alternative energy has long been a presence as part of the international debate about energy security. However, it is only when oil prices go dramatically up that the discussion becomes earnest. While many different types are being used, each one seems to have some limitations on where and when it can be used. Generally speaking, we will most likely have to find a mixture of different technologies to meet our needs.
The most easily visible type is wind power. The massive components used to make the turbines are unforgettable. This large size, though, has caused some people to turn against them. People can see them from very far away and some feel that they take away from the beauty of a natural landscape. Also, many birds die after flying through them as they migrate.
Solar power went through a sort of heyday for individual users a few decades ago. Many people built houses powered this way and even sold electricity back to the grid. Now many countries with a lot of sunlight are setting up large collection sites. Often, they set up mirrors that reflect sunlight onto a series of solar panels. This helps collect the sunlight more efficiently. Unfortunately, the set-up costs for these sites can be quite expensive.
Hydroelectric power also requires a significant investment to get a project going. However, it basically works on the movement of water to move a turbine. Again, while this does not produce extra carbon emissions, dams can often negatively affect fish and other wildlife in and around rivers. They also change water levels, which may negatively impact human populations as well.
A variation that many people are less familiar with is tidal power. Large dam-like installations off oceanic coasts again use the flow of water to make a turbine move, thus creating energy. This clean technology has the same problem as its regular hydroelectric power. Many fear that we do not fully understand how using this technology will impact sea creatures.
We would all be so lucky to have geothermal power at our disposal, though. This comes from naturally heated water from deep inside the ground. This can be used for hot water, naturally. But, more importantly, this hot water can heat homes in the winter as well. The small island nation of Iceland utilizes this type for a large part of its population.
For most developed countries, the problem is one of changing directions. So much effort has gone into constructing infrastructure around a coal-based ideas, it is hard to just stop and change course. More funding and government incentives will be needed to help individuals and companies adapt to this. In less developed countries, the sheer cost of the technologies is prohibitive. They often end up using much dirtier sources of power such as burning coal or wood. In the end, more money needs to be funneled towards shifting the kind of energy we use.
At some point, something will have to be done about how we use the resources available to us. Different forms of alternative energy may have to be used in conjunction to start meeting the needs of an increasingly populated planet. The question is, which technology will take the lead and how will we finally get enough money in the sector to really make it take off.
With so much research in recent years, renewable energy is finally affordable. Homeowners can find solar panels for sale at their local home improvement stores.
