The fact is it takes years and years for these energy sources to develop. With humans over consuming them, there is no chance they will last for years to come. In fact, there are fewer and fewer amounts of fossil fuels in the world today. Instead of venturing more toward renewable power sources like solar energy and wind energy, humans are trying to prolong the inevitable.

They are trying to find ways to stretch these non renewable energy sources as far as they can, to make them ultimately last longer. For example, auto makers are developing hybrid cars which use much less of these fossil fuels than the traditional auto. However, the rate of their use in even a hybrid car will not put a dent in the overall “big picture”.

The non renewable energy sources from fossil fuels are not only becoming depleted, but they are also harming the environment. Any type of combustion of the fuels results in pollutants being released into the environment. These atmospheric releases contribute to the “Greenhouse Effect” everyone worries about.

Yes, global warming is directly related to the use of non renewable fossil fuels. Scientists understand fossil fuels will not last forever, thus they are trying to find renewable energy sources to take their places in the world. While technology and discovery is somewhat limiting, the largest limitations for this are created by humans. Humans are not willing to make changes in their lifestyles to accommodate new or renewable energy sources, creating a difficult situation for the future.

Then, when it is dark outside or windy, the meter starts to roll forward again. This helps to save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year in electrical bills.

Before you can start to use this type of system, you must contact your local utility company and file an interconnection agreement with them. This gives you the rights and regulations you have to abide by in order to use your solar or wind powered source for energy.

Currently over 40 states have laws in affect stating utility companies must allow some kind of interconnection agreement with its users. Most utilities companies will not mail you a check if you produce more energy than they do.

But, they may agree to roll over the dollar amount you saved towards the next month or a future month when you experience more usage. The government has recently started giving tax breaks to those using solar or wind power as electricity, giving them another great chance to save money.

The problem many people are encountering is solar powering is not stable. With a grid, solar power is transferred into energy. In most cases, only 10 to 15 percent of solar power has the ability to be transferred into use-able energy for sustaining a household.

Some of the main technologies that are being researched are wind, solar, geothermal, hydro (water), biomass and even hydrogen fuel cells. Renewable energy is energy which can renew itself indefinitely, unlike fossil fuels which are non-renewable sources of energy.  These fossil fuels, such as oil, will eventually be gone. The NREL works to find alternative sources of energy which can be used for many practical applications.

Renewable energy is a concept becoming more popular with the energy crisis. More people are leaning towards these forms of energy. This energy is cleaner and greener. A problem is the initial cost for all these forms of energy is higher than the conventional fossil fuels. Some forms of renewable energy are dependent upon location. Wind energy would require some place with enough wind to sustain a wind farm.

Geothermal energy cannot be used in just any location. Solar power can be found in abundance, but the efficiency of converting sunlight into energy is still very low. With renewable energy we can continue to power our homes, drive our cars and continue life as we know it. In time these renewable energies will help save our planet.

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The purpose of this was to become an intervention plan and to help those in need find the skills to become self-sufficient, wage earning members of society. States were given grants to help them focus on “going green”, help their low income families with job training in this department and then help them create jobs for the individuals who were trained. The Green Jobs Act of 2007 also set in place to collect research regarding the job markets. Thus, it was intended these would focus on what these types of programs did to the labor force in their areas of the country. Many states were given grants to begin implementing ways to “go green”.

While these sound like great ideas, the American people were concerned about their money. Like anything else that costs a significant amount of money they were not sure they would benefit from it. Thus, they were more than a little skeptical of the situation. Many viewed it as a potential waste of money.

Working together for the greater good of human kind, to ensure we have renewable sources for generations to come, is important.  Many colleges and universities are starting programs which focus on ways to use our natural power sources. These programs also focus on the invention of new ways in which to harness these sources. Many “green” companies are now offering on the job training for their employees.

While creating new jobs is obviously a benefit at the moment, many may feel we are facing an opportunity to lose money for other big businesses since natural power sources are free. This can excite many users. But, those who will eventually not be needed and lose their job, due to being outsourced, may not be as excited. There could potentially be an increase in the unemployment levels once new sources are brought forward and become widely used across the world.

When the sunlight is absorbed by these solar cells, the solar energy knocks electrons off their atoms which will allow the electrons to flow through these cells to produce the electricity. This process is called photovoltaic effect. With the grants from the DOE, there is research to find more effective processes to use this photovoltaic effect. Competitiveness due to these grants will increase the effort to find practical and efficient uses of this process.

