| There is an increasing demand for energy across the | | | | localised to accommodate them. |
| globe, of which there are natural resources waiting | | | | Geothermal energy lies just under our feet directly |
| for us to harness if for our use. We need to spend | | | | and there is an abundance of it available. A few miles |
| more time and money into research and seeking | | | | just below the surface of the earth, we can tap into |
| ways to make good use of this alternative energy, | | | | this energy. The hot molten core of the earth heats |
| rather than using the old fossil fuels and creating | | | | the water on the surface, to produce energy, which |
| more damage to the environment. | | | | is harnessed once it turns into steam. This steam is |
| Wind power is an alternative energy resource that | | | | used to drive turbine engines so as to generate |
| we harness with wind turbines. They are continually | | | | electricity. More research should be done on |
| being developed with demand and are progressively | | | | geothermal energy so we can tap into its resources |
| becoming cheaper and more efficient in energy. | | | | and develop it more for use. |
| There are many "wind farms" which can be seen, | | | | The waste that we produced is often disposed in |
| that are strategically placed so as not to jeopardise | | | | landfill sites, which decomposes over time and so |
| the bird population in their natural environment. The | | | | gives off methane. By using it before it gives off too |
| first wind turbines were not so well placed. | | | | methane which is damaging, we can create energy |
| The most famous of all alternative energy resources | | | | from it. It is mainly used as gas for fuel cells for use |
| is solar energy, which the majority of people are | | | | in standard gasoline generators. |
| familiar with. There are lots of products on the | | | | Ethanol is a biofuel used as a substitute for gasoline. |
| market which use solar power, that people buy for | | | | This alternative fuel is easy to make and process |
| home use: solar lighting, solar lanterns and fountains | | | | using such products as corn, grapes, sugar cane, |
| for the garden are a new innovation, etc. Solar cells | | | | wheat, wood cellulose and wood chips. It is still |
| are manufactured which collects the sun's energy and | | | | debatable as to whether it is economical as lots of |
| focuses, so that it can be converted into electricity | | | | arable land is required to grow the crops, and also |
| to light buildings and for heating, like hot water. Solar | | | | concerns of the pollutants from use of this product. |
| energy is like wind power in that there is zero | | | | It is localised in some areas and technologies are still |
| pollution created, which is a positive for the | | | | being refined for extraction and admixturing. |
| environment. | | | | There is a lot of investment by entrepreneurs into |
| Governments and investors see Ocean Wave Energy | | | | Biodiesel energy which is created by many different |
| as having great potential for generating energy. In | | | | plant oils such as palms, rapeseed, soybeans and |
| France, a generator of this kind has been operation | | | | sunflower oils. It is now competing with fossil fuels |
| for several years, deemed to be a great success. In | | | | and many companies have shown a commercial |
| Ireland and Scotland there are now facilities up and | | | | interest as it is cleaner burning than oil based diesel |
| running in their experimental phase. | | | | and is environmentally friendly. |
| Hydroelectric power plants have been around for | | | | Atomic energy is being created by regenerating |
| years and the powerful generators that have been | | | | nuclear plants for a carbon free energy source with |
| set up, have proven to be much cleaner and better | | | | nuclear fission. A great amount of power can be |
| than power grids at producing electricity. There are, | | | | generated which makes this type of energy very |
| however, limitations as to where you can place one | | | | efficient. The concern from people is of the |
| as you have to build a huge dam in a suitable location | | | | radioactive waste product of atomic energy, although |
| for the water. For this reason, there are new much | | | | there is very little it still takes hundreds of years to |
| smaller localised hydroelectric generators that have | | | | decay before it becomes harmless. |
| been set up recently in rivers, so that they can be | | | | |