Monday, May 18, 2009

Bio diesel Energy

Biodiesel energy as alternative energy resource can be converted to more useful forms of energy to produce what is known as biodiesel power. The main use of biodiesel power is to power diesel vehicles for their efficient working.

From being an almost unknown and not so popular source of energy, biodiesel power has now become a mainstream energy source that can be used for various purposes. The future of biodiesel power resources is very bright because biodiesel power resources can be used to solve hundreds of problems related to energy needs and those faced and created by the petroleum industry.

The use of biodiesel power resources is expected to increase by a huge percentage because they promise a cleaner, greener and peaceful world. These resources as green renewable energy sources help in reducing the green house effect. Biodiesel power resources are non biodegradable and non toxic and so do not affect the environment adversely. They offer energy independence and ensure sustainable growth. Biodiesel power resources are efficient and reliable energy sources that can be used cost effectively.

Biodiesel power resources
can be produced to meet the growing demands of fuel all over the world. The use of these resources is the best alternative to meet the energy demands because of the increasing prices of fuels and their depleting reserves. The production of biodiesel power is an expensive process but the benefits it offers usually overshadow the costs incurred in producing it. Biodiesel power resources can safely be called the need of the future.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The future of alternative power

Alternative power can be generated from renewable sources of energy. Alternative power is available as solar power, wind power, tidal power, geothermal power and hydro electric power. All these can be put to a number of uses. Alternative power provides a significant percentage of the world’s total power supply.

It is said that the future belongs to alternative power. There are several reasons for this. An important reason is the fact that the amount of fossil fuels that are currently being used for power generation is decreasing day by day. The prices of these sources are also on a rise. Alternative power is supposed to power the future generations in both developed and developing nations.

Alternative power
is a renewable source of power that can be replenished easily. It can be easily and conveniently generated from sources available in the nature. Alternative power does not affect the environment adversely and is also non- polluting. It can be used for sustainable development.

Solar power has become a widely utilized source of alternative power and in the future is expected to power vehicles and homes. Similarly, wind power is also going to power cars in the future and also meet the increasing power needs of the whole world.

It is also believed that the use of geothermal power in the future can provide power for the whole world and thus help to reduce or almost eliminate the electricity bills and the dependence on fossil fuels.

Although, alternative power in the future is going to cost more but its benefits will overshadow its costs.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy provided by the most commonly known alternative energy source, the sun. It can be obtained in the form of heat or light and so also be classified as thermal energy and electric energy. As green renewable energy from the sun, solar energy is present in fossil fuels and in the remains of dead plants and animals. Renewable solar energy is also used by plants to prepare their food through the process of photosynthesis. This energy source is also freely available for the purpose of growing food and keeping our bodies warm

When used as thermal energy, solar energy provides heat that can be used to generate electricity and heat water. A number of innovative technologies have been developed through which solar energy can be used to generate electricity. Solar pool heaters use the alternative energy store of the sun to keep water in pools warm. Heat energy can be used directly by solar towers to generate electricity.

Passive and active techniques can be used to heat water by using the energy available in the form of renewable solar energy. When passive heating technique is used water is preheated by the sun’s rays and then used in a conventional water heater for heating purposes. In the active heating technique by using solar energy, a heating element is used in solar hot water systems.

Renewable solar energy can be used in solar cells to generate electric energy that can be used for a number of purposes. Solar energy is a cost effective and renewable energy source for generating electricity.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Alternative sources of energy

Alternative sources of energy are the sources of energy that are not produced form burning fossil fuels. Alternative energy has no polluting affects and is freely available for use.

The various sources of alternative energy include

Solar energy- It is the alternative energy that is obtained from the sun. Solar energy is available in the form of heat and light. This source of alternative energy can be used for generating electricity, heat water, keep buildings warm and to cook food. Solar energy can be harnessed using devices like solar cells, solar panels etc.

Bio diesel- These are clean, biodegradable and non toxic fuels that can be used as an alternative energy source. They can be used effectively in place of diesel for running diesel vehicles.