Solar power is a renewable energy source that is fairly cheap and can be used anywhere sunlight reaches. With the research done due to the grants provided by the DOE, the conversion of solar power to electricity will become more efficient. This can help with the current energy crisis. Fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, will eventually disappear. Solar power is out there in abundance.

Solar energy is becoming more common and popular in homes today. Homes can be heated and electricity can be provided inexpensively and reliably. This green method of providing energy can help save our planet. Cars, homes and many other commercial uses will be found to use solar power. All of this can be done without harming our environment.

The problem with fossil fuels is they will someday run out. It takes time for these energy sources to develop within the crust of the earth. At the current rate of consumption, there is no way that these fuels can develop naturally and not be used up. Currently there are ways being developed to sustain these fuels.

More efficient uses are these energies are being produced. Cars with better gas mileage are being manufactured. Hybrid cars which use electricity as well as gas are just one of the many products which have been developed to sustain the use of fossil fuels. Still these fuels are being depleted.

Another problem with the use of fossils fuels is no matter how safely and efficiently these fuels are being used, they still have an impact on the environment. The combustion of these fuels contributes pollutants to the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. This effect increases global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps.

Alternatives are being developed. Fossils fuels cannot last forever at the current rate of consumption. Alternatives are being developed to sustain the lifestyles that we have become accustomed too. In time, fossil fuels will be a thing of the past.

This is a very scary thought, considering the possibilities that it encompasses! There are several types of renewable energy services. The one you may be the most familiar with is solar power. Other popular forms are wind powered energy, hydro or water powered energy, geothermic and biomass (use of waste to produce energy).

The two most widely used renewable energy services are solar and wind power. This is due to the ease of capabilities with these forms. All houses are subject to the sun and to the wind. Using your own form of solar or wind powered grids, in order to turn them into usable energy for your home, can help you reduce your heating and cooling bills by hundreds each year.

The government has also witnessed the need for renewable energy services. In fact, they began implementing tax breaks for those who harness one of the multiple forms of natural energy, causing you to again save money each year. Saving money this way also allows for an economic boost, as you have more money to spend in other areas.

Right now most of the United States energy is based on fossil fuels such as oil. Even if we recycle and create sustainable energy, these fossil fuels will eventually be gone. Renewable energy can eventually solve this problem. More research is developing the efficiency of producing these forms of energy. These sources are starting to be used more each year.

The Department of Energy forecasts for renewable energy shows that there is a steady rise in the use of wind and solar energy. Some negative claims about these projects, especially wind power, is the sites of these technologies are unsightly and intermittent. On the plus side, these forms of technology can be applied in remote and rural locations. These clean energies are continuing to be used in more commercial ways.

Electricity is being provided to homes, and power is being provided in remote locations.  Gas emissions are being reduced. The hold of fossil fuels is slowly being released. Currently the initial cost for these technologies is high. As the need for energy rises, these renewable sources of energy are available. Time and research will help get things back on track to a better tomorrow.

When consumers are shopping for new appliances they should think of the bigger picture. Sure, an energy-saving appliance may cost a few dollars more than a generic model. However, in the long run the homeowner will not only be saving money on their energy bills but also save the environment. These appliances use 10-50% less energy and water than their standard model counterparts. Therefore, the extra cost upfront is more than doubled throughout the life of the appliance.

Most appliances (including ovens, dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers) come in energy-saving varieties. Most of these models are clearly marked and defined with energy-saving logos. Many stores offer special discounts or incentives to customers willing to purchase these smart appliances. In addition, builders can often find great bulk deals regarding energy-smart appliances in their homes.

So, if you want to help the environment and save money while doing it you should certainly consider purchasing an energy-saving appliance. Not only will they save you hundreds each year but they’ll use half as much power as you’d normally utilize, thus save the environment.

The office is focusing on the reduction of carbon emissions which contribute directly to global climate change. Their plan is to make fossil energy systems more efficient which will then capture greenhouse gases more effectively.

Coal and natural gas power plants are being targeted for these strategies. The overall plan is to create a system where greenhouse gases would not be allowed to affect climate change. Instead, they would be stored, converted or recycled.

