Coal, oil, gas, nuclear fuel - all these traditional sources of energy have long been familiar to mankind and are used with varying degrees of efficiency. The search for alternative energy sources is carried out for a number of reasons. This includes saving costs for heat and electricity, and improving the environmental situation, and the limited available energy resources.
Today we offer to study our Top 10 Alternative Energy Sources. Not all sources will ever be widespread, however, some already provide energy to millions of people around the planet.
10. Wind power
Wind generators have long and fairly successfully been used in Denmark, the Netherlands, Great Britain, China and India. Denmark receives about 25% of its energy precisely from wind turbines. According to analysts, Russia could also use wind energy, providing up to 10% of its energy needs.
9. Biofuel
Biodiesel and bioethanol can be obtained from various products: wood waste, straw, biogas, vegetable oils, algae. In Russia, the main product for the production of biodiesel is rapeseed oil. There are more than 245 biodiesel plants in the EU countries.
8. Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion
The process of obtaining heavier atomic nuclei from lighter ones can serve as a source of energy if it is controllable. In modern nuclear energy, a decay reaction, rather than a synthesis, is used. Currently, controlled nuclear fusion for energy is not used in practice, since the question of the profitability and safety of such activities remains open.
7. Tidal energy
On the shores of the seas, where the gravitational effect of the moon causes a change in the water level twice a day, tidal power plants (TES) are being built. Today PES operate in the UK, France, Canada, China and India. Since 1968, an experimental PES has been operating in Russia on the coast of the Barents Sea.
6. Space energy
The receipt of energy in photovoltaic cells placed in the orbit of the Earth is considered a promising source of energy. However, some scientists claim that the large-scale implementation of such projects will lead to global warming. Currently, in practice, energy is not obtained in this way with its delivery to Earth.
5. The heat of the human body
In Stockholm and Paris, the authorities intend to use the heat generated by the passengers of the subway car during the trip. So, in Paris, the owner of a residential building located above the metro line, developed a project for heating 17 apartments due to the heat of passengers.
4. Geothermal energy
Thermal springs are available in many countries. In Central America, the Philippines, Iceland, they learned to use them for heating. In the same areas, geothermal power plants operate.
3. Hydrogen energy
Hydrogen is considered an environmentally friendly source of energy. However, hydrogen production today requires more energy than can be obtained from its use. Therefore, hydrogen has not yet become an effective source of energy.
2. Energy of sea and ocean waves
Countries with a long coastline can well cover part of their energy needs with the help of the sea wave. According to analysts, the UK can thus receive up to 5% of the required electricity. To this end, it was in the United Kingdom that the Oyster wave generator was built.
1. The energy of the sun
Solar power plants operate in more than 30 countries, and hundreds of thousands of households provide themselves with energy through the installation of solar panels. By the way, the most powerful solar power station in the world is Perovo, located in Crimea. The sun is perhaps the most popular among alternative energy sources today.
