Article Post:
Solar Power
Solar Electricity and Solar Heating are Major Energy Resources
These days we are experiencing a growing awareness to the fact that our energy resources, as they have been used in the last few years, are probably not going to last for long and that the energy markets are exposed to more and more rapid changes, some due to political reasons and others because of the changing climate of the planet. The main conclusion that we all need to get to is that all sources of energy should be explored and that we should harness the forces of nature to assist us in this quest.
Solar power is not a new concept, it has been properly introduced to the global public many years ago and successfully implemented in different parts of the world in different ways, so it is fairly safe to say that solar power is known to most people, but it is still not as popular as it should be, as a cheap replacement for other sources of energy. The energy of the sun, from its direct sun rays that are projected directly at the earth or by giant wind turbines is free fro us to use, to manipulate for our needs, and this can be done by almost anyone in any place, it just needs to technology and the know-how.
The most successful way that solar energy has been used up till today is in water heating and heating in general, the way to use the solar power to heat water is by holding water in a tank that is located in a place that is exposed to the sun, during the day the sun warms the tank and increases the temperature of the water, the tank than preserves the heat and the hot water can be used late at night, hours after the sun had heated the water, this is due to a simple concept of heat preservation. The heat warming technique has been changing peoples lives, especially in communities that live in deserts, where the day temperature is extremely hot and that night temperature tends to be significantly lower than the day the use of solar power to heat water is very effective indeed.
The main issue with the solar power products is the cost, sometimes the cost is too high for some, making it difficult on the potential clients to realize that the use of the solar power product will ultimately save them money, since these solar power application can be usually used for many dozens of years they will be doing their work many years after the initial investment will be long forgotten. If you are in the market for a solar power product you should try and make the calculation of running the same application on other sources of energy like running a generator on gas for some minutes every day for years and years. Even without the changes in costs and the growing problem of the availability of those energy sources, it will be clear that the one time investment in solar power will pay itself off in a matter of few years and will not keep costing you like the other traditional energy sources.
David Evermon has been involved in many environment related projects, writing on many subjects related to the environment and project management his hobbies and knowledge of construction, David writes articles about Solar Power
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Article Post:
Some Pros And Cons Of The Most Popular Forms Of Alternative Energy
Exciting New Sources of Alternative Energy Have Advantages and Disadvantages
By Ian Callis
Solar Energy
Our sun is the greatest source of energy we know about it today, it comes to us freely and is efficient. It is very possible that solar power can replace traditional electricity sources in many places, especially where there is abundant sunshine. Unfortunately not all places are ideal for solar power. In the areas at high latitude there is not enough sunlight in a day to produce efficient energy, and the same for places where it rains a lot.
Wind Energy
Wind is very efficient at producing electricity. Obviously you need a lot of wind, like along coast lines and at high altitudes. Wind power could replace up to 20% of our total electric consumption in the foreseeable future. Wind is a clean source of energy with none of the harmful byproducts like carbon dioxide. However the huge blades of the windmills do pose a danger to birds and you need a lot of room to build a sufficient number of windmills.
Hydroelectric Energy
This type of power is mainly sourced from river dams. The production of electricity from the water movement is clean and it does not produce waste material. However, the ideal type of places to build this is very limited and it is very expensive to build the dams.
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy works much in the same way as hydroelectric energy, but on a smaller scale, and it uses the natural tides of the ocean. There are several drawbacks though. Because of the sometimes violent and unpredictable nature of the ocean, they can not be constructed in many places. So far only about 9 places have been identified to build this kind of power plant. Plus these power plants can have a negative impact on migratory birds and also fisheries.
Biomass
Biomass can be used to produce an alcohol that is comparable to coal and can be used to replace our gasoline needs. The biomass may consist of fermented animal waste, agricultural crops, grains and other natural products. However, using the resulting fuel still produces greenhouse gases.
Geothermal Energy & Nuclear Power
Other forms of energy such as fusion, geothermal and nuclear power can power the world, but they all have some negative impact on the environment.
It seems all forms of alternative energy have some drawbacks, but they all are better options to replace our current dependency on coal and oil.
Ian Callis is a writer and website publisher, including the alternative energy tips website where you can find news, articles and other resources about alternative energy sources, like using the sea to create energy. Feel free to visit us at http://www.alternativeenergytips.info
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Article Post:
Does Nothing Beat Those Old Fossils? Alternative Energy Sources Take Up the Challenge
Sustainable Energy from Geothermal, Wind, Biomass, Solar and Hydro Resources
By Howard Puddy
What is alternative energy?
Alternative energy is just about any source of non mainstream energy supply. In other words, it is power supplied by things other than fossil fuels.
In general, non fossil fuel energy is thought to have less of an impact upon the environment than fossil fuels sources, so they are considered to be more sustainable.
What do we mean by sustainable?
Sustainable is generally defined both in terms of relatively low CO2 emissions as well as the ability to either renew, or to tap into, an almost infinite energy source. These two features are the hallmarks of an alternative energy source.
