There is a lot of energy that we can harness if we only try to research and develop the technology needed to do so. We can get rid of fossil fuels and old power grids by turning to alternatives to these energy sources.
One of these alternative energy sources is wind energy. Wind turbines that are progressively more energy efficient and less expensive are still being developed. "Wind farms" are being created in many countries and over time have even become strategically located so that they do not threaten birds like earlier wind turbines.
Another alternative energy source is the one that is the most well-known: solar energy. This involves the production of solar cells that collect and concentrate the energy given off directly by the sun and convert it into electricity or, in some cases, hot water. As with wind energy, solar energy creates absolutely zero pollution.
Governments and investors see ocean wave energy as an energy with huge power generation potential. The generator in France has been in operation for many years and is considered a great success, and the Irish and Scots operate experimental facilities.
Hydropower has been with us for some time and where it is set up it is a powerful generator of electricity and cleaner than the grid. However, there are some limitations to the availability of the right sites for setting up a large dam. Because of this limitation, many run-of-river or small and localized hydroelectric plants have recently been established.
Geothermal energy is extremely abundant because it lies right under our feet, just a few miles below the Earth's surface. This energy is produced by heating water from the earth's fantastically hot molten core. The water is turned into steam which can be harnessed and used to drive turbine engines which in turn generate electricity. A large amount of research and development should be devoted to the use of geothermal energy.
Waste gas energy, which is essentially methane, reverses the usual relationship between energy and pollution by creating energy from waste that sits in landfills and some air pollutants. This gas is used in fuel cells and can be used in standard gasoline generators.
Ethanol is a substitute for gasoline and is made from things like wheat, sugar cane, grapes, strawberries, corn, and even wood chips and wood pulp. This fuel is debatable as to whether it has yet become truly economical or practical except in very localized areas, but the technologies for its extraction and blending are constantly improving.
Biodiesel energy is created from the oils contained in plants. So far, commercial biodiesel stocks have been created using soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oil. At the time of writing, biodiesel is usually produced by entrepreneurially minded individuals or those who want to experiment with alternative energy, but commercial interest from companies is growing. It burns much cleaner than oil-based diesel.
Atomic energy is created in nuclear power plants using the process of nuclear fission. This energy is extremely efficient and can generate huge amounts of energy. Some people are concerned about what to do with the relatively small amount of waste products that nuclear energy gives off because it is radioactive and takes hundreds of years to decay into harmlessness.
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