10 Examples of Alternative Energies

The alternative energies or, more properly said, alternative energy sources are those techniques and procedures aimed at obtaining usable energy other than those considered classic or traditional, such as burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas). For example: wind power, geothermal power, wave power.

The latter, developed from the Industrial Revolution, is still the most widely used in the world, but due to its environmental consequences and the instability of its markets for raw material, the possibility of developing safer, more reliable and economical energies is pursued. These would be, in that sense, alternative energies.

There is no unanimity as to what methods of obtaining energy make up this category of "alternatives", since some use the term as synonymous from ecological energies or “green” energies, while for others it is enough that they are different from burning fossil fuel, such as hydroelectric power wave nuclear energy.

This term arose in the decade of 70's, when environmental concerns and the evidence of technological impact on the planet and the alteration of the

ecosystems animals and vegetables began to become evident to man.

Classification of alternative energies

Alternative energy sources can be broadly classified into two categories:

Examples of alternative energies

1. Wind power. Wind energy has accompanied man since ancient times: flour mills are a perfect example. The aim is to take advantage of the wind thrust in areas where it is particularly strong and constant, by means of a system of blades then connected to an electric generator. Thus, the mechanical energy of the wind in potential energy and then electric. But of course, the quantities generated are low and therefore it lacks the potential to supply large urban conglomerates.
2. Geothermal energy. As its name implies, this type of energy takes advantage of the hot emanated by the planet itself, that having an iron heart and other metals molten, as it generates large amounts of heat as we move into the earth. This energy can be used to heat homes through water systems, but in volcanic areas or high magmatic activity can even be used to boil water and generate a certain quota of electricity.
3. Hydroelectric power. The most popular of the renewable energyIt requires just one waterfall (natural, such as waterfalls, waterfalls or rivers; or artificial, such as dams and hydroelectric complexes with reservoirs) to mobilize the generators that will produce the electric current. Except for the environmental and economic impact that occurs when installing these plants or when damming entire rivers and flooding slopes, and the effect Of the potential droughts that accompany climate change, this mechanism has so far proven to be reliable, safe and relatively ecological.
4. Biomass energy. Also called biofuel energy or even bioenergy, it is about obtaining more or less ecological fuels (with an impact much lower than that of fossil fuels) and above all cheaper, based on the transformation of organic material in combustible alcohols (biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, etc.). For this, agricultural waste, organic waste material and many other substances of plant or animal origin can be used, subjected to an anaerobic fermentation process.
5. Seawater energy. Tidal energy is what takes advantage of the movement of the tides, in a similar way to how wind works. There are tidal mills, which convert the Kinetic energy of water currents in electric power usable. However, the amount of energy generated, in contrast to the economic investment and the impact environmental impact of the installation of these generating plants makes it a model with very little penetration nowadays.
6. Fission nuclear energy. One of the two forms of atomic energy known to man, consists of the separation or splitting of the atom from a heavy material such as uranium. This creates a chain reaction that releases huge amounts of caloric energy and radiation, as well as hazardous materials such as plutonium; but that properly controlled can be used to boil water whose steam mobilizes turbines and generates electricity. Of this nature, but out of control, was the reaction of the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
7. Nuclear fusion energy. The second known form of nuclear reaction is the one used to make the dreaded H-bomb or hydrogen bomb. This is carried out through a mechanism contrary to fission, that is, the joining of two atoms of an element light like hydrogen, releasing even more energy and radiation, as well as byproducing heavier elements like helium. It is similar to the process that occurs within the stars in the sky.
8. Photovoltaic Solar Energy. The use of the energy that the sun constantly radiates is one of the great hopes of humanity in times of climate change. In the case of photovoltaic solar energy, this requires the installation of large solar panels in important areas of territory, to be able to capture the largest amount possible of solar radiation and through a photovoltaic cell that operates more or less like a battery, take advantage of the impact of photons to produce an electric field permanent. It has the limitation of requiring sunny climates over large areas of territory.
9. Thermal solar energy. Also known as solar thermal energy, it operates in a similar way to photovoltaic energy but to produce heat instead of electricity: heat that can be used for cooking food, to heat a room or even to power absorption refrigeration machines, which require heat instead of electricity. It has the same advantages and disadvantages, however, of the previous case.
10. Wave energy. This is the name given to the energy obtained from the use of the force (mechanical energy) of the waves of the sea: it is one of the most studied types of renewable energy at the beginning of the 21st century, as the predictability of marine processes and their combinability with wind power offer hope in obtaining energy sustainable looking to the future.

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