Five Sources of Power
As energy costs continue to rise and increased power demands result in more pollutants spilled into the atmosphere, soil and water, researchers have developed alternative sources of power. Those living in favorable climates for alternative energy could do well for themselves and the environment by switching to alternative energy for their power needs. Others may benefit financially by waiting for a more viable energy source to be developed in the future.
Other People Are Reading
-
Fossil Fuels
-
Polluting and nonrenewable, fossil fuels are the most common fuel source for electrical generation in the United States. Fossil fuels, like coal and oil, are mined from the earth and used as fuel in boilers, heating water into steam to spin turbines. The spinning turbines then turn electrical generators, creating electrical power that is transmitted from the plant to homes and businesses.
Solar Energy
-
Solar power is considered a renewable resource because the sun is considered an infinite resource, even though it will one day run out of hydrogen and turn into a red dwarf, engulfing the earth. The French scientist Edmund Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, where certain materials give off an electrical charge when photons in sunlight smash into them. Later in the 20th century, scientists discovered that silicon was more efficient. Modern cells generate up to 40 percent efficiency. That is, 40 percent of the power in sunlight is converted into electricity. Solar power is being integrated into building design and retrofitted into existing structures.
-
Wind Power
-
The skylines along some highways have been changing as wind turbines increase in popularity. Sometimes confused for windmills, wind turbines are spun by the movement of air which spins the shaft of an electrical generator. Some environmentalists are concerned that turbine blades will interfere with bird migrations, though they are typically regarded as beneficial to the environment since they emit no pollution.
Hydroelectric Power
-
Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest forms of power generation. The Industrial Revolution owes itself to the advent of water wheels to generate power for manufacturing processes along rivers. Similar to wind turbines, water pushes against blades that spin a shaft. The shaft runs an electrical generator. Other forms of hydroelectricity include damming a body of water to force a water current along a turbine, and underwater turbines that reside near river deltas, where tides force water along turbine blades.
Nuclear Power
-
Nuclear power plants are another controversial means of electrical generation. Unstable elements such as plutonium and uranium are processed into fuel rods. These are slammed with streams of neutrons to create nuclear fission. Fission is when atoms are split and an enormous amount of heat is released. The heat is used to turn water into steam, which spins turbine blades just as coal-fired plants do. What to do with spent fuel rods is a concern to residents near proposed burial areas, as material can leak into the soil and water supplies over time. Concerns over meltdowns, such as the Fukushima disaster, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, continue to dissuade governments from an otherwise safe and reliable energy source.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
