Coal, oil, gas, nuclear fuel - all these traditional energy sources have long been familiar to mankind and are used with varying degrees of efficiency. The search for alternative energy sources is being conducted for a variety of reasons. This includes saving costs for heat and power supply, and improving the environmental situation, and the limited availability of energy resources.
Today we propose to study our Top 10 alternative energy sources... Not all sources will ever become widespread, however, some already provide energy to millions of people around the planet.
10. Wind energy
Wind turbines have long been successfully used in Denmark, the Netherlands, Great Britain, China and India. Denmark receives about 25% of its energy from wind turbines. According to analysts, Russia could also use wind energy, providing up to 10% of its energy needs.
9. Biofuels
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. More than 245 biodiesel factories operate 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 controlled. In modern nuclear power, a decay reaction is used, not fusion. Currently, controlled nuclear fusion is not used for energy production in practice, since the question of the profitability and safety of such an activity remains open.
7. Energy of sea tides
On the shores of the seas, where the gravitational effect of the moon causes the water level to change twice a day, tidal power plants (TPS) are being built. Today PESs operate in Great Britain, France, Canada, China and India. An experimental TPP has been operating in Russia since 1968 on the coast of the Barents Sea.
6. Space energy
Energy production in photovoltaic cells placed in Earth's orbit is considered a promising energy source. However, some scientists claim that large-scale implementation of such projects will lead to global warming. At present, in practice, obtaining energy in this way with its delivery to the Earth is not carried out.
5. Human body heat
In Stockholm and Paris, the authorities intend to use the heat generated by the passengers of the subway car during the trip. For example, in Paris, the owner of a residential building located above the metro line has developed a project to heat 17 apartments using the heat of passengers' bodies.
4. Geothermal energy
Thermal springs are found in many countries. In Central America, the Philippines, Iceland, they learned to use them for heating. Geothermal power plants operate in the same areas.
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. The energy of sea and ocean waves
Countries with an extended coastline may well cover part of their energy needs due to sea waves. According to analysts' calculations, 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. Energy of the sun
Solar power plants operate in more than 30 countries around the world, and hundreds of thousands of households provide themselves with energy through the installation of solar panels. By the way, the most powerful solar power plant in the world is Perovo, located in Crimea. The sun is perhaps the most popular alternative energy source today.