Alternative

Energy
Energy
Energy. It is used everyday to do work, to power cities,
and to get people from one place to the next. Most
people in the United States take energy for granted.
Most people know that their energy comes from power
lines and from generators. What people dont know is
how it gets there. How is energy made? For a long time
people across the world have been burning fossil fuels to
generate electricity. It is cheap and efficient as it powers
countries. However, over the past few decades scientists
have observed the global climate and have found that
temperatures are rising. They have determined that
human activities are the main cause of the rising
temperatures. Burning fossil fuels counts for one third
of these activities. There needs to be other means of
creating electricity so that Earth is not drastically
hurt by these rising temperatures.

Background
The clear and present danger of climate change means
we cannot burn our way to prosperity. We already rely
too heavily on fossil fuels. We need to find a new,
sustainable path to the future we want. We need a clean
industrial revolution.-Ban Ki-moon. Out of the last twelve
years ten of the years were the hottest years on record.
Scientists have concluded that humans are the
main cause of global climate change. If the
world does not change this, then there will be major
consequences. Species will go extinct if they cant
adapt to the warming, ocean levels will start to
rise due to the melting of land ice, and that the ice
sheets are mel. With rising ocean levels this

will submerge a few countries and most islands.

This problem may be challenging to just reverse
since what is causing it has been conventional since
for a long time. An example of this is burning fossil
fuels, which originated around 1790, the start of
the industrial revolution. Since then, people
have found that burning fossil fuels is cheap
and efficient, but what they didnt know until
recently was that it is the number one cause
of global climate change. Prices for fossil
fuels are on the rise now, because the
reserves are starting to run out, and there
is much more demand for electricity in the
world now. Besides, from warming the Earth,
fossil fuel accidents occur which greatly
impact wildlife. Such as the BP oil spill in
the Gulf of Mexico. Overall, burning
fossil fuels is neither clean nor renewable.

Problem
As shown before, the main problem is that
burning fossil fuels, is the number one factor
of global warming. It is not renewable, or
clean. Also, at times it can be detrimental to
the environment. Fossil fuels also cause air,
land, water, and thermal pollution. If the
world did change this and stopped burning
fossil fuels, then there must be other ways
of generating electricity. Something that is
renewable and environmentally friendly. The
world must change its current forms of
producing electricity.

Solution

The objective of this solution is to replace

the burning of fossil fuels. To stop burning
fossil fuels, the world must start to use these
next few types of alternative energy.

Wind PowerWind power captures the kinetic energy

of the atmosphere and converts it into
electricity. Wind power is completely
renewable since wind doesnt run out.
Also, wind power has the potential to
provide ten times the amount of
electricity needed for the US if
fully utilized. In addition, once a wind farm
is built, it can be used for twenty to thirty
years with low maintenance. Although wind
turbines kill some birds, people are working
on sound devices that scare away birds when
they get near. Lastly, even though wind
turbines do cost a lot to build, newer and
less costly turbines are coming out
periodically.

Solar EnergySolar energy absorbs the suns rays;

using photovoltaic cells converts
them into electricity. Like wind power,
solar energy is a completely renewable
source of energy. By 2025, it is predicted
that it will provide 50% of the United
States energy. Also, solar panel prices
are dropping, which means they will be
more available to all types of countries.
Moreover, new technologies are
coming out that can allow for only
a few solar panels necessary
to power an entire house.

Wave PowerWave power converts the seas

kinetic energy, waves, into electricity.
It is also completely renewable and only
depends on waves. Wave power plants are
also environmentally friendly. Wave power
can be used almost anywhere in the world
as long as there are strong waves. This form

of electricity also causes no land damage.

With all these new technologies comes

costs. These costs can be funded by the
current funds for the burning of fossil
fuels. The costs for solar energy per
kilowatt hour range from $0.11-$0.15.
Wind (onshore) ranges from $0.05$0.12. Wave costs $0.05-$0.06. These
prices compare to coal which is $0.04$0.08. Prices are already dropping due
to newer and more efficient types of
technology. In order to further implement
this solution this white paper will emailed to
alternative energy companies. Alternative
energy is already on the rise, as Al Gore
says, Alternative energy is
anticipated that it will soon replace the
burning of fossil fuels.

Case Studies
These new forms of generating
electricity have already been implemented
worldwide.
WindWind power is growing rapidly worldwide
and is currently being used in over 100
countries worldwide. From 2006 to 2011
wind power has grown from producing
around twenty-seven terawatts per year
in the United States to 120 terawatts
produced. One case study was in
Mongolia. Mongolia built its first ever
wind farm called the Salkhit wind farm.
It was a 100 million dollar project that
consisted of thirty one turbines and
added fifty megawatts of clean energy
to its power. This number is equal to
five percent of its current power.
Solar-

Solar energy has been around for a

while and its market is now booming.
From 2009 to 2010, solar installations
grew sixty-seven percent. Case studies
in the United States show the growth of
solar panels. In California, it accounts for
twenty-seven percent of the entire market
in the US.
WaveCountries such as Norway, Scotland,
Canada, and South Africa have
developed wave energy machinery
to account for most of their countrys
electricity. One case study in Portugal
is the Pelamis Wave Generator. In its
current state it produces 2.25 megawatts
of energy, powering homes throughout
the nation. Portugal has confirmed that
the project has provided long-term
economic advantages. With the success
of this project, an additional twenty-eight
wave generators will be installed in the
upcoming year. Scientists aim to
produce 22.5 megawatts of energy
with these new generators.

Conclusion
Since fossil fuels will soon run out
anyway, now is a time to stop using fossil fuels and
start using alternative clean energy to repair the
damage it has done. With renewable and
alternative energy it can greatly
reduce global climate change.
Alternative is clean, efficient, and
effective. If the world can use
alternative energy, then it will
have the potential to power it.