Alternative Energy Network

002.13.12 Alternative Fuel Sources – Alternative Car Fuels

admin to Alternative Fuel Sources — Tags: Alternative Car Fuels, alternative fuel sources, alternative fuels, hydrogen-powered cars, vegetable oil fuel

In these times, a lot of people and companies involved in the automobile industry are coming up with more innovations for alternative car fuels in order to lessen the damage caused to Mother Nature as well as to cut down on gas expenses. At the moment, there have already been several discoveries of alternative car fuels, but they are still not well-known and many have not been made commercially available yet in the market. Furthermore, most of these types cannot be used for the cars that are driven today. You will have to buy specially-fueled vehicles first.

What are some of the alternative fuels that are accessible today?

1. Vegetable Oil

Have you ever heard of vegetable oil fuel? This is not only reserved for cooking anymore, but has been proven effective as fuel for diesel engines. The important thing is to have the viscosity of the said oil lowered. If such is not done, it might cause damage to the engine. The good thing about this is you do not have to buy new vegetable oil to use as your fuel. You can make use of what is known as “waste vegetable oil”, which is the one discarded or thrown out from snack food factories, restaurants, processing plants, and even residential homes.

2. Hydrogen

At present, there are some hydrogen-powered cars being promoted for their fuel efficiency and that target the eco-friendly consumers. This fuel utilizes electrochemical cells in internal engines to provide power to various vehicles designed for it, as well as for some electric devices. It is emission-less. Not only will you be able to help contribute to the good of Mother Earth when you use hydrogen fuel, but you will also be able to save on gas expenditures in the long run.

3. Ethanol

In many countries, it is necessary to include a certain percentage of ethanol in the gas being sold to the public. However, a few car companies have already begun selling cars that can be 100% fueled by this kind of substance. Actually, ethanol is the same kind of alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages. At present, it is widely used in the United States and in Brazil.

4. Ammonia

Ammonia is also one of the better alternative car fuels. The advantages of using this is the low cost, having no emissions, and having no need for oil.

5. Compressed Air

This is yet another great alternative that is much less expensive than hydrogen. It is not only economically appealing, but is also considered a proven method of doing away with car emissions that harm the environment.

002.04.12 Solar Energy Facts – How Solar Energy Works

admin to Solar Energy Facts — Tags: photovoltaics, renewable energy sources, solar energy, Solar Energy Facts

As what everybody hears on the news, it cant be denied that global warming has already hit our planet. There are many factors that contribute to global warming including pollution, and overuse of our energy sources that are not renewable. Scientists all over the world advice the use of renewable energy sources because first they produce less pollutants and second, they are replenished through natural means and can be used over and over again without fear of depletion. Some of the renewable energy sources include hydroelectricity, wave and wind power and lastly solar power.

Solar energy works as the energy that comes from the sun and its use, although not major, has been tapped by mankind since the ancient times for various applications. Most of the energy that is gained from the suns solar power can be derived using heat engines and photovoltaics. Through the use of solar panels, the use of solar energy has now been used for various applications in different fields. Using heat engines and photovoltaics, solar energy has now become one of most used renewable energy sources.

A heat engine by definition is any system that takes heat or thermal energy from a heat source and converts this into mechanical work. In a solar heat engine, the source would be the solar power coming from the sun. The heat engine will then take the heat of the sun to heat water and the steam coming from the heat engine can be used to either power a turbine for other mechanical use. Applications similar or patterned after the heat engine include heating of water, distillation, processing of portable water and heating the houses during winter.

Solar energy works also in photovoltaics. Unlike heat engines, solar energy is converted to direct current using semiconductors that use the photovoltaic effect. The harvested direct current will then be stored in solar cells. Because of the huge demand for solar power, advancement in the technology has increased through the years through continued research work. Practical examples for this technology include solar-powered calculators, solar-powered cars and other applications.

Remember that one way to help the planet is to make use of the renewable energy sources rather than those other sources of energy. There are many renewable sources of energy including geothermal, wind, wave and solar energy. Although it is not efficient in storing direct current, solar energy works as expected and is used in other areas such as agriculture, hotels and even urban planning.

002.02.12 Solar Energy Facts – Solar Panel Facts

admin to Solar Energy Facts — Tags: solar cells, solar energy, solar panels, solar panels facts

Solar energy is a technology that harnesses suns energy into a useable state. This energy is converted through solar panels into electricity which you can use to light up your home, heat water or even dry clothes, cook or for attic fans.

Solar panels are a collection of solar cells which are made up of semiconductor materials. Photovoltaic is the process of extracting electricity from the sunlight. When the sunlight hits the cells, atoms release electrons which flow through the cells to generate electricity. Solar panels are installed together with an inverter, a battery, a charge controller and wiring structure.

Solar panels are installed on rooftops and in spacecrafts.