The key sources for alternative energy, excluding nuclear power are:
- Geothermal energy
- Wind Power
- Biomass
- Solar power
- Hydro electrical Power
A brief description of each alternative energy source is included below.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is an excellent source of heat and, b y boiling water to make steam, power in those areas where the earth’s crust is thinnest making heat more accessible. It is not really viable where you have to drill down a long way to capture the heat from the earth’s molten core.
Wind Power
The wind’s energy can be transferred into electricity by the use of wind turbines. These wind turbines are not fundamentally different from the windmills of old.
Their large blades catch the wind and are turned, just like any other windmill. The difference is that these blades turn a shaft that uses magnets to generate electricity. Previously, windmills turned a stone wheel to generate flour from wheat!
Biomass
This is basically the same method of energy generation as with fossil fuels. The only real difference being that the fuel has not been fossilised over millions of years and is from a renewable source (i.e. more can be grown).
Just about any form of organic matter can be used as biomass, whether it is animal products, wood products, rubbish or even refined vegetable oils such as oilseed rape or sunflower oil. Many vehicles have been converted to run on bio diesel - which is diesel that has been made from vegetable oils.
Solar Power
Solar power is probably the energy source that springs to mind when you are asked to name an alternative energy source. It is also the one that is becoming increasingly widespread in its use.
You can now buy DIY solar cells and solar panels, that you fit yourself. Solar power, as the name suggests, comes from the sun. The energy is used in one of two ways.
Heat energy - A solar panel absorbs the heat from the sun. It transfers this heat to the hot water supply, helping to generate hot water for day to day usage, or heating.
Electrical Energy - A photovoltaic cell captures the light energy or photons, to generate electricity. This electricity is usually stored in a battery and the battery is then used to provide electrical power.
Hydro Electrical Power
In mountainous areas especially, water is a key generator of alternative energy. This is known as hydroelectric power and is commonly generated from dams, and steep water falls.
Rather like a windmill but using water instead of wind, hydroelectric power is generated by falling water pushing past turbine blades. This causes the blades to spin, which causes the turbine to generate electricity.
Perhaps the key difference between wind and water is that wind speed can be variable. Water flow, on the other hand, tends to be relatively constant. This gives hydroelectric power an enormous advantage, as it can be relied upon as a constant source of electrical energy.
Similar techniques are used in the sea, using tidal flows to do much the same task. This is better known as tidal energy, but is fundamentally the same process.
In Summary
There are numerous other sources of alternative energy, including nuclear power generation, but the above 5 are the key types that are becoming increasingly widespread. In fact, over the course of the next decade, it is likely that these sources will stop being alternative and start becoming mainstream!
For more information and articles on alternative energy and a number of other interesting subjects, please visit Howard Puddy’s website at http://www.puddyshop.co.uk
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Article Post:
Shining Some Light on Solar Energy
By Jim Fritz
Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of the future. Solar energy production is an extremely simple process to understand. A solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the Sun. A solar cell is a semiconductor device that is constructed using photovoltaic materials. It contains no liquids or chemicals, and no moving parts. Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.
A solar panel generally consists of a series of individual cells, which are supported by a module that allows the cells to work in unison. The energy that is captured by the panel is stored in a battery. Solar panels generate direct current (DC) energy. Many solar energy systems have inverters in them which allow direct current (DC) electricity to be converted to alternating current (AC). Most consumer products such as appliances and electronics operate on AC current.
Unless you have a vast expanse of land to house an array of solar panels, it is unlikely that you will be able to power your entire home with solar energy. However, it is possible to power a single room in your house with a small array of panels fixed to the roof of your house. Multiply the wattage of each individual electrical device by the number of hours you expect to use them each day. That combined number will be your benchmark, or the bare minimum your system must be able to generate.
There are a number of options available to consumers that are considering converting to solar energy. A basic system that can be used to power a computer and a few other small items can be purchased for approximately $1000.00. Naturally, the price will increase with the production capacity of your system. In most regions, the price of an installed system will cost somewhere in the area of $10.00-$12.00 per watt.
Solar energy is one of a few truly renewable resources that can be used in energy and power generation. Every hour of every day, the Sun blankets our planet with enough energy to sustain our global energy needs for a year. As the technology behind photovoltaic energy advances, consumers will be unable to resist the urge to convert.
A lot of resources are being put into the development of solar energy technology. Most of the major oil and energy companies have entire divisions committed to solar energy. Researchers and engineers are spending countless hours trying to develop the technology today that will vastly improve conditions in the world tomorrow. It is no secret that we cannot continue down the path we are on. Fossil fuels are no longer a feasible option for energy production. The future is solar. The future is now.
Jim Fritz has been a devout environmentalist for most of his adult life. He has been researching the benefits of solar energy for many years, and he is a contributing writer to thesolarguide.com – a brilliant online resource for information about Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Solar Consumer Goods and more.
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