a "good" year for oil, and the prices will be cheap, but if it is a "bad" year thent he prices will sky rocket. This is because the countries that we are dependant on for oil know that the US government, and others like us, can afford to pay up, especially when demand is high.(O'Connor, 2007) The United States needs alternative sources of energy, so that it is possible to become less dependent on foreign oil, but this issue is one that politicians don't want to cover the issue. (O'Connor, 2007)

Alternative Energy Basics (Research, Threats, and Use)

Governments all over the world, mainly in developed countries are researching alternative energy technologies. There are several ways to go about this, they include researching solar energy, photovoltaic solar energy (electrical energy),using hyrdrocarbon processes in cars, heat from the earth, and even getting energy on demand (Cunningham & Saigo, 2001).

Ways of using solar energy involve mirrors. Two ways to use mirrors to collect solar energy are using log curved mirrors focused on a central tube that contains a fluid that is heat absorbing. The heat that flows through the tubes reaches extremely high temperatures, producing more energy. The other way is a high temperature system that uses thousands of smaller mirrors. These mirros are arranged in concentric rigns around a central tower.They are driven by electric motors and are able to track the sun and absorb light directly from it. The heat from this then drives a steam turbine, producing electric energy. This type of alternative energy is being researched, but problems have arisen. These two ways can produce 10 MW of clean power, and this power is renewable, it can power 5000 homes, but there is no way of knowing how reliable these forms of energy are, or if the equipment will hold up long enough to make it worth the effort.(Cunningham & Saigo, 2001)

A house with solar paneling, an effective form of alternative energy. (People Helping People)

Photovoltaic cells are also being researched in parts of the world. The use of these produces clean and versatile renewable energy. A major plus to this is that it has a lifetime equal to that of fossil fuels that are in use today. Photovoltaic cells are able to capture solar energy and convert it directly to electical current by separating electrons from their parent atoms. This form of alternative energy needs no moving parts and very little maintenance. The major problem with using photovoltaic cells is that they are too expensive for any practical day to day use. (Cunningham & Saigo, 2001)

Another new idea that is on the horizon, and being tested is the idea of getting energy on demand. The idea behind this is being able to produce energy locally, and when needed. This saves it from having to be transported and stored. To do this fuel cells would be used. They are similar, and work like batteries, but you wouldn't recharge them with an electrical current, you would add more fuel to them, and this would create a chemical reaction. They run on oxygen and hydrogen, and produces no waste products, except drinkable water. The problem comes in when only 40- 45% of the yield is actually usable energy.(Cunningham & Saigo, 2001)

Cars are also becoming more energy efficient. There is now research being done, and the applicability of putting a hybrid hydrogen-carbon process into cars. This is for the production of liquid hydrocarbon, and is where the hydrogen is supplied from carbon-free energy. The importance of this is that normal liquid hydrocarbons release large quantities of carbon dioxide into the air, creating greenhouse gases. (Agrawal, 2007)

A car using alternative energy. (Hy Sun Technologies)

In order to stop being reliant on foreign sources for oil, and other fossil fuels, the US can drill more holes. These holes will drill into the surface of the earth and tap the earth's heat. This heat is beneficial to the environment. To convert this geothermal heat into electricity you pour water onto hot rocks underground and using the steam to turn turbines. Experts say it is the most promising form of renewable energy on the planet. (Brahic, 2007)

Types of Alternative Energy

While governments are looking into all forms of alternative energy, researchers have come up with a list of the top 8 that have proven to be most effective. Thy include ethanol, natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, propane, diodiesel, methanol, and P-series.(West, 2007)

Ethanol is an alcohol based alternative fuel, it is made from the fermentation and distilling of crops, including corn, barley and wheat.(West, 2007)

Natural Gas is an alternative fuel that burns clean, and is already widely available. It is proven to work well in cars, emitting very few harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Electricity is used in battery-powered electric and fuel-cell vehicles. The battery-powered form is a battery that can be used, but has to be charged. Fuel cell vehicles run on energy produced through electrochemical reactions. (West, 2007)