While initial efforts focused on limiting the amount each human contributed to the greenhouse effect, today things are being done on a much larger scale. Years ago consumers were asked not to use cans of aerosol deodorant or hairspray.

Today large corporations are being targeted, as the government realizes while everyone should do their part these corporations are releasing large amounts of dangerous gases into the world each day.

Thus, if nothing is done or accomplished regarding the release of these gases the climate change will continue. More icebergs will melt, reducing the natural habitat for many more species. Humans will continue to see rises in temperatures across the world.

Problems will occur within the food supply, forestation and other areas of nature. Thus, it’s vital the climate change is not further precipitated and everything possible is done to prevent more global warming effects.

However, large oil companies felt differently and thus oil was used for automobile power. Ethanol is a clear liquid with a somewhat pleasant odor. Defined as being ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, it’s actually fit to drink in some forms.

As a motor fuel, it’s high-performance and has many benefits. This fuel cuts down on the amount of exhaust emissions allowing less poison to be released into the environment. In addition, it’s made from natural products.

Ethanol is created by a fermenting and distilling process. Sugar and starch crops like sugarcane, maize, sorghum, wheat, corn, fruit and vegetable waste can all be used.

The benefits of ethanol are abundant and include the following:

1) Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from natural products.

2) Manufacturing and burning ethanol doesn’t affect global warming in any way.

3) Ethanol is biodegradable without harmful environmental effects.

4) Ethanol reduces poisonous emissions including carbon monoxide levels, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide emissions, Volatile Organic Compounds, benzene, butadiene and sulphur dioxide.

Countries like Brazil are operating highly on ethanol for auto power. Their successful use of ethanol is prompting more countries to indeed consider the possibilities of this “fuel of the future”.

Thus, auto makers are encouraging buyers to consider ethanol for fuel and are even allowing ethanol powered vehicles to fall under their warranty guidelines. If the world operated on ethanol, there could be a drastic improvement in the overall environment.

It is often hailed as a possible new form of electricity. However, there are still a few problems scientists are working out regarding the use of ocean currents for tidal power.

The main concern regarding the use of ocean currents for tidal power is the possible damage not done by using the powerful source of the ocean itself. Instead, the concern comes with the harnessing of the power.

To harness the power, there would be a need for turbines located in the ocean. These large machines would present a real risk to marine life or possibly swimmers. Environmentalists are not excited about the thought of putting dangerous machinery into the ocean.

The coverage by animal rights groups of the possibilities of danger associated with tidal power is making quite an impact. While ocean current power was once hailed as a positive possibility, these groups are clear to state the dangers involved with turbine machinery are far worse than first expected.

Still not giving up on tidal power, scientists are further studying ocean currents and are trying to create a safer way to harness tidal power for years to come. If they are successful, it could be possible to say ocean currents could indeed power the world.

While it seems like a simple choice, due to politics and a general lack of education on the topic, things aren’t as simple as they seem.

Sustainable energy options are those that don’t seek out new forms of energy generation. They do however focus on the task of making the currently available sources last longer than ever before.

For example, carbon footprint offsets are one way people are factoring in sustainable energy options. Thus, these footprints are helping to minimize the impact each human has on the environment.

By definition, renewable energy options are those which are naturally replenished. These resources automatically renew themselves without human assistance.  Some examples of renewable energy sources include solar power and hydro electrical power. Both the sun and water are plentiful and cannot be “used up” by humans.

It seems like a simple choice, right? Unfortunately as with many things politics and financing are getting in the way of choosing proper energy sources. To switch over to an entirely new way of generating energy can be costly.

Large corporations are not excited about the idea of spending millions of dollars refurbishing their plants to harness a new type of energy power. Thus, since these refurbishing projects could pass increases on to the consumer, most people in government are not willing to back the changes.

Being a renewable energy source, wind power is sometimes preferred over solar power. In fact, there are clear lines drawn in the sand between wind power enthusiasts and solar power believers.  With wind being free, available and able to be harnessed it is an ideal source for energy applications.

The major disadvantage when studying wind power as a power source is the unpredictability of wind itself. By nature, wind is unpredictable and inconsistent. There are times where there may not be any wind present at all, which can be difficult to work with when talking about consistent power options.

Another disadvantage to wind power is the manner in which wind power could be harnessed. To harness wind power, mills would be required. Thus, there are many critics arguing wind power mills would damage land much more than the wind power would benefit it.