Wind energy- The kinetic energy of the wind is called wind energy. It can be harnessed using wind turbines. The wind energy can be used to generate electricity, for sailing, for pumping water and for grinding grains.

Geothermal energy- The energy found in the interior of the earth is called geothermal energy. It is an alternative energy source that is clean and reliable. It is mainly used for generating electricity.

Tidal energy- The energy possessed by tides is called tidal energy. It is an alternative energy source whose main use is the generation of electricity.

The main problem that is encountered in the use of alternative energy sources is the cost of harnessing. Techniques need to be developed that reduce these costs so that alternative energy sources can be easily used.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Geothermal Power Systems

The earth beneath us contains a large amount of energy in the form of heat. This energy is called geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is used to generate geothermal power to provide a large amount of electricity. The production of electricity from geothermal energy is an efficient and powerful method.

The main use of geothermal power is to provide electricity. However, geothermal power systems provide heating and cooling of a building.

The most commonly used geothermal power systems are geothermal ground source heat pumps. These heat pumps penetrate to only the first few meters below the earth’s surface to harness geothermal energy. These systems use the heated ground water to keep the buildings warm in winters when the earth is used as a heat source and cool in summers when the earth is used as a heat sink.

Geothermal power systems can be used in any location where geothermal energy can be found and harnessed easily. The ground source heat pumps can have either one loop or two loops. In a single loop system, heat is exchanged directly with the ground. In a double loop system, heat is exchanged with a secondary loop and then with the ground.

Geothermal power systems are very costly to be installed. However, the efficiency of these systems overtakes the costs of installation of such systems.

Geothermal power
can be used in geothermal power systems either to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings. In both cases, geothermal power offers the best and the most convenient way for doing so.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Traditional and alternative sources of energy- A Comparison

It is a well recognised fact that the development and utilisation of alternative energy sources along with traditional or conventional sources of energy is necessary to meet the growing demands of energy in urban and rural areas of both developed and developing nations.

Conventional sources of energy are coal, petroleum and natural gas. The alternative sources of energy are solar energy, tidal energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, thunder bolt energy etc.

Comparison of conventional and alternative sources of energy:

Conventional sources of energy like coal and petroleum are exhaustible whereas the alternative energy resources are renewable and cannot come to an end.

Most alternative sources of energy are non-polluting as compared to traditional sources of energy that cause a lot of pollution.

Traditional sources of energy are centralised i.e. they are produced or are available at a central location from which they are distributed. They are not available everywhere. On the other hand, alternative energy sources are decentralised and are available for use in far flung and remote areas.

Alternative sources of energy are cheaper as compared to the traditional sources of energy. Also electricity can be generated from alternative energy resource at low costs whereas the production of electricity from traditional sources is very expensive.

The alternative energy companies use alternative energy sources which are readily and easily available as opposed to traditional sources of energy that are not easily available.

Because of the demerits of traditional sources of energy, alternative sources of energy have been developed. These sources of energy can be put to various uses and are very beneficial.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

How alternative power works

Alternative power has been in use for several years. Alternative power was used in earlier times for the generation of electricity, grinding grains and to operate saw mills. However, alternative power as a source of energy was not completely developed and its potential was not realised. Today, however, alternative power is an important source of energy that can be put to several uses.

Alternative power works with running water in the form of hydro electricity. A dam is used to control the amount of water that can flow. This flowing water drives a turbine that is connected to a generator. The running turbine starts the generator that produces electricity.

When alternative power is used with sun, it is called solar power. Solar power can be used for heating water or keep buildings or homes warm. Solar power can also be used to generate electricity. It can also be used in devices like calculators, watches, cells etc.

The working of alternative power with wind is called wind power. When wind blows, the kinetic energy of the wind is used to rotate the blades of turbines. This movement results in running of turbines inside generators to produce electricity.

With tides, alternative power is called tidal power. When tides rise, water is collected and later used to rotate turbines. The turbines generate electricity which can be put to a number of uses.

Alternative power
is becoming more and more popular as it is environment friendly and keeps the water and air clean and pollution free.