Alternatives to Nuclear Power

As fossil fuels run out the human race will be forced to use alternative forms of renewable energy. Progress has been slow but new ideas and funding is paving the way for invention and innovation. In the next 100 years it is likely the dependence on current forms of energy supply will dramatically swing to alternative energy for lighting and heating. At present energy supply is not as environmentally friendly as it should be. Carbon dioxide emissions and adequate supply are problems which need to be fixed. The obstacles in our path are not just connected with creating a sustainable source of renewable energy, but also incorporating and developing a way of transportation and distribution, which is also environmentally friendly. Wind and solar energy creation is currently used in some parts of the world, although it is still very expensive some believe the technology in its present form is not the answer to all our energy problems. There are a number of new areas of alternative energy research which are receiving interest. Of all the options we have at our disposal wind, water and solar are the most favourable. According to some experts wind power is not a reliable source of energy as output can be variable. However according to a recent study by Mark Jacobson an environmental professor from Stanford University, if we strategically position wind farms supply can be maintained effectively as long as it is used in conjunction with other forms, such as, solar, tidal and geothermal power. An exciting arm of solar energy research is being conducted by MIT which is called Thermo-Chemical Solar Power. Currently photovoltaic cells used in solar panels transform light energy into electricity but are not effective when it comes to storing it for use later. Thermo-Chemical stores solar energy in the form of heat in chemicals for use later on. The main drawback at the moment is the chemical used is dependent on a rare element called Ruthenium, which is very rare and too expensive for domestic use. However, researchers believe they have already found an alternative called Fulvalene Diruthenium. The beauty of this form of solar energy is that it can potentially be used to heat your home, light and water. Hydro electric power has been around for years and generally comes in the form of giant dams. It utilises the gravitational power of falling water and converts it into electricity which can be used in the home as heating and lighting. Hydro electric power stations exist all over the world and once up and running produce practically no pollution. The energy is also renewable and sustainable. One major drawback is the effects on the local eco-system as dams cause the submersion of large areas of land upstream. The rate of output can also be variable in relation to river flow rates. Tidal energy is another form of hydro electric power which uses the same principles. It is believed to be more predictable than dam, solar and wind energy. In the past it was considered too expensive to set up as well as difficult to find locations with sufficient high tides and flow speeds. Now with further research and innovations in design more plants are popping up all over the world. At this moment it is apparent that no one form of alternative power is sufficient to cater for our energy needs. A combination of methods used in conjunction will probably be the best option. In the future it is certainly possible that instead of gas and electricity supplied in its current way we will probably use some all of the above methods to power our gas boilers and washing machines.