With enormous clear fields being needed, those who oppose wind power are claiming land would be damaged and littered with the unattractive mills.  In addition, the impact that the creation of wind harnessing mills has on the environment is somewhat questionable.

Lastly, the projected cost for operating a large wind mill is often debated as being more expensive than the cost saved by using wind power.

One of the major things the federal government is doing to address global warming is the promotion of ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a clear liquid with a somewhat pleasant odor. Defined as being ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, it’s actually fit to drink in some forms.

As a motor fuel, it’s high-performance and has many benefits. This fuel cuts down on the amount of exhaust emissions allowing less poison to be released into the environment.

In addition, it’s made from natural products. Ethanol is created by a fermenting and distilling process. Sugar and starch crops like sugarcane, maize, sorghum, wheat, corn, fruit and vegetable waste can all be used.

The government is making ethanol a more attractive option by offering financial support and incentives to those who choose to utilize it. With the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 the consumption of this fuel has risen.

Currently, the United States uses a little over 5 billion gallons of ethanol each year. However, the government hopes the country will be using over 30 billion gallons each year by 2015.

To help corporations make the switch, the government has given out grants to businesses who are willing to use ethanol fuel or who are willing to produce ethanol.

Since farmer-owned cooperatives produce more than half of the nation’s ethanol, farmers can automatically benefit as well. These incentives can ensure the stability of the agriculture market for hundreds of years.

Thus, there are some misconceptions associated with this form of energy. The best way to address biodiesel is by looking at the facts and myths associated with the term.

A biofuel is a naturally occurring source that relies on dead plant matter, just as fossil fuel relies on dead matter. After the matter has been dead for a while, a host of chemical processes take place. Through these processes, the biodiesel is created and ready to be used as energy producing fuel.

Sure, biodiesel technically comes from the land. Thus, it seems like a natural and positive possibility. However, there is a major concern regarding biofuel and the environment. Since any type of plant material can be used for this particular process, it’s assumed plants need to be grown.

Thus, after they are grown, harvested and converted to energy it, ecological problems can arise. The risk of damaging the natural food supply is quite high, considering the large amounts of energy consumed each year by the country.

Environmentalists warn that deforestation, soil erosion, water wasting and food shortages could occur naturally as a result of using biodiesel instead of fossil fuels. While some think it would help the environment others see that it could naturally disrupt the flow of nature and damage it extremely.

Scientists are still working on a controlled way to utilize the major benefits of biodiesel while limiting it’s destructive capabilities.

As a renewable energy source, wind power is sometimes hailed as being the answer to those who are not sure where the solar power debate is going. After all, it is plentiful, available around the world, can be harnessed, and of course makes for extensive energy applications.

Sadly, this is where the list of positive attributes by and large stops. A listing of the pros and cons of wind power showcases that the itemization on the con side is a lot more plentiful. The predictability of the wind, for example, leaves a lot to be desired and it is entirely possible to not experience any wind during certain times.

In addition, the impact that the creation of wind harnessing mills has on the environment is somewhat questionable. There is the clearing of vast fields that must be discussed, the impact on animals caught in the turbines, and of course the aesthetics involved in seeing vast open spaces littered with these contraptions. The cost is also sometimes cited as being too high for the actual energy that may be obtained from the turbines being operated.

Although they are not considered to be of serious impact at this stage, they do present energy options for localized communities who might wish to subsidize their power grid with another source of readily available energy that lessens their dependence on the main form of energy.

The feasibility of geothermal energy has been explored since the early 1900s. By and large it relies on the utilization of heat that is found beneath the earth for all energy needs aboveground. At this point in time the application for geothermal heat is primarily for localized use and not for large scale energy production.

Environmentalists believe that the release of steam byproducts does have a lasting impact on the environment – although not nearly as dire as the current emissions caused by the generation and use of fossil fuels.

Hydro electric energy, on the other hand, is found to be by far more useful when it comes to renewable energy. After all, there is plenty of water found on the earth and there is little chance of running out of this fuel any time soon.

Currently it is this form of renewable energy that makes up the lion’s share of all the renewable energy current used around the world. Geothermal and hydro electric energy are valid contenders in the search for a new primary energy source, but at this point it looks as though solar power is beating both of them.

