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Renewable Energy Alternative to Fossil Fuels
The recent increase in gas and oil prices has led many people to seek out energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Energy alternatives can be found in the form of solar power, wind power, geothermal power, hydro power, and wave power. Alternative energy is defined as energy that is renewable and is obtained from the sun, wind, waves or other naturally occurring sources, in contrast to fossil fuels such as oil and gas which are not renewable and will one day run out. There has been increasing concern and alarm in recent years about the supply of fossil fuels running out. Since it is not renewable it will be gone one day and therefore energy alternatives must be developed and put into place before that happens.
The sun is an excellent energy alternative to traditional electricity. The sun generates an enormous amount of power and energy that can be harnessed using photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic panels are best installed on south facing roofs that receive plenty of sunlight. Solar panels can be installed for an entire house, or on a smaller level they can be used for heating a pool, running a few appliances, or charging batteries. The wind also provides an energy alternative that is readily available. People have been harnessing the power of the wind to produce electricity for centuries. The triple bladed wind mills available today have advanced technology to make them an even more efficient energy alternative. Because wind mills have few moving parts, they require very little maintenance and are easy to keep up. Geothermal power is an energy alternative that uses the heat from beneath the Earth’s surface and heat which is collected from the atmosphere and oceans to generate electricity.
Biotechnology has also provided us with an energy alternative to petroleum and gas. Biomass is organic material made from plants or animal. Domestic biomass comes from agricultural and forestry residue as well as municipal and industrial wastes. The field of biomass is very exciting as biomass can be converted to energy and used as alternative to petroleum. Paper mills produce the most residue that can be turned into an energy alternative for electricity and power. Bio fuels such as methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, bio crude and methane are also produced from biomass. Bio fuels are generated by turning the raw materials of corn and soybeans starches and cellulose into a useable form which is made into transportation fuels by a biochemical or thermo chemical process. Bio diesel is a clean burning energy alternative fule that is derived from new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Vehicles are also being designed to run on the energy alternative fuels that are produced through biomass.
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