| The Old Order Invariably Changes | | | | Dams collect huge amounts of water, cause them to |
| The energy requirements of humanity has for too | | | | fall from a great height to generate large quantum of |
| long been met by the traditional mode of energy | | | | electricity at affordable rates for the people. |
| constituted by the fossil fuels. This eclectic cluster of | | | | Solar Energy: Making Hay While Sun Shines |
| carbon-based substances includes petroleum, coal and | | | | Solar energy is a ubiquitous form of energy that |
| so on. However, the old order does change, yielding | | | | shows considerable promise. Solar calculators, solar |
| place to the new. So, it is no wonder that several | | | | panels and photovoltaic cells are increasingly being |
| new alternative power sources are increasingly being | | | | used for a wide gamut of applications, ranging from |
| sought after by governments and consumers alike. | | | | solar kitchen appliances, to running cars or powering |
| We live in a consumerist society, where the | | | | space ships. This mode of alternative energy is |
| consumer is both the lord as well as the puppet that | | | | virtually inexhaustible, clean, obviously renewable and |
| sways to the tunes of companies offering fancy | | | | easy to install. |
| gadgets for convenience or entertainment. | | | | Biomass: Emerging and Effective Energy |
| The unquestioned and continued dependence on | | | | Biomass is derived from organic matters, such as |
| fossil fuels for power needs has visibly been replaced | | | | plants, wood or animal remains. Ethanol from plant |
| by a select band of alternative power sources, each | | | | remains and methane from animal waste materials |
| with its own relative merits and demerits. While one | | | | are its prime components. Bio-fuels have found a |
| might view a particular alternative energy source | | | | ready application in the auto industry as a substitute |
| askance, the inevitable need for alternative energy | | | | for gasoline. |
| modes is now almost universally accepted the world | | | | Wind Energy: Employing Momentum Profitably |
| over. Fossil fuels are finite in their known reserves, | | | | Wind energy represents an old and clean alternative |
| liable to irksome rising prices, detrimental to the | | | | energy form. Places that habitually see strong winds |
| environment, and charged with perhaps leading to | | | | blowing make ideal spots for an adoption of this |
| respiratory ailments among the people. It is almost | | | | energy form. Windmills can be constructed to cause |
| certain that the energy scenario is set to become | | | | turbines to move by the force of the blowing wind, |
| characterized by a plethora of alternative energy | | | | which would lead to the generation of electricity. The |
| forms, enabling the consumers' added choice and | | | | GWEC {Global Wind Energy Council} estimates the |
| flexibility in their use. | | | | global wind energy market to grow by over 150 |
| Hydroelectricity: Dynamic Aspect of Water | | | | percent by 2012, to reach an annual capacity of 240 |
| Among the alternative sources of energy | | | | GW. |
| hydropower has established itself as the leader of | | | | Nuclear Energy: A Mixed Blessing |
| the lot, accounting for about nine-tenths of all the | | | | Nuclear energy has failed its natural potential if being |
| alternative energy generated worldwide, as well as | | | | a leading provider of the world's energy needs. |
| one-fifth of the current global energy needs. Have | | | | Nuclear fission involves safety concerns regarding the |
| you seen the force with which the waters of a | | | | disposal of radioactive waste products that have |
| waterfall descend upon the earth? If a set of | | | | been far from resolved yet. Nuclear fusion is free |
| turbines were to be strategically placed below, they | | | | from such safety issues and is likely to prove the |
| could generate substantial amounts of power. It is | | | | more popular nuclear option in the times to come. |
| precisely this that hydroelectricity is based upon. | | | | |