Some have argued that the current methodology of fossil fuels will continue to be sustainable indefinitely if new areas of extraction are opened, but in the current political and socio-environmental climate it is highly doubtful that this suggestion will find a lot of support.

Instead, nuclear power options for a sustainable energy future are now being hailed as the wave of the past and the future. Whereas in the past there was a lot of fear that nuclear reactors would create unspeakable natural disasters, the decades have proven that when it comes to sustainable energy, nuclear power might actually be the least of all evils.

With further security and safety options, even those that fear terrorist attacks on nuclear reactors are satisfied that there is little cause for such alarm.

Nuclear power options for a sustainable energy future are still meeting with some hesitation, however, usually those who would point out that the problem of nuclear energy may be a calculated risk, but at the same time it is one which will last for centuries.

After all, the contamination that even one minor accident may release into the environment may not be completely absorbed for hundreds or thousands of years, if then.

Motorsports all over the world consume a large quantity of high-octane fuel not only on race day, but all week long during practice and training too. How cool would it be if they began using alternative fuels, and showed that they can be just as competitive?

Well this Sunday, hydroplane racer Chip Hanauer will be doing just that, as he runs a boat on 80% coconut oil. it may not be “renewable” but it’s certainly a good alternative…
Read the whole story here…

For those that may have doubts, this short video should provide some brief enlightenment and entertainment….

Sustainable energy options do not seek out new forms of energy generation but instead focus more readily on how to make the currently available sources stretch further and longer.

Carbon footprint offsets, for example, are a way of factoring in sustainable energy options and minimizing the impact one person has on the environment. Thus the notion of locating new sources of current energy sources is within the realms of sustainable energy discussions.

Renewable energy options, on the other hand, are those which are naturally replenished with the necessitation of humankind doing anything to either limit the use of what is available or doing anything to encourage the formation of new sources.

Such renewable energy sources may be solar power or also hydro electrical power. Both are plentiful and neither needs to be limited or conserved in order for there to be enough for all.

Yet when discussing renewable vs. sustainable energy options, the considerations are quite frequently monetary in nature.

After all, the complete refurbishing of energy generation plants costs quite a bit of money and although the cost may eventually be passed on to the consumer, initially the funding needs to be found either with the help of private investors or the governments.

Understanding biofuel properly requires dealing with facts and myths.

Some of them of course are brought on by marketers who are sensing a shift in public perception and are getting ready to position themselves and their companies to gain.

In its most basic form, a biofuel is a naturally occurring source that relies on dead plant matter. Fossil fuel, on the other hand, also relies on dead matter. But, this kind of matter has had to have been dead for a very long time to permit a host of chemical processes to take place, readying it for use as energy producing fuel.

The unfortunate misconception that biofuels are going to be the answer to the current energy crisis is propagated by those who are blinded by the term “bio.”

Considering any kind of plant material may become biofuel, it naturally follows that such plants must be grown, tended, harvested, and then converted to energy. This raises ecological problems as well as questions with respect to a secure food supply.

Deforestation, soil erosion, water wasting, food shortages and a host of other problems are estimated to occur if there was a serious shift from fossil fuels to biofuels.

While understanding biofuels does not make the debate any easier, it does help to clear up some misconceptions and therefore adequately weigh all options currently open and also opening up in the future.

There are some very serious problems with the use of tidal power, which are not always readily apparent or even consistently pointed out to those potentially affected by them.

Unfortunately, those who wonder if it is possible to see tidal power as the new form of electricity will learn rather quickly that while logically it is indeed a possibility.

The technology involved requires the utilization of turbines that are hazardous to marine life and even the occasional swimmer who might come too close for comfort.

While in decades past this would not have been considered a serious component of the debate, news organizations filming the death of marine mammals in particular when being inadvertently drawn into the turbine machinery have made tidal power one of the least attractive forms of renewable energy thus far.

Even if the marine life and overall wellbeing were not as big a consideration as it obviously must be, the fact that the placement of the turbines required for tidal energy to be generated requires an error free placement makes this a costly proposition.

One minute mistake in placement and the turbine is not only useless, but might actually impact the effectiveness of other turbines built nearby.

Senator Harry Reid, D-Nevada said the following about T. Boone Pickens:

Great American entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens is good at a lot of things. One of them is making money. And if he’s interested in renewable energy, it’ something we should be taking a look it.

