Alternative Energy

The global sources of energy can be categorized into two groups, fossil and renewable sources of energy (Demirbas & Demirbas, 2010). Fossil fuels have many shortcomings. First, not every country is endowed with oil. Secondly, the cost of exploration and drilling of oil is very expensive. In addition, oil extraction is harmful to the environment. Fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases, which have increased the threat of global warming in the recent past. Besides, many wars in the world have a basis on oil. Accordingly, in order to have a safe environment and peace, the world is moving towards the use of alternative sources of energy (Demirbas & Demirbas, 2010).

History of Alternative Energy

The demand for alternative sources of fuel goes back to ancient times. This is because any new source of energy was seen as an alternative to the existing one at that time. For example, during the Middle Ages, coal was an immediate solution to the use of wood. Therefore, during this time, it was indeed an alternative source of fuel. At the turn of the 19^th century, petroleum became the new alternative source of energy as opposed to whale oil. Whale oil was traditionally used for lighting lamps. This was an expensive expedition because it led to the destruction of whales. During the 20^th century, the new source of energy was ethanol, which was used as an alternative to gasoline. However, in the last few years, the world has shifted the definition of alternative energy to mean those sources of energy that are infinite. These sources of energy are inexhaustible and have less impact on the environment. Alternative sources of energy include solar energy, hydrogen energy, geothermal energy, and water energy, among others.

Kinds of alternative energy

Solar energy comes from the sun. It is widely available to all people, thus making it one of the most significant and safest sources of energy. Indeed, without the sun, it is impossible to talk about the other sources of energy (Demirbas & Demirbas, 2010). The sun’s rays are tapped by silicon in the solar panels. The silicon then converts the sun’s rays into electricity. This source costs far too little and is renewable. On the other hand, hydrogen comes from the water. Water consists of 2/3 of hydrogen, while 1/3 is oxygen. When electric current is passed through water, it is able to separate the two components. The hydrogen is then put in compressed tanks. This source of energy has been promising and can be helpful in the car industry

Geothermal energy comes from under the earth. It comes from the internal heating of earth, which generates steam. The steam from the earth gushes out at a high speed, which in adequate to turn turbines. Geothermal energy is easy to harvest, as it does not require a lot of space. Ina addition, geothermal plants are cheaper to maintain. However, the main concern is surveillance of the plants as hot springs can harm those who go near them. Water has been used to generate electricity for many years. Dams are constructed to harvest water from the rivers. This source is more reliable because water can be harvested during the rainy season and used to generate hydroelectricity easily. However, the cost of constructing the dams might be high. Nevertheless, the long-term benefits are many since maintenance cots are very low (Richards, 2010). The other alternative fuel is bio-fuel, which is derived from plants and animals. Ethanol is extracted from plants, while methane comes from animals. Bio-fuels are used in the automobile industry for fueling vehicles. This source of energy is renewable since plants and animals cannot be depleted completely (World Bank, 2009).

Solar energy is the best alternative energy available for people to use because of several reasons. First, it can be generated in two ways, through electricity and heat. Solar cells are critical in converting rays from the sun into electricity (DeGunther, 2010). While generating electricity, there is no emission of gases that occurs, which means solar energy is quite safe. In addition, photovoltaics required to convert solar radiation into electricity do not require direct sunlight. This means electricity can be generated in spite of the climatic conditions during any day. Secondly, electricity can be harnessed indirectly by first generating heat, and then using the steam produced to run power generators. No fossil fuels are used in this case, which means the energy produced is one hundred per cent eco-friendly. Moreover, the other sources of energy have a direct relationship to the sun. For instance, plants and animals require sun in their growth. Water cannot be there without the sun. Therefore, solar energy is the most important form of alternative energy (World Bank, 2009).

Conclusion

In summary, this paper has looked briefly at the history of alternative sources of energy. The term alternative, from the ancient days, meant any fuel that replaced the traditional sources of energy. However, in the recent past, the term has been used to refer to those sources, which can never be exhausted. These include the solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, bio-fuels, and water energy, among others. Alternative sources of energy have become indispensable for various reasons. First, they are widely available, unlike the fossil fuels. Secondly, their use is infinite. Thirdly, they are less harmful to the environment. Indeed, their continued use and exploitation will provide a big relief to all the countries.

References

DeGunther, R. (2010). Alternative Energy for Dummies. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Demirbas, A. & Demirbas, F.M. ( 2010). Algae Energy: Algae as a New Source of Bio-Diesel. New York: Springer.

Richards, J. (2010). Water Energy. Tarrytown, NY: McMillan Press

Rivkin, A. D. & Silk,L. (2010). Wind Energy. Burlington, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning

World Bank, (2009). World Development Report 2010: Development and climate change. New York: World Bank Publications.