The solar panels are designed to face the sun all the time, and the more the sunlight, the more energy they are able to trap. They are no harmful emissions from these panels and they are noise free, thus making them environmentally friendly. You will also be guaranteed constant supply of electricity.

Current research on solar cells has yielded more efficient semiconductors that can withstand weather extremes and still harness enough light to convert into electricity. In fact, you can find mobile phones or communication equipment whose batteries are solar charged, and can therefore fit in different weather conditions. It is also possible to install solar panels as part of your roofing rather than adding it as a separate structure.

Solar panels usually come with a 20-year guarantee and provide you with a 24/7 electricity supply. Solar energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and one kWh burns a 100w bulb for up to 10 hours. Given this information, you can be able to estimate your power needs and install solar panels that meet or exceed your needs.

Solar energy is a green heating cost-effective alternative than you can access from anywhere in the world. And whats more, it will save you money in the long-run and give you peace of mind since you do not have to pay a dime to the power companies and no blackouts ever.

001.28.12 Solar Energy Facts – Home Solar Energy

admin to Solar Energy Facts — Tags: DIY solar energy, home solar energy, price of solar panels, Solar panel kits, solar porch light

People are looking to save money over the long term when they are investing in home solar energy. A large amount of people are going to be to calculate their energy costs once they learn exactly how many solar panels they need and can afford. Solar Radiation times surface area is the formula that many people will use when calculating exactly how they need to go forward and install solar panels in their home.

There are fluctuations in the marketplace that can impact the price of solar panels that you install in your home. Macroeconomic changes in the marketplace can make things either more or less expensive for the consumer while they happen to impact the cost of labor associated with solar production as well.

There are many great companies out there who are going to help you find things like solar porch light or a solar fountain that will add decor to your home. It is important that a homeowner realizes that it is typically much more expensive to fund a commercially based solar project as opposed to a basic home based project.

Solar panel kits are something that can be important to living a green lifestyle in your home. There is green and environmentally safe furniture out there that can help people make adjustments to their lifestyle. People have to understand that they can save money on their taxes when it comes to different forms of home based solar energy. It is important that look at the tax credits that are available when it comes to home solar facts.

Some estimates would say that even a ten watt DIY solar energy starter kit could end up saving some people as much as two hundred dollars per year. As the costs come down, the average consumer can set up larger home energy projects, the totality of the projects will make a big difference. Many people out there are happy with the progress that solar geothermal energy is making, a person should be proud of the fact that creating these solar energy projects is protecting plant life and plankton.

Solar thermal energy is getting close to thirty five percent in efficiency, this is a very positive number that so many people should be paying attention to. The hope is that banks and other lending institutions will start increasing their capital expenditures to solar thermal energy manufacturers out there. It is important that the average consumer understand that solar thermal heat can become concentrated within their home and they may not be comfortable with that development.

001.14.12 Some More Solar Energy Facts

admin to Solar Energy Facts — Tags: photovoltaic panels, solar energy, Solar Energy Facts, solar power, solar-powered gadgets, source of energy

The sun is a gigantic ball of fire located at the heart of the Solar system. Being the closest star to the earth and acting as a massive source of energy, the sun emits heat, light and other forms of useful and harmful radiation to our planet. It is a well-known fact that millions of living organisms on earth depend on the sun for their survival. It is one of the earths major life sources. We are inevitably plugged in to this amazing energy spring and it is quite challenging to imagine the existence of life on earth without the presence of the sun.

There are numerous solar energy facts that we need to understand for us to further appreciate the suns value to our planet. These solar energy facts are summarized below

The suns heat and light is emitted through electromagnetic radiation
Not all of the suns energy reaches the earths surface because some are reflected back to space by the layers of the earths atmosphere
Humans have harnessed solar power even during the ancient times
Without the sun, life will not be able to exist on earth
The energy from the sun that the earth receives varies according to location and weather condition
Solar power can still be harnessed and used even in the most desolate and coldest places on earth like the north and south pole
Solar power is one of the most reliable alternative sources of energy and it is also the most environment-friendly because it has zero carbon emissions and deadly byproducts
It can be harnessed, converted or modified, and distributed for domestic and commercial use
Harnessed solar energy can be used for heating and cooling in solar architecture, processing of water to make it potable, electrical lighting systems, water heating, and solar cooking
It can be used to run solar-powered gadgets like calculators, watches, radios, and vehicles like cars and airplanes
In Europe, pools are heated using solar power
Solar energy is harnessed actively by means of a solar panel or photovoltaic panels

Solar energy can also be harnessed indirectly by modifying the architecture design of an edifice to have better natural illumination and air circulation, selecting and using materials that maximize the suns light, and orienting a structure to more efficiently capture or receive the suns rays

Certainly it is essential to learn about solar energy facts in order to understand the power of this type of energy better, and thus be able to harness it further and use it to our advantage.