To Mr. Pickens the situation with our dependence on foreign oil is critical. He is a great example of what is needed to move renewable forms of energy into the mainstream of the country’s energy system.

to make renewable energy a much larger part of the energy system, for renewables to be economically viable, the entrepreneurial, risk taking spirit of the early industrial revolution must be seen again.

We’ve all seen the clips of the Wright Brothers and others attempting “first flight”. That is the spirit that is embodied in someone like T. Boone Pickens.

Inventors, entrepreneurs, and even the large auto makers have a great opportunity to be a part of nothing less than changing the future of mankind.

The greatest threat to the world, to civilization itself, is the dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Here’s more about T. Boone Pickens and more about his vision of America and the world’ energy future.

While the EU has called for 22 percent of it’s electricity needs to be met by renewables by 2010, the U.S. has lagged behind. Renewable energy currently meets about six percent of European energy demand.

Learn more about renewable energy from wave and tidal energy, check out this short video about the latest technology for generating electricity from the sea.

Electricity from the Sea
CNET News
Web Exclusive |01:44|
Irish companies say they could harvest power from the turbulent waters off Ireland’s West Coast in a few years. They want to bring the technology to the U.S. and New Zealand too…

As a matter of fact, it has been said solar power is going to change the way society interacts, educates the next generations and overall forms a global civilization will change drastically. This is all because of the conversion of the sun’s rays into usable energy.

The benefits of solar power are plentiful. Consider the fact a country is no longer subject to another for the use of energy or fuel creating raw materials and it becomes obvious rather quickly that this will lead to an appreciable shift in global power.

Furthermore, since this is one kind of energy that is entirely green there will be no destruction of the environment either when attempting to get the solar power or when hoping to collect it.

When it comes to the consumer, the benefits of solar power may be experienced in any and all situations that require energy. Whether it is the heating of water or a home, cooling applications, cooking, lighting, and also transportation, all of these needs may be met simply by the sun.

As a derivative, this technology also is going to offer a new breed of jobs to those who endeavor to become educated in the use of renewable energy.

Converting solar energy to electricity – how it works in the nitty gritty – has been hard to understand for some, while others see it as one of the simplest tasks that even surpasses the current generation of electricity with the help of turbines.

When converting solar energy to electricity, the first step is to catch the sun’s rays. This is done with the help of photovoltaic panels. On private residences, you most likely have noticed the big, flat, black panels that have been mounted to the roof.

These panels are the ones that collect the sunlight and begin the conversion process. Although this is a somewhat simplistic explanation, it aptly illustrates the ease with which converting solar energy to electricity may be accomplished without too many adjunct operations.

Within the panels, the light is converted into electricity that is stored in a battery. The stored energy from the battery is drawn upon by the household demand for energy and thus its charge is depleted.

Over time, the battery may empty out and the home may once again need to rely on grid energy until the battery may be recharged. The more photovoltaic panels a home has installed, the more batteries can be charged and thus the less electricity has to be drawn from the grid.

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell will likely be the energy source of the future for individual transportation. Meaning that we will someday be primarily driving vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

It is only a matter of time, (and prices at the gas pump), before this technology receives the attention it deserves.

Here’s an example from Honda of where the current technology is. This is an image of the Honda FCX Clarity, a stylish looking hydrogen fuel cell car (only leased in small numbers to select California Residents)

The most distinctive feature of the Honda FCX Clarity - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle—other than the fuel cell itself—is the streamlined layout made possible by its compact and efficient powertrain components.

The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the Hydrogen Fuel as a Future Secondary Energy Source leaves behind.

How to make hydrogen?
Hydrogen can be created from the following primary energy resources and more. An electrolizer is for (at filling stations) - producing hydrogen from electricity and water.

• fossil fuels to hydrogen
• biofuels to hydrogen
• hydro power to electricity and water (split apart into elements) to hydrogen
• solar power to electricity and water (split apart into elements) to hydrogen
• geothermal to electricity and water (split apart into elements) to hydrogen

Hydrogen can even be made from hydrocarbons, effectively being made from the very pollution that threatens the future of the current energy system, making double use for the same primary energy sources, whether algae or hydro power.

