The top alternative energy sources

Timon Singh

Alternative energies are the power sources of the future, whether the oil and gas companies will admit it or not. While there are numerous studies into the most effective alternative form of power, ranging from watermelons to cows, there are currently ten universally acknowledged key forms of renewable energy. They are;

1. Domestic solar power - By installing solar panels on your roof, you could end up never paying another electricity bill again! Utilising photovoltaic cells, you can convert sunlight into energy as well as using solar water heaters to provide hot water. The benefits are clear but unfortunately, the cost is steep - a solar electric system can cost from US$25,000 to US$30,000 and solar water systems can cost US$10,000.

2. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) - These OTEC plants are essentially energy producing artificial islands constructed out at sea. They use surface water heated by the sun to heat ammonia or some other fluid that boils at a low temperature. The produced gases are then used to power turbines which in turn produce electricity. The gas is then in turn, cooled by cold water pumped up from the ocean depths and the resulting fluid is recycled to help generate even more power. It is estimated that only 0.01 percent of all the solar energy trapped in the oceans could be converted into electric power, it would supply more than 20 times the total electricity the United States consumes everyday. Unfortunately these futuristic constructions requires substantial money to build and maintain.

3. Domestic wind power - Using small, roof-mounted, turbines you can power your home using the wind to power your lights and appliances. One project in Norway has actually envisioned an entire 'Turbine City' designed to be completely self-sustainable.

4. Solar farms - Harnessing the sun's energy with mirrors to drive electricity turbines, solar energy has vast potential but is dependant on good weather. Solar farms also cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build.

5. Wind farms - With countries such as the US, China and Germany embracing wind farms,wind energy has the potential to be the most efficient renewable source of power. However despite harnessing an inexhaustible resource, wind farms are deemed an expensive eyesore by many.

6. Hydrogen cars - Fantastic in theory; the hydrogen fuel cells react hydrogen with oxygen to generate an electric current that power your car, producing only water as a waste product. Unfortunately, current methods of large-scale hydrogen production result in substantial amounts of carbon dioxide in the process.

7. Electric cars - Roughly four times as efficient as gasoline run cars, electric cars could well be the future once the battery packs are perfected. Currently, they run the risk of overheating and setting the car on fire.

8. Tidal power - Hydro-kinetic devices are like windmills underwater but instead of wind, they use flowing water from rivers and ocean currents to power turbines. Genius in theory, but currently 15 years behind solar and wind technology.

9. Geothermal energy - Under the Earth's surface lies a vast amount of thermal heat and energy. Harnessing this power has proven more difficult however, requiring a lot of money for geothermal projects.

10. Nuclear power - Always a controversial option, nuclear power can generate a vast amount of energy without generating huge quantities of carbon emissions. Unfortunately, it produces radioactive waste that can remain hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years.

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