| The need for alternative sources of energy has | | | | from wind is directly converted into electricity and |
| become urgent in today's world. Global reserves | | | | can be used for various tasks such as water |
| of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are | | | | pumping and providing electricity to individual |
| diminishing quickly with reserves left to last for | | | | homes. On a commercial scale, large wind farms |
| only a few decades. In addition, due to the high | | | | constituting thousands of windmills are set up to |
| prices of standard sources of energy and the | | | | generate thousands of megawatts of power |
| environmental hazards presented by them, | | | | every year for industrial and other conventional |
| alternative sources of energy have come as a | | | | uses. |
| welcome relief. | | | | Solar Energy - Solar energy is more or less based |
| Most alternative energy sources are clean and can | | | | on the concept of photo-electricity produced |
| be used in a variety of applications. I have listed | | | | through the help of sunlight through a process |
| some major sources of alternative energy for | | | | called photovoltaic. Sunlight shines on a number of |
| your reference below. | | | | photovoltaic cells directly converting it into |
| Hydroelectricity - Currently, this is the most | | | | electricity. Solar power plants have been set up all |
| prevalent form of alternative energy where the | | | | over the world on a large scale and, today, solar |
| pressure of the water falling is used to rotate | | | | energy accounts for a significant fraction of the |
| heavy turbines, which in turn, produce electricity. | | | | power generated collectively. |
| Energy from this method has been used all over | | | | Solar power is also used for other purposes by |
| the planet to power entire cities. A large size | | | | homeowners like water heating, to power attic |
| hydro electric power plant is costly but serves | | | | fans and space heating. Through technological |
| the purpose well. | | | | advancement, it is being applied to the |
| A hydroelectric power plant does not produce | | | | development of solar vehicles and hybrid |
| any kind of hazardous waste and emissions of | | | | locomotives. |
| green house gases are minimal compared to fossil | | | | Nuclear Energy - Nuclear energy is a huge source |
| fuel power plants. | | | | of energy and, as of today, provides 85% of |
| Tidal Energy - This is a form of hydropower in | | | | France's power needs. On a single fill, a nuclear |
| which the kinetic energy of the tides is converted | | | | power plant can operate up to a span of 5 years. |
| into electricity or other types of energy. Tidal | | | | However, nuclear energy is controversial. The |
| power is not widely in use but has immense | | | | largest drawback of using nuclear energy is that it |
| promise since tides are created through | | | | produces a lot of toxic waste and the raw |
| gravitational forces and energy from them would | | | | material is very expensive and is difficult to |
| in no way deplete. | | | | acquire, given its function in weapons of mass |
| Wind Energy - This is one of the few renewable | | | | destruction. |
| sources of energy available in abundance. Kinetic | | | | In addition to the sources of energy mentioned |
| energy of the wind is used to run windmills | | | | above, biofuels, hydrogen and geothermal energy |
| connected with turbines. The energy obtained | | | | are also widely used nowadays. |