Storing the hydrogen
Converting the hydrogen from a liquid or gas which can’t currently be stored as efficiently as gasoline into fuel cells consisting of metal allows or other high hydrogen content substances is one possible way to overcome the storage problem. Storage will continue to be a challenge until the capacity approaches that of a conventional tank of gasoline.

Hydrogen refueling should however be fairly easy and it may even be possible in the future to charge your hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle at home using household electricity and water, the natural gas supply, or one of another possible methods of easily creating the hydrogen.

For more detailed information about hydrogen, check out this video of Hydrogen Hopes, hosted by Alan Alda.

Learn about where we are with hydrogen fuel cell technology and where we are likely to go from here in this informative, fascinating episode of the PBS Television Series Scientific American Frontiers

Season 15 : Episode 6 |26:08|

We’ve all heard of hydrogen as the fuel of the future, but what will it take to get there from here?

Video Episode Courtesy of Hulu.Com

Renewable energy utilizes natural cycles and systems such as sunlight, wind, tides, and geothermal heat to create energy in a form ready for human consumption. These sources differ from fossil fuels in that they can be replenished, and their use produces little, if any, greenhouse gases.

Renewable energy is not that cheap compared to conventional fossil fuel generating plants. The only real alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear energy. Renewable energy is naturally intermittent. Hydrogen provides a means to store renewable energy for times when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow.

BioFuels

Biofuel is solid, liquid, or gas fuel made from recently dead biological material, most commonly plants. Biofuel can be theoretically produced from any organic carbon source. The most common by far is photosynthetic plants that capture solar energy. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuels. The most widely recognized agri-fuel is corn, used to create ethanol.

Biomass energy is generated by the decay of large masses of plant or animal material or waste which forms methane and other combustible gases. These gases contain chemical energy, which when burned can be used to generate electricity.

Biomass and other combustible renewables and waste account for 11 percent, and nuclear energy accounts for 6.8 percent. Biomass, or the use of biologically derived materials for energy generation, is also considered a renewable-energy source and is carbon-neutral. Agricultural wastes are currently being explored as potential biomass feedstock.

Biomass pyrolysis gas and methane can be burned in reciprocating or gas turbine engines and the heat output readily integrated. Biodiesel and Ethanol production facilities can also become more feasible with integration into this system. The contributions from biofuels are expected to nearly quadruple, growing from 0.5 quads in 2006 to 1.87 quads in 2030.

Hydro

The power of moving water, generated by gravity, whether from damns or tidal waves, can also be considered a renewable resource. Hydro (moving water) accounts for 2.3 percent with all other renewable resources meeting .5 (five-tenths) of a percent of the world’s total energy appetite.

Solar

Solar is the most popular renewable energy source in the USA. Solar electric (PV) systems typically do not require maintenance, other than periodic cleaning of the solar panels. PV panel life is typically 25 years. There are a variety of technologies that have been developed to take advantage of solar energy. These include concentrating solar power systems, passive solar heating and daylighting, photovoltaic systems, solar hot water, and solar process heat and space heating and cooling.

Wind

Wind turbines are usually constructed in the windiest areas, although there are many locations throughout the United States and the rest of the world that are suitable for wind power production. Wind energy is an intermittent source since wind does not blow at consistent speeds and times. Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. The wind flows over the airfoil shaped blades causing lift, like the effect on airplane wings, triggering them to turn.

The shortfall in the world’s energy needs can only be made up by renewable sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal, along with the other non-fossil, non-renewable fuel sources of energy, nuclear.

However, renewable energy sources will be unable to satisfy the predicted increased energy needs and certainly will not be able to replace fossil fuels entirely, even for electricity production alone.

CORN ETHANOL
Pros:
Compared with oil it may help decrease the gas emissions as well as reduce the world’s dependence on oil. It also promotes the building of biofuels infrastructure.
Cons:
The production of ethanol requires a lot of energy, which doesn’t quite cover the energy efficiency demand. The recent boom in corn demand has increased the prices of corn bushels from $2 last year to $5 this year, which means an increased cost of everything from beef to soft drinks and most of your groceries. Farmers devote more land to corn and less to other grains, which raises the prices of corn worldwide. Over 450 lbs of corn are needed to produce 25 gallons of ethanol—enough to feed a person for a year!