001.14.12 Solar Energy Facts – Solar Energy Facts For Kids

admin to Solar Energy Facts — Tags: energy sources, solar energy, Solar Energy Facts, solar energy facts for kids

We have created an article designed specifically for kids in mind. The solar energy facts for kids that you will find in the words below, will help break down solar energy into a simple and easy to read format. Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about the world’s most powerful energy source!

Solar Energy Facts for Kids Part 1

Solar energy is a specific form of energy that is derived directly from the sun. Most of us think of power coming from gas or electricity, but the sun can also provide enough power to heat our houses, drive our cars and provide us with all the power we could possibility ever need.

Solar Energy Facts for Kids Part 2

There are two forms of energy that solar energy can be transferred to. The first form of energy is the thermal and the second is electrical. Solar energy can not always be used when it is cloudy or when the sun sets. For this reason, many people choose to use solar batteries to store the energy until it is ready to be used.

Solar Energy Facts for Kids Part 3

Solar energy can be taken advantage with the use of solar panels. Solar panels are made up of cells. These cells are what help to convert the solar energy into useable power.

Many of us assume that solar panels can only be used for a few specific functions, but today, they can be found on a number of different applications call boxes, street lights and so on. Solar panels work best when they are in clear sunlight and when there is nothing blocking or preventing the sunlight from reaching the solar panels.

Below are some fascinating facts about the sun!

It takes over 8 minutes for the sun’s energy to reach the earth.
Only 50 % of the sunlight energy reaches the earth.
Over 10,000 houses in the US have solar energy systems installed..and that number is growing!

Those are just a few of the many solar energy facts for kids. Scientists are always discovering something new about the sun and it’s energy. The more we learn to harness the power of the sun, the less reliant we will be on other non renewable energy sources. As these energy sources are depleted, we will need to learn to use the sun’s energy in more and more efficient ways.

101.11.12 Hydroelectric Energy – Pros and Cons of Tidal Energy

admin to Hydroelectric Energy — Tags: hydroelectric energy, pros and cons of tidal energy, tidal energy, Tidal power

There are a lot of pros and cons of tidal energy that need to be taken into account. The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of government regulations out there that can slow down a company that is trying to mass produce tidal energy. There are a lot of regulations regarding the protection of fish and other underwater creatures and entities that can be impacted by the production of tidal energy.

Water and flooding is a natural process. There really is no major drilling or exploration costs associated with this form of energy that many other people can find with fossil fuels. People also tend to fight over the finding of natural gas or traditional oil because they want to claim the royalties. A person does not typically take the time to fight over the production of tidal energy in developed countries, in many of these developed nations around the world there is plenty of water to go around. People can not deny the efficiency of tidal power, it simply does not have the same amount of controversy around it when a person compares it to wind power or solar power.

Most nations do not have the infrastructure to let companies develop tidal power. The things that some companies may have to worry about is the transport of fresh water to other nations who may not have it or to focus on the desalination process that can make a big difference in the overall bottom line of a tridal power company.

The process of learning how to control tidal energy can be difficult. Most cities do not really have the financial resources to handle a truly bad flooding situation. Some citizens may be worried that too much concentration on tidal power may lead to all kinds of new flooding and natural disasters if the power is not properly regulated. Taxpayers are struggling with the costs of both residential and commercial property, a person does not want to see increased taxes and fees due to a bad flood or some other form of natural disaster.

Tidal power takes an extremely large facility to store the power source in. The economy can grow if people find a good way to store this power and make it available to a large number of people. Stores can grow around this industry as communities can grow a service industry around the growth of the tidal power industry. The tidal power industry and alternative fuels as a whole are something that society is beginning to take serious.

001.04.12 Hydroelectric Energy – Hydroelectric Power Facts

admin to Hydroelectric Energy — Tags: clean energy source, hydroelectric energy, hydroelectric power facts, hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric Energy is a natural, eco-friendly and clean power source that depends on water.

Hydroelectricity is produced by running a turbine using the force of the gushing water through a dam. The turbine, when it spins at a specific RPM, produces electricity. As simple as it seems, it is much more complicated and requires more engineering than theory to operate.

A discussion about hydroelectric power facts must highlight the point that production of hydroelectricity requires a considerable amount of engineering and risk. An integral part of any hydroelectricity generating station is the dam that captures the water and regulates the flow of it. As such the construction of the dam is considered the most important task.

An idea of the colossal engineering task in hand can be understood if we make a quick study of some of the features of the Three Gorges Dam in China, which started commercial production in 2008. The dam and the power plant is the largest in the world, with an installed production capacity of 20,300 MW. It spans the stretch of the Yangtze River at the town of Sandouping. Each turbine that has been installed has a production capacity of 700 MW.