Hydrogen can be mixed with natural gas to fuel certain types of vehicles with internal combustion engines. Works when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the fuel stack.(West, 2007)

Propane, or LPG, is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It is widely used for cooking, but also works well for vehicles. (West, 2007)

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel with a base of vegetable oils or animal fats. Car engines can easily be converted to burn these biodiesels. It is safe, biodegradable, and reduces air pollutants. (West, 2007)

Methanol or wood alcohol, can be used in flexibel fuel vehicles designed to blend 85% methanol and 15% gasoline. No longer in use, but could become an important alternative fuel in the future. (West, 2007)

P-Series is a blend of ethanol, natural gas liquids and methyltetrahydrofuran (a co-solvent derived from biomass). It's fuels are clear, high octane fuels that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. (West, 2007)

The Environment and Alternative Energy

Environmental issues can be significantly reduced if humans just waste less energy, this is the quickest, and least expensive way. Recently this idea has lost it's popularity to that of nuclear, hdrogen, and renewable energies. This can save the environment, and is as easy as using special insuation, efficient windows, and having an energy concious design in your home. (Jochem, 2006)

An environmental cost is that of shortcuts that are taken. These shortcuts add to the carbon dioxide emissions. Many buildings, even today, are still being built to make their occupants happy, not to save energy, they are being build to minimize construction costs. Buildings are receiving less windows, and less insulation. These can be significantly reduced by just adding windowsand using more insulation along with working with alternative energy companies to reduce the energy used and the carbon dioxide emitted. (Jochem, 2006) Another environmental problem, specifically found in biofuels, and similar alternative energy, is that there aren't enough farms and crops to support a switch to this form of energy. We would have to be able to grow enough crops to meet the demand of the country. Some say in order to make this work all available land will have to be turned into agricultural land. (West, 2006)

The Impact that Alternative Energy has on different Species

Species that are positively impacted by the applicability of alternative energy are humans. Using energy other than the fossil fuels that are presently in use would in the long run save money, and would save the environment. By using alternative energy there will be a significant decrease in the emission of carbon dioxide, and greenhouse gases. Using alternative energies can also have a possitive impact on humans in that now, specifically in the United States, humans will no longer be relient on foreign oil. In reality all species can be possitively impacted because with a decrease in the use of fossil fuels the issue of global warming will also be able to repair itself. (25 x 25, 2006)

Species that are negatively impacted by the use of alternative energy could be farm animals. This is possible due to the fact that while looking into alternatives, one major idea is using ethanol, which is made from corn, a major food supply for these animals. The animals can still survive, but they would become fully reliable on their other sources of food in place of corn. (25 x 25, 2006)

Wind Turbines in a field. (Green Progress)

Economics and Alternative Energy

To fix the problem the economic cost would be substantially low. No longer, here in the US would we be dependent on foreign oil sources for our energy, and we would have the ability to create our own energy. Some of these energy sources would be biofuels, and wind energy. The cost for wind energy would be the initial cost of placing the wind turbines, and over time that is going to save the consumer a large amount of money. (Alsever, 2007) Other economic costs are due to efficiency improvements that are saving consumers money and also improving business competitiveness. Businesses are designing factories, cars, and homes to maximize energy efficiency, and are trying to be the best at what they are doing. This is helping to get alternatvie energies, and uses for them on the market faster. Improving energy efficiency is also improving community infrastructure. (25 x 25, 2006)

What laws exist dealing with Alternative Energy?

The Kyoto Protocol sets binding greenhouse gas emissions targets for countries that sign and ratify the agreement. And includes gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, HFC's, nitrous oxide. The Kyoto Protocol sets targets for gas emissions for the future. This is important when considering alternative energy technologies in that it is intended to reduce the amounts of these gases that are used.(Reuters, 2007)

There is alo a Renewable Energy policy. It is being pursued in countries that are looking into alternative energy due to the fact that they are overusing fossi fuels. The goal for the policy is to get more renewables in place, reduce carbon emissions, to promote industrial development, and to decrease fossil fuel imports. (Komor, 2005)

A solar field. (Energy Whiz)