BIODIESEL
Pros:
It is estimated that biodiesel will reduce gas emissions 40%-80%. It also provides 90% more energy than is required to produce it.
Cons:
The demand for biodiesel has led to an increasing number of Amazon and South East Asia forests being cut down and replaced with palm tree plantations, which released huge amounts of greenhouses gasses into the atmosphere and, in itself, is more of a danger than solution. Luckily, the practice has been limited.

SUGAR-CANE ETHANOL
Pros:
Sugar-cane generates more ethanol per acre than corn and it needs less energy to produce, therefore is regarded as a more eco-friendly than corn ethanol. The increased demand for sugar ethanol hasn’t raised the food prices since sugar is not a basic ingredient in food production like corn.
Cons:
Growing cane requires a certain type of climate, namely warm and rainy, which limits its potential for being a global source of fuel.

CELLULOSIC ETHANOL
Pros:
The production of cellulosic ethanol doesn’t involve switching the use of cropland from growing food to growing biofuels since it is made by breaking down wood chips, farm waste and nonfood crops, such as grass.
Cons:
It requires more energy to produce ethanol from nonfood plants than corn or sugar cane. The production of cellulosic ethanol is still expensive and the process of making ethanol from nonfood plants is difficult.

ALGAL BIOFUEL
Pros:
Since it is a fastest growing plant on the planet, algae can produce up to 30 times more energy per acre than other biofuel sources. Moreover, a promising combination of byproducts can be made into algal-biofuels, which may contribute to their cost effectiveness.
Cons:
Unfortunately, the biomass for making algal biofuel does not yet exist and it has to be grown. Harvesting it is quite expensive, thus cost effective production of this type of biofuel is still years away.

Source: Environment

Coal, oil and natural gas are non-renewable natural resources that we will exhaust one day. In fact many predictions made decades ago stated that these natural resources would even be in short supply by the year 2000.

Now, as we know, that gloomy scenario hasn’t materialized. However, many who have followed this situation closely for decades believed that they would have witnessed the transition to renewable energy resources - away from the dependence on fossil fuels - by now.

The solution now is to wean ourselves quickly off of fossil fuels as there are new alternatives. We can use energy much more efficiently, reducing our energy consumption overall and slowing the depletion of fossil fuels.

Because fossil fuels provide energy via combustion, they release emissions that are toxic to plants, animals and humans. There is much debate about the specific impact this has on the environment, but it is likely to continue to change the earth’s climate in ways we cannot fully know.

It is widely accepted, though, that every stage of exploration, extraction, processing, transportation, and consumption of fossil fuels has known impacts and suspected risks for humans and the ecosystems that support us.

An increase in our use of nuclear power, with it’s negligible emissions and it’s virtue of being renewable, has recently become an option widely supported by the scientific community. Nuclear energy is but one part of a multi-faceted approach to the world’s increasing energy needs.

The overall answer must be to begin immediately to transition away from fossil fuels to high efficiency, renewable energy sources, before the rapidly growing energy needs of developing countries overwhelm the world we live in.

A 2001 report by the Global Environmental Facility stated that:

A transition to renewable energy is inevitable, not only because fossil fuels will run out - large reserves of oil, coal and gas remain in the world - but because the costs and risks of using these supplies will continue to increase relative to renewable energy.

It’s the 21st century, and the sun is setting on the fossil fuel era. The 21st century will be the solar/hydrogen age.

Geothermal energy is a mainstay of the Icelandic economy, and is also heavily exploited in the United States, with 43 geothermal plants. Geothermal energy is used for electric power generation and direct utilization in the United States.

Even so, this worldwide use represents only a fraction of the potential power that could be generated from geothermal resources. Geothermal energy is generally a highly localized resource, and the processes used to extract energy move at a much higher rate than the processes that restore energy into the geothermal environment.

Geothermal energy is put to work in many places around the world. The best known geothermal energy sources in the United States are located in western states and Hawaii. Geothermal energy is non-renewable. It is non-renewable because it takes millions of years for the earth’s heat to accumulate.

Geothermal energy is contained in underground reservoirs of steam, hot water, and hot dry rocks. As used at electric generating facilities, hot water or steam extracted from geothermal reservoirs in the Earth’s crust is supplied to steam turbines at electric utilities that drive generators to produce electricity.

While the overall costs of accessing geothermal power are higher than many fossil fuels, the costs continue to decline as the technology improves. Geothermal energy is considered to be
a clean, reliable source of energy.