An important part of hydroelectric power facts is that, generation of hydroelectricity using dams to block the flow of river water causes the surrounding area to suffer considerably. This water is stored at a reservoir which is usually a lake or a much larger man made area is constructed which catches all the water to be released in a controlled manner for the production of hydroelectricity.

Large tracts of land often fertile and arable are lost as the water is stored. Inundations happen as a regular fact and towns and establishments are usually affected the most with millions having to relocate to avoid the inundation. Floods such as the one that happened in Mississippi in 1993 caused billions of dollars in damages. In some cases major historical sites have been lost due to the construction of such dams. They also create larger issues for the environments as they inundate vegetation, forests and habitations for wild animals.

Hydroelectric power facts should also deserve discussion of the fact that much of the water that is trapped and then later used for production of electricity is also used for irrigational purposes. In areas where the river water was otherwise impossible to be trapped or used for the purpose of irrigation can now be used thanks to the dams.

012.29.11 Hydroelectric Energy – How Does Hydroelectric Energy Work

admin to Hydroelectric Energy — Tags: how does hydroelectric energy work, hydroelectric energy, hydroelectric power

A lot of people are asking how does hydroelectric energy work? Hydroelectric energy can be a big boom for a community that has an efficient lock and dam system. Many young people out there are fairly unaware of the power associated with running water. A person who sets up a good running water system should be rewarded. The blades associated with the hydroelectric turbines need to turn well, the rotation is also heavily dependent upon the shaft linked to the turbines.

Some communities that struggle with water usage issues may end up setting up smaller hydro operations. The smaller hydro operations are going to be perfectly productive and still conserve water at the level that many communities end up being comfortable with. Hydroelectric power is something that many intelligent farmers out there will see the benefit of, the hydroelectric power is something that can play a role in the irrigation process once all of the gears in a turbine properly harness the hydroelectric power.

The truth is that the hydroelectric power is something that can be sold to large communities in the Midwest who need the power to make sure their homes are properly managed and maintained. Some estimates have hydroelectricity being eighty percent more efficient when it is compared to other fossil fuels out there. A company does not want to be known as employing turbines that do not properly turn and harness the running water. Storage units for hydroelectric power are not nearly as difficult to come to terms with when you compare it to storing fuel cell technology for example.

The hydroelectric power needs to fit well into the transformer that it is meant for, this is whether engineers who develop the transformers can play a key role. A transformer has to be able to turn the electricity into a useable form or else the entire operation can end up failing. There are a lot of reasons why engineers must monitor the transformers and make sure that they are working properly, millions of dollars can be poured into these hydroelectric operations.

A person has to be able to build a dam in a very hilly area. The hills give the water the necessary places to flow and travel. There is good information technology software that can help people monitor the hydroelectric power process and how learn how hydroelectric power works. Brazil is a great place to build a lock and dam system, the country also does a good job of protecting the creatures who live in the bodies of water. A hydroelectric dam is something that a community should really be proud of.

012.23.11 Hydroelectric Energy – Advantages of Hydroelectric Energy

admin to Hydroelectric Energy — Tags: advantages of hydroelectric energy, hydroelectric energy, hydroelectric generation, hydroelectric power, renewable source of energy, sources of energy

As the name suggests, hydroelectric energy is the type of energy that is generated by use of water .It is free and it just needs to be collected somewhere in order to generate electricity. For it to be generated, a power plant is constructed which will then be used to produce the electricity. Everybody benefits from hydroelectric energy in many ways.

Water is freely available and one just needs to collect it in a dam to be able to utilize it. Since this is free, it will not be expensive to generate hence it is affordable.

Unlike other sources of energy whose generation will result in pollution of environment such as emission of radioactivity, the only pollution that is notable in the whole process of hydroelectric generation involves the one that occurs when the power plant is being built. This is not an isolated case since it occurs when even the other power plants for generating other types of power are being constructed.

Once the power plant for the generation of hydroelectric power is complete, minimal numbers of employees are required to operate the plant for the production of this power. This in turn cuts on the cost of production bringing the cost of hydroelectric energy down.

There is no fast rule that applies to the setting up of a power plant. This means that any size of hydroelectric power plant can be set up to produce power for different purposes. One can set up such a power plant to produce a little amount of power for using only at home. More can be produced for commercial purposes.

It is a renewable source of energy just like the wind energy and solar energy which are naturally available. This is different from oil generated power which depends on non renewable oil whose cost of production will also be determined by the cost of the oil which is a non renewable resource.

Unlike nuclear power plants which have a limited time span of around thirty to forty years, hydroelectric power plants have been known to last for more than thrice this time period.

The generation of power using this method is quite economical since it can be stored when a lot of it has been produced than the amount that is required for use, and turned on rapidly when more is required. A lot of electricity can be generated by utilizing just a single dam

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