| What is alternative energy? | | | | - which is diesel that has been made from |
| Alternative energy is just about any source of | | | | vegetable oils. |
| non mainstream energy supply. In other words, it | | | | Solar Power |
| is power supplied by things other than fossil fuels. | | | | Solar power is probably the energy source that |
| In general, non fossil fuel energy is thought to | | | | springs to mind when you are asked to name an |
| have less of an impact upon the environment | | | | alternative energy source. It is also the one that is |
| than fossil fuels sources, so they are considered | | | | becoming increasingly widespread in its use. |
| to be more sustainable. | | | | You can now buy DIY solar cells and solar panels, |
| What do we mean by sustainable? | | | | that you fit yourself. Solar power, as the name |
| Sustainable is generally defined both in terms of | | | | suggests, comes from the sun. The energy is |
| relatively low CO2 emissions as well as the ability | | | | used in one of two ways. |
| to either renew, or to tap into, an almost infinite | | | | Heat energy - A solar panel absorbs the heat |
| energy source. These two features are the | | | | from the sun. It transfers this heat to the hot |
| hallmarks of an alternative energy source. | | | | water supply, helping to generate hot water for |
| The key sources for alternative energy, excluding | | | | day to day usage, or heating. |
| nuclear power are: | | | | Electrical Energy - A photovoltaic cell captures the |
| Geothermal energy | | | | light energy or photons, to generate electricity. |
| Wind Power | | | | This electricity is usually stored in a battery and |
| Biomass | | | | the battery is then used to provide electrical |
| Solar power | | | | power. |
| Hydro electrical Power | | | | Hydro Electrical Power |
| A brief precis of each source is included below. | | | | In mountainous areas especially, water is a key |
| Geothermal Energy | | | | generator of alternative energy. |
| Geothermal energy is an excellent source of heat | | | | This is known as hydroelectric power and is |
| and, b y boiling water to make steam, power in | | | | commonly generated from dams, and steep |
| those areas where the earth's crust is thinnest | | | | water falls. |
| making heat more accessible. It is not really viable | | | | Rather like a windmill but using water instead of |
| where you have to drill down a long way to | | | | wind, hydroelectric power is generated by falling |
| capture the heat from the earth's molten core. | | | | water pushing past turbine blades. This causes the |
| Wind Power | | | | blades to spin, which causes the turbine to |
| The wind's energy can be transferred into | | | | generate electricity. |
| electricity by the use of wind turbines. These wind | | | | Perhaps the key difference between wind and |
| turbines are not fundamentally different from the | | | | water is that wind speed can be variable. Water |
| windmills of old. | | | | flow, on the other hand, tends to be relatively |
| Their large blades catch the wind and are turned, | | | | constant. This gives hydroelectric power an |
| just like any other windmill. The difference is that | | | | enormous advantage, as it can be relied upon as |
| these blades turn a shaft that uses magnets to | | | | a constant source of electrical energy. |
| generate electricity. Previously, windmills turned a | | | | Similar techniques are used in the sea, using tidal |
| stone wheel to generate flour from wheat! | | | | flows to do much the same task. This is better |
| Biomass | | | | known as tidal energy, but is fundamentally the |
| This is basically the same method of energy | | | | same process. |
| generation as with fossil fuels. The only real | | | | In Summary |
| difference being that the fuel has not been | | | | There are numerous other sources of alternative |
| fossilised over millions of years and is from a | | | | energy, including nuclear power generation, but the |
| renewable source (i.e. more can be grown). | | | | above 5 are the key types that are becoming |
| Just about any form of organic matter can be | | | | increasingly widespread. In fact, over the course |
| used as biomass, whether it is animal products, | | | | of the next decade, it is likely that these sources |
| wood products, rubbish or even refined vegetable | | | | will stop being alternative and start becoming |
| oils such as oilseed rape or sunflower oil. Many | | | | mainstream! |
| vehicles have been converted to run on bio diesel | | | | |