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Forms of Alternative Energy: Wind Power

Wind power harnesses the rotational energy of wind turbine blades to generate electrical current through an electrical generator. Wind towers are often built together in wind farms and provide electricity to both large electrical grids and individual homes. Solar power uses photovoltaic cells or thermal panels to convert sunlight into electricity or heat water. Geothermal energy captures heat from underground hot rocks and steam to power turbines and generators. Hydroelectric power utilizes the potential and kinetic energy of flowing water through dams and turbines to generate electricity. Tidal power converts the force of ocean tidal waves into electricity through emerging technologies. Biomass energy uses plants or organic waste to capture solar energy and produce fuel.

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Michael Harrichandsingh
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45 views2 pages

Forms of Alternative Energy: Wind Power

Wind power harnesses the rotational energy of wind turbine blades to generate electrical current through an electrical generator. Wind towers are often built together in wind farms and provide electricity to both large electrical grids and individual homes. Solar power uses photovoltaic cells or thermal panels to convert sunlight into electricity or heat water. Geothermal energy captures heat from underground hot rocks and steam to power turbines and generators. Hydroelectric power utilizes the potential and kinetic energy of flowing water through dams and turbines to generate electricity. Tidal power converts the force of ocean tidal waves into electricity through emerging technologies. Biomass energy uses plants or organic waste to capture solar energy and produce fuel.

Uploaded by

Michael Harrichandsingh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Forms of Alternative Energy

Wind Power
Wind energy harnesses the power of the wind to propel the blades of wind turbines. The
rotation of turbine blades is converted into electrical current by means of an electrical
generator. In the older windmills, wind energy was used to turn mechanical machinery to do
physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water. Wind towers are usually built together
on wind farms. Now, electrical currents are harnessed by large scale wind farms that are
used by national electrical grids as well as small individual turbines used for providing
electricity to isolated locations or individual homes.
Solar Power
Solar energy is used commonly for heating, cooking, the production of electricity, and even
in the desalination of seawater. Solar power works by trapping the sun's rays into solar cells
where this sunlight is then converted into electricity. Additionally, solar power uses sunlight
that hits solar thermal panels to convert sunlight to heat water or air. Other methods include
using sunlight that hits parabolic mirrors to heat water (producing steam), or simply opening
a rooms blinds or window shades to allow entering sunlight to passively heat a room.
Geothermal Energy
Literally, geothermal means, "earth heat." Geothermal energy harnesses the heat energy
present underneath the Earth. Hot rocks under the ground heat water to produce steam.
When holes are drilled in the region, the steam that shoots up is purified and is used to
drive turbines, which power electric generators.
Hydroelectric Energy
Hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water
turbine and generator. Another variation is to make use of water's kinetic energy or
undammed sources such as tidal power. Hydro power works by harnessing the gravitational
descent of a river that is compressed from a long run to a single location with a dam or a
flume. This creates a location where concentrated pressure and flow of water can be used to
turn turbines or water wheels. These can then drive an electric generator. This can be
compared to past days when a water wheel would drive a mill. Electric generators powered
by hydro power can be run backwards as a motor to pump water back up for later use.
Tidal power
Tidal energy takes the tidal waves from oceans and converts this force into electricity. The
use of tidal power is still in its early infancy. Tidal energy is a much more predictable form of
energy than many other alternatives and can be used to power just about anything. The
main drawback to using tidal power has been the high cost. In recent years it has become a
little less cost prohibitive to develop this form of energy. Investments in tidal power are
increasing across the globe.
Biomass energy
Biomass energy is similar to solar power in that it used the power of the sun as an energy
source. Biomass differs in that it uses plants to capture the suns power. Plants can either be
grown and burned to generate significant biomass energy or certain forms of trash and
waste can be used for energy.

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