There are several alternative sources of energy that are being used around the world to generate power. Many other sources are also being discovered now. However, it is yet to reach the stage where those sources can be used to generate power to assist modern life function. The main aim of discovering the primary sources of energy is to produce electricity.
Solar Energy
The main source of power in solar energy is the sun. Collector panels are used to harvest the energy of the sun in order to turn it into solar power. There are large solar panel fields established in the deserts to collect adequate power to charge small substations, and for homes that use solar energy to obtain hot water, cooling and supplement electricity.
However, there is an issue with regard to solar power that even if there is plenty sunlight available, only a limited geographical range of the world is capable of getting enough direct power of the sun for a longer period of time sufficient to generate usable power. Another issue is that the availability of solar energy depends on the change of seasons and the weather.
Wind Energy
Wind farms have now become a common sight as the wind power is becoming more prominent. Large turbines are used to obtain available wind as the power to turn those turbines allowing them to turn the generator to produce electricity. Production of wind energy needs high investment.
However, the non- uniformity of the wind speed is a hindrance to the generation of power through wind energy. When it comes to wind energy Australia is one of the countries where it is utilized the most. In fact, it is one of the country’s most used renewable energy sources.
Geothermal Energy
This energy is produced from the beneath the earth which is known to be clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly. It can be used in residential units and also for large scale industrial application.
Biomass Energy
This is produced using organic material and is commonly used around the world. Biomass includes crops, trees, plants, yard clippings, wood chips, and animal waste. This type of energy is generally used for heating, cooking and as a fuel for industrial production.
Hydroelectricity
Most of the cities and towns around the world depend on hydroelectricity. Here, the power of water is used to turn the generators in order to produce electricity. This type of energy is non-polluting, produces no waste or toxic gases and also environmentally friendly.
Nuclear Energy
The safety of using nuclear energy is still debatable. However, it remains as one of the major renewable energy sources in the world.
Fossil Fuels
These are coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels provide power to many parts of the world using coal and oil.
Apart from these, there are many other energy sources being used experimented throughout the world. So, it is important to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each source and use them for the most suitable purpose.
