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Alternative Energy
As the worldwide demand for electricity continues to grow and outpace supply, more and more people will be caught in the struggle for more electricity. This trend is likely to be exacerbated by an ever-dwindling world supply of fossil fuels to sustain power production. If something isn't done to address this situation, the world is headed for a dismal future; where those with adequate supply of electricity will rule supreme over those without it. Future wars may inevitably be fought over the simple access to those resources, which will ensure greater supply of electricity. The best solution is to integrate various source of renewable alternative energy including solar, wind, geothermal, marine renewable - which is energy derived from waves, tides, and currents, biomass, and waste.
The energy sector can be classified broadly, based upon the primary sources; fossil, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable categories. The nonrenewable energy sources are exhaustible and comprise more traditional sectors such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum. As the name suggests, the renewable energy sources emphasize recycling energy gained from sources such as wind, wave, solar, geothermal, biomass, and waste. These energy categories have spawned a whole range of products and services that can be viewed as making up the value chain in the respective sub sectors. In terms of economic activity, a major difficulty in identifying energy sectors is represented by the fact that the boundaries between energy goods and services are blurred. This unified approach to energy is probably explained by the market structure of the sector. Until recently the energy sector has been dominated by state-owned, vertically integrated companies, which performed all energy related economic activities, from the production of energy to its distribution to the final consumers.
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Our country has a very large supply of coal easily found due to the fact that it is easy to mine, and is easily transported. One of the biggest problems we face is the challenge to release lower emission levels, a process still being developed, including the study of "clean coal" power plants. Natural Gas is a clean burning fuel that can be easily carried by pipeline. 60% of the power we use in the state of Texas comes from natural gas, a source of energy that will one day run out, leaving opportunity for more renewable sources to be implemented. Nuclear plants create power with no air pollution at approximately the same cost as coal, however, they are very expensive to build and have the potential to damage our environment with the release of radioactive waste. Biomass is a process of taking crop wastes and raw materials and using them to make fuels for electricity. Using this technology gives us more energy and at the same time causes a rise in food cost, having a major impact on our economy.
The production of energy from wind power is one of the cleanest, most reliable ways to create sustainable, clean and affordable energy. Some areas of the country do not produce enough wind to support a viable commercial energy production facility; therefore, wind farms will only be built in the windiest areas.
However, in places where wind is unavailable, often there is sufficient sun to generate power through the use of solar technology. Solar technology has been time tested and proven to be one of the most reliable forms of alternative energy. Further, retrieving power from abundant sunlight that gives out no pollution. It is a clean, sustainable form of renewable energy moving us down the path to a greener future with more affordable power. With demand currently greater than supply, manufacturing will soon become more efficient, dropping the cost of solar panels and systems; therefore causing electrical utilities to begin looking to solar to provide a more stable cost structure.
With all of the alternative energies available, our country needs to focus on the idea that to solve our energy crisis and help prevent future crises, we need to implement all of these technologies with the power grid, using the best technology for the best area, protecting the environment from pollutants and creating more power for future generations to come.
