Choices – Alternative Power Sources
We are searching for alternative sources of energy to replace fossil fuels.
We want sources of renewable energy that allow us to cut our costs.
We want to reduce all pollutants that may be associated with fuel of any kind.
We wish to utilize natural most obvious available power of the sun.. To find efficient ways of harvesting wind power without harm to people or environment, and to utilize the wonderful and as yet unexplored power potentials in the seas and waters.
We need to discover a power source that will guarantee health and fulfil our needs – rather than our greed – not yet evident in a modern insatiable appetite and demand for exciting and wasteful purposes. Useless entertainments receive prime focus rather than the urgent basic needs that are required for our survival on this poor overburdened planet. But it seems that time is running out to correct our errors. Much of our planet has been spoiled – and we are responsible. We must wish to change our lifestyle if we are to sincerely improve and return to live by natural laws instead of rebelling against them. We cannot challenge or ignore great Nature and survive. So we must consider our options where power source is involved.
SOLAR
Since about 1963 there have been advances in solar technology that have progressed beyond one of the earliest designs for hot water systems. Energy from the sun can be directly used for heating but also indirectly after conversion to electrical power by photovoltaic cells or steam generators . Some type or another is in use in greenhouses and swimming pools, expanding the purpose beyond normal domestic needs.
METHANE GAS
Generated for anaerobic breakdown of organic waste from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, incinerators, and from animal manure, sugar cane waste, foliage plants and corn are used to manufacture ethanol or methanol as useful fuels to help reduce petrol use. Many are insistent that animal gases from their digestive processes can also be harvested and trials are already in place. Further negative contributions from various sources still need to be reduced.
BIO-MASS
Using plant organic material of many kinds is being used to create ethanol and now crop production for this prime purpose is common.
FUEL CELLS
Technology is rapid incorporating this avenue in the search for alternative fuels by oxidizing hydrogen gas to produce electricity. Water is the only waste product of these Fuel Cells. The system has great potential in vehicle use. It is gaining more and more attention because of the benefit to the environment by being free of toxic waste. However this avenue still relies upon further research.
GEOTHERMAL
Energy is this method is from gained from drawing upon heat that is already generated naturally in the earth’s interior. It can be used directly as heat or as a means of generating electricity by a flashed-steam method. There are more than twenty or so countries that are utilizing geothermal resources and most are keen to confirm that the likelihood of releasing dissolved salts or toxic elements into the surface of the ground is minimal. This has been a consideration of some concern.
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS – LNG
Liquefied natural gas as the name implies is methane that has been converted to liquid to ease problems of transportation as a temporary measure. Liquefied natural gas is without odour or colour and seems to possess the virtues of being non toxic and non-corrosive. There are some negatives involved in its production, including its flammability that is a serious consideration along with the need to remove trace amounts of mercury from the gas steam. This factor is a natural concern to farmers and to those who are anxious at the possibility of mercury leeching into the groundwater.
Small scale plants have the advantage of the potential to be close to where it is required and so lessen transport risks and costs.
WIND POWER
Although today considered an alternative power source, wind power is one of the earliest forms of energy used by mankind. Wind energy is equivalent to about 2% of the solar energy caused the Earth’s surface. It is an extremely high power source and wind turbines and windmills are the popular focus over the last few years. However, this is also a great deal of caution needed as many negatives are becoming important considerations – such as the noise effect of the huge windmills upon humans and wildlife, particularly the birds and bees, the safety factor should blades be spun off to cause accidents and the questionable nature of the materials used in their construction troubles environmentalists as they consider the long term effects of disposing of outworn mills. The world is watching to assess the outcomes in the countries where most use is made of this method.
NUCLEAR
Nuclear power has several drawbacks, the most well known to us having been given plenty of attention with the problem of disposing of nuclear waste. This cannot be neglected as one of the most serious negative arguments against nuclear development beyond the military aspect of aggression and defence. As far as the public is concerned there is little information given to inform as to the areas and countries that have accepted the hosting of nuclear waste and the methods that are used, Are they reliable and efficient? What countries are allowing their earth to be contaminated by underground disposal? How much contamination of water and water wastage occurs with the system should we accept nuclear.
WIND POWER
Although today considered to be an acceptable new alternative energy source, wind power is one of the earliest forms of energy harvested by humans. Wind is caused by the uneven heating of Earth’s surface, and its energy is equivalent to about 2% of the solar energy reaching the planet. The amount of energy theoretically available from wind is very great.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy is heat generated naturally in the interior of the earth, and can be used either directly, as heat, or indirectly, to generate electricity. Geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity by the flashed-steam method, in which high-temperature geothermal brine is used as a heat source to convert water injected from the surface into steam. The steam is used to turn a turbine …
Geothermal energy is residual and stored deep in the Earth. Its origin is the radioactive decay of minerals and material from volcanic eruptions. Its beginnings date back to the original formation of our planet and it is renewed by both the heat of the core and the solar energy at the surface. It is a recognized alternative power source developed for electricity now in 24 countries and used for heating, industrial processes, in agriculture and many other areas including desalination plants. There must be a legitimate degree of concern as to the likelihood of deep drilling upsetting molten material beneath the crust enough to cause volcanic repercussions in the environment.
OCEANIC SOURCES
Although there are several ways of utilizing energy from the oceans, the most promising ones are the harnessing of tidal power and ocean thermal energy conversion. The power of oceanic tides comes from the tidal water level differentiation that must ideally be about 3 m or more.
MAGNESIUM
Another alternative power source has been suggested in the element magnesium. This has been presented after practical research and exploration of an appropriate method that will offer a long term solution to our power needs.
Even a small amount of magnesium ribbon burns in a flame with a satisfying white heat and it is believed that there is sufficient magnesium to meet thousands of years of our earthly needs according to a report from Dr. Takashi Yabe of the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The problem is that magnesium is harvested by electrolytic processes or by other expensive methods that offer economic difficulties. However, Dr Yabe has devised what is considered to be a workable solution using solar pump laser technology to burn magnesium oxide extracted from seawater in order to create the extremely high temperatures required.
Another research using magnesium developed a metal-air cell that uses water and ambient air to react with the magnesium and generate electricity. Another method attracting interest is the work of Dr Doron Aurbach at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Research is ongoing.
HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY
Hydroelectricity is the term that refers to water as the source of electricity – the power generated by gravitational fall of flowing water. Considered to be a renewable energy source preferable to other methods that produce wastes of various types. It is one that has a lower output of greenhouse gas than those of fossil fuels and is highly productive.
Modern methods of hydropower are based upon the age old methods of grinding flour by water wheels. What followed were electrical generators that could be coupled with the hydraulic system from about 1880 and by the end of the century there were 200 functioning in the US and growing larger as technology developed into the 20th century. The Hoover Dam was the world’s largest hydroelectric plant in 1936 and soon was overtaken by the Grand Coulee Dam in 1942. Subsequent dams began to produce huge volumes of power to meet demand and at present the Three Gorges Dam, a giant one, is the largest in existence.
Hydroelectric production of energy is claimed by many to be the cleanest method.
All methods are on trial – which will prove the most successful?
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