| As each year pass, more and more people come | | | | Turbines then generate electricity in |
| into the world. Sometimes it seems as if the | | | | mountainous regions such as Southern Wyoming. |
| worlds natural sources are no longer enough | | | | Here the average wind speed is 21 miles per |
| to accommodate each and everyone. Scientists | | | | hour. |
| have a solution for this possible impending | | | | |
| problem they came up with alternative energy | | | | Solar energy is similar to nuclear energy as |
| sources. | | | | recent studies show. Example is the power |
| | | | tower wherein a collection of solar energy |
| 1. Hydrogen | | | | forms this large field of mirrors that |
| | | | convert it to heat when it reaches a high |
| Slowly but surely, the hydrogen powered car | | | | temperature. This is an efficient generation |
| is becoming popular nowadays. Even | | | | of electricity. |
| celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio promote | | | | |
| the use of this earth-friendly contraption. | | | | Realistically, the sun doesnt shine the whole |
| Hydrogens energy is perpetual in motion | | | | day. It also has to set. So the solution to |
| because it is an energy carrier. Its pretty | | | | the question of What do you do when the sun |
| much like a battery. | | | | goes down? is the construction of an |
| | | | auxiliary system that stores energy when the |
| Most electricity comes from fossil fuels that | | | | sun is nowhere to be seen. Heres where nature |
| are found in plants. But if you get hydrogen | | | | comes into play. The ocean is a natural |
| using fossil fuels and stack up on the energy | | | | reserve of solar power and thru thermal |
| source, then you are utilizing renewable | | | | energy can be the auxiliary system after the |
| energy, making hydrogen from water via | | | | sun has set. |
| electrolysis. Picture this the wind is | | | | |
| blowing and 4 units of its energy amounts to | | | | Example, in Wyoming, their auxiliary system |
| 1 unit of hydrogen energy. | | | | holds back water at a hydroelectric plant and |
| | | | generates energy whenever the wind blows. Ran |
| Of course, these problems result from | | | | by turbines, this is a solar-powered energy |
| treating hydrogen as an alternate energy | | | | that continues to work even at night time. |
| source:its very seasonalthere is a lot of | | | | |
| moisture and it requires to be stored before | | | | 3. Nuclear |
| it dries up from the surrounding gaseslimited | | | | |
| supply of hydrogenhydrogen energy is not | | | | For commercially produced energy, businessmen |
| enough to accumulate the need of normal | | | | turn to nuclear power. It is released from |
| productsstripping of biomass has a side | | | | nucleus. This is the reaction thru the solar |
| effect to the soil | | | | fusion where atomic particles are fused |
| | | | together. It is also derived from fission |
| But there is actually a good reason to why | | | | wherein binding forces break and form an |
| people turn to hydrogen energy. It prevents | | | | atoms nucleus. |
| global warming that is resulted from fossil | | | | |
| fuels. Natural gas energy releases nitrogen | | | | French physicist Henri Becquerel accidentally |
| oxides and that is harmful to the atmosphere. | | | | discovered nuclear energy in 1896. He found |
| | | | photographic plates in uranium compounds that |
| 2. Solar | | | | behave like that of X-ray when exposed under |
| | | | sunlight. |
| We dont have to look too far in giving an | | | | |
| example of a contraption that uses solar | | | | Nuclear power comes from the combination of |
| energy. A solar calculator just needs light | | | | thorium, plutonium or uranium or the |
| in order for it to function. | | | | combination of hydrogen into helium. |
| | | | Nowadays, the basic energy fact is that atoms |
| As for a bigger example of how solar energy | | | | of uranium produce fission of 10 million |
| is utilized, we look at the forms of solar | | | | times the energy produced by the combustion |
| energy that has become a source of alternate | | | | of atom from carbon. Nuclear power plants use |
| energy. Biomass is the fuels derived from | | | | uranium that has been enriched. What comes to |
| wood and dry crop wastes. As we all know, the | | | | mind is the plant owned by Mr. Smithers in |
| main component of the photosynthesis process | | | | The Simpsons. |
| is the sun. Because of this, biomass remains | | | | |
| to be the largest form of alternate energy | | | | Nuclear power generates about 34% of US |
| available in the US. | | | | electricity. Expansion of nuclear power |
| | | | naturally affects the politicking of a |
| Then theres wind power that is also the | | | | country. Studies show that developed nations |
| cheapest source of solar energy. The variety | | | | are high in nuclear energy as opposed to |
| on the pressure between areas that is created | | | | those of the developing nations whose nuclear |
| by solar energy results to wind effects. | | | | energy is close to non-existent. |