What Are Renewable Energy and Alternate Energy Sources?

Unlike fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas,an unobstructed path for the sun's energy. Solar
renewable energy is sustainable because it ishot water systems are very efficient and have
derived from inexhaustible sources such as thebeen used for many years whilst solar electricity
sun (solar), wind, biomass, water (hydro) andis a reasonably new technology. Solar electricity is
geothermal. Renewable energy sources are notgenerated by photovoltaic cells contained in the
man-made and occur naturally.solar panel. The cells produce an electric voltage
Because of their sustainability, renewable energywhen sunlight falls on them.
sources can be relied upon for producing longWind power uses the force of the wind to drive
term, cost effective and efficient power. Alsoa wind turbine which generates electricity in the
known as 'green energy', these enviro-friendlyconventional way. Exactly like a common windmill,
energy sources are generally non-polluting andthe water pump is replaced by an electric
cleaner to use than fossil fuels such as oil. Whengenerator. Wind generators utilize a completely
commonly used in systems to generatenatural phenomenon to produce green renewable
electricity, they do not emit toxic waste orclean energy.
produce greenhouse gases.Hydroelectric electricity is electricity produced by
Many governments around the world are lookingthe force of water flowing over and driving a
at renewable energy to reduce our dependencewater turbine or generator. Instead of wind as in
on oil and other polluting fossil fuels. For example,a wind turbine, the flowing water rotates the
in Australia where I live, the government hasturbine's blades. Like wind turbines, the
committed to ensuring that twenty percent ofeffectiveness of hydroelectric systems is
Australia's electricity supply comes fromdependent on the availability of a good supply of
renewable energy sources by the year 2020. Toflowing water. There are micro-hydroelectric
encourage electricity users to participate in thissystems available which can be used in remote
initiative, incentives such as rebates, grants areareas where there is a good water supply.
being offered to various community groups,Hybrid power supply systems are simply a
schools, homes and businesses to install solarcombination of the already mentioned energy
power. End users are also being given thesources. Usually consisting of solar panels and wind
opportunity to 'feed in' to the electricity grid anyturbines, these can also integrate more
excess power they generate.conventional generating equipment such as diesel
Another aspect of the call to 'go green' is thatgenerators and battery banks. The current
electricity suppliers have the ability to offer totechnology for these systems is already quite
their customers, power which has been producedmature and well tested. Because of the flexibility
by the use of green energy such as commercialoffered by hybrid systems, these are relatively
solar arrays and wind turbines or wind farms. Theeasy to upgrade or expand as required.
customer pays a slightly higher cost for theirWhen it comes to implementing an alternative
electricity but it is a way for them to reduce theirgreen energy system, there are many possibilities
dependence on fossil fuels.ranging from the complete professional system
Alternative Energy Sourcescosting many thousands of dollars up front to the
At the level of our current electricity generatingbasic diy system which starts off small and can
technology, the main alternative energy sourcesbe expanded when more funds are available.
are solar, wind, hydroelectric and hybrid systems.In the years to come, we will hear more and
Solar power is created from sunlight, in the casemore about green energy and as the power bills
of electricity generation or, in the case of solarcontinue to increase, the cost of going green will
hot water systems, the heat from the sun. Solarbegin to look very attractive.
panels are generally mounted on the roof to allow