The Growing Scarcity of Fossil Fuels

From prehistory until the Industrial Revolution, most energy sources used by humans were localized (i.e., available within 5–10 miles of end users). Energy sources included draft animals, human slaves, and renewable sources such as biomass (wood and wastes), water mills, and wind power. Following the onset of the Industrial Revolution, with advancements in transportation technology and increased rates of deforestation in many regions, societies increasingly relied on long-distance shipments of coal, wood, and eventually oil, natural gas, and electric power. (more…)

Energy Technology and Modern Urbanization

The age of industrialization came into full force through the modern exploration and use of fossil fuels. As one of its most striking phenomena, the rapid expansion of cities throughout the late 19th and the 20th centuries was a direct outcome of the fossil fuel energy economy as well. (more…)

Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Cost-Competitive

alternative fuels vehicles
The increase in the prices of major fuels, like gasoline and diesel fuel products is a major global problems recently. Those prices are increase associated with the global economic crisis. Now, it is the ideal time to move all the focus and effort to alternative fuels for vehicles. There are different types of alternative energy sources for fuel to choose from. But the hard fact is that the areas of alternative fuels have not passed many real qualitative and quantitative surveys and breakthrough research. (more…)

Alternative Energy Forward to the Future

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Some forms of alternative energy sources are really new; while most of the energy forms are really come form in development and scientists have been investigated for several hundred years. One of the energy forms is biomass and bioenergy. Bioenergy refers to the burning of organic materials that would otherwise be simply discarded or not being considered at all. (more…)

Biomass and Bioenergy – Taking the Leap to Renewable Energy Sources

biomass and bioenergy
Over the last decade, the number of countries researching the potential of biomass and bioenergy for energy services rose rapidly. This contributed to the biomass as solid and liquid fuels, an interesting and promising option among renewable energy sources available. This includes solid waste and biomass, which comprises of charcoal, firewood, energy crops and forestry and agricultural residues to produce heat and electricity, (more…)

The Benefits of Having Energy Independence

energy independence benefits

The entire concept of energy independence revolves around using the resources within a country. Simply put, it’s “Stay within your own means and stop taking help from outside”. In the United States of America, energy independence is a political agenda whereby the country would eventually, through shifts in its energy policy and technology development, approach self-sufficiency in its energy needs by producing close to the amount of energy that it consumes. If total energy possibilities are taken advantage of, presently the U.S. would be over 70% self-sufficient. (more…)

Funding Alternative Energy

funding alternative energy
Most people think that there will be lots of jobs and energy coming online soon in the Alternative Energy Sector, but that really is not that case. Right now, many of these projects are having a very tough time of it, and some of these facilities may never actually be completed. (more…)

Some Major Alternative Energy Sources

alternative energy sources
Some of alternative fuel sources are by no means new. For centuries people have harnessed the power of running water for a variety of needs, particularly for agriculture or farming. Water wheels were constructed in the Middle East, Greece, and China thousands of years ago, and they were common fixtures on the farms of Europe by the Middle Ages. In the early 21st century hydroelectric dam, which generate electricity from the power of rivers, provide about 9 % of the electricity in the United States. Worldwide, there are about 40,000 such dams. (more…)

General Categorization of Electricity Generation Using Alternative Energy Resources

The first step in categorizing potential benefits and costs is determining the relevant scope of the analysis. We have concluded that, at this level of analysis, it is appropriate to limit the scope to the benefits and costs associated with the types of electricity generation that offshore wind, waves, and ocean currents might be displacing. Therefore, we consider externalities associated with offshore alternative energy plus those associated with coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, and conventional hydroelectric power. (more…)

Renewable Energy Sources from Economic and Environmental Perspectives

renewable energy resources
Renewable energy sources cannot run out and causes so little damage to the environment that its use does not need to be restricted. No energy system based on mineral resources is renewable because, one day, the mineral deposits will be used up. This is true for fossil fuels and uranium. The debate about when a particular mineral resource will run out is irrelevant in this context. Renewable energy sources are replenished continuously.

Renewable energy sources—solar, wind, biomass (under specific conditions), and tides—are based directly or indirectly on solar energy. Hydroelectric power is not necessarily a renewable energy source because large-scale projects can cause ecological damage and irreversible consequences. Geothermal energy heat is renewable but must be used cautiously to guard against irreversible ecological effects. (more…)