Sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels
There are many sustainable sources of energy, that could be used in place of fossil fuels, that are just as easy to obtain, cheap, and at least as efficient. Some of these renewable forms of energy include solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric. A transition to these other forms of energy will likely take many years, as fossil fuels are used for so many things that are essential in our everyday lives. Transport, electricity generation, medicines and cosmetics are all mainly made possible by fossil fuels, and companies making these products cannot instantly change to sustainable forms of energy. Now I will explain major alternatives to fossil fuels in detail.
Wind power
Wind is movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. This is a natural process, and wind can be harnessed and turned into electricity using wind turbines. These turbines typically have three blades, that are about 60m long. As wind blows on the turbines, the blades spin around, which turns a shaft which is connected to a generator that makes electricity. Some of the biggest wind turbines generate enough electricity to power 600 average homes is the US. Lots of wind turbines are placed in areas were there is a lot of wind, and make up wind farms. Wind power produces no greenhouse gas emissions, is renewable, plentiful, clean and uses little water or land. When a turbine is erected, there are very small costs in keeping it running as wind will work for free. Some downsides to wind energy is that it is very dependent on the wind. If it is not blowing enough, then very little or no electricity is generated. Also, wind power does not generate huge amount of electricity, and lots of turbines are needed to produce much. But, the use of wind is still generating a lot of electricity cleanly and cheaply. Last year, the total amount of electricity generated by wind was 70,000 megawatts, which is enough electricity to power about 17,500,000 homes.
Wind is movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. This is a natural process, and wind can be harnessed and turned into electricity using wind turbines. These turbines typically have three blades, that are about 60m long. As wind blows on the turbines, the blades spin around, which turns a shaft which is connected to a generator that makes electricity. Some of the biggest wind turbines generate enough electricity to power 600 average homes is the US. Lots of wind turbines are placed in areas were there is a lot of wind, and make up wind farms. Wind power produces no greenhouse gas emissions, is renewable, plentiful, clean and uses little water or land. When a turbine is erected, there are very small costs in keeping it running as wind will work for free. Some downsides to wind energy is that it is very dependent on the wind. If it is not blowing enough, then very little or no electricity is generated. Also, wind power does not generate huge amount of electricity, and lots of turbines are needed to produce much. But, the use of wind is still generating a lot of electricity cleanly and cheaply. Last year, the total amount of electricity generated by wind was 70,000 megawatts, which is enough electricity to power about 17,500,000 homes.
Solar power
Solar power is energy from the sun converted into electricity, typically using solar cells. Solar panels are made up of lots of these cells. A system of solar panels that produces 1.5kw of electricity used for 25 years instead of other electricity will stop about 50,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Many companies have invested in solar power, and they build many of them in the same location, called solar farms. Some positives of solar power are: Once panels are purchased and installed, there are very little maintenance costs and they will be providing you with electricity forever cleanly, efficiently and cheaply. Solar panels can be purchased by anyone, and can be used for many different purposes, such as in remote locations with no electricity anyway. It can also be used solely for hot water generation, or a grid connected system when no electricity is stored, but is only used when things in your house need electricity. Any power generated by the panel that is not used is automatically sold to your electricity provider and transferred to the power grid for other people to use. Solar power has one obvious disadvantage, which is that it cannot be generated at night, as there is no sunlight. It is also less effective when it is cloudy, and early morning and evening. Solar power is not a very common source of energy yet, and covers about 1% of global electricity demand, but solar power is the fastest growing source of energy worldwide.
Solar power is energy from the sun converted into electricity, typically using solar cells. Solar panels are made up of lots of these cells. A system of solar panels that produces 1.5kw of electricity used for 25 years instead of other electricity will stop about 50,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Many companies have invested in solar power, and they build many of them in the same location, called solar farms. Some positives of solar power are: Once panels are purchased and installed, there are very little maintenance costs and they will be providing you with electricity forever cleanly, efficiently and cheaply. Solar panels can be purchased by anyone, and can be used for many different purposes, such as in remote locations with no electricity anyway. It can also be used solely for hot water generation, or a grid connected system when no electricity is stored, but is only used when things in your house need electricity. Any power generated by the panel that is not used is automatically sold to your electricity provider and transferred to the power grid for other people to use. Solar power has one obvious disadvantage, which is that it cannot be generated at night, as there is no sunlight. It is also less effective when it is cloudy, and early morning and evening. Solar power is not a very common source of energy yet, and covers about 1% of global electricity demand, but solar power is the fastest growing source of energy worldwide.