Alternative and Renewable Energy

Alternative and Renewable Energy

Scott Corcoran

12/1/15

EEN1065-A

Alternative energy is a term used for an energy source that is alternative to using fossil fuels. This indicates that these forms of energy are considered non-traditional and are not costly to the environment. This separates alternative energy from being considered a type of renewable energy because sometimes it can even hurt the environment, like the manufacturing needed to create a solar panel. Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. There is also a renewable organic matter called Biomass a biological material coming from the living or recently living and it also could come from wood, waste and alcoholic fuels as well.

The United States mainly relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy which is becoming scarce therefore more expensive because many experts are worried to dive in the U.S. reserves because of damage. And in the contrast the renewable energy is provided by the sun and wind and will never run out. This issue has been a hot debate in the recent Presidential primaries, with the U.S deciding whether it will open up its reserves in the United States or to still rely on foreign oil.

        Sunlight is one of the main components to renewable energy, also called Solar Energy can be used to light houses, heating, generating electricity, solar cooling and other commercial and industrial uses. The suns heat also creates winds, which can be transformed into a renewable energy in wind turbines. Then after the creation of wind, and again with the help of sunlight, the water is evaporated back up into the clouds creating rain and flow of water. And this can be transformed into hydroelectric power which could also be used for many uses. As the sun continues to shine and rain and snow continues to fall, causes the growth of plants and other organic matter. This energy can be turned into Biomass or Bioenergy and this can create electricity, fuels, and chemicals.

        With the growth and strength of these organic compounds, Earths most abundant element hydrogen begins to flourish, and with the combination of Hydrogen and other elements, there is the creation of water and also can be burned into fuel or converted to energy.

        Lastly not all renewable energy comes from the sun; Geothermal energy uses the earth heat for a variety of reasons including electricity, and the largest energy is the gravitational pull from the moves causing waves, pulling the earth around the sun. And with this creation of waves creates Ocean Energy which comes from Tidal Energy and the temperature difference from the sun in the water which can be converted to energy.