Earth, water, wind, and sun: our energy alternatives
The author does not see any of the alternative energy sources as magic substitutes for fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. Instead, these alternatives--geothermal power, water power, wind and solar energy-- together can help provide an energy solution. For each alternative, a history of its development and use is presented; its actual power contribution as well as its potential, both in wattage and as a percentage of projected U.S. and world needs are given; the strong points and drawbacks of the energy source are listed; and its accessibility, feasibility, and ecological impact are summarized. Energy from the Earth is essentially geothermal and takes one of four forms: dry steam, wet steam, hot rocks, and geopressured deposits. The source can produce power via turbines or the heat can be used directly. Iceland projects that by 1980, 65 percent of its homes will have hot water from geothermal production at 60 percent of the fossil-fuel cost. Energy from the sea and other water can be harnessed by means of hydropower, tidal power, and sea thermal energy. Biofuels include wood and other burnable biomass, methane and other gases, waste organic material, and some liquid fuels. Wind power is again being investigated; new kinds of windmills are being developed. Solar energy may become a major source of fuel as fossil fuels diminish. Halacy discusses and explains the three basic kinds of solar energy: thermal, photovoltaic, and photochemical.
- OSTI ID:
- 7257250
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Net energy delivery from geothermal resources
Design and operation of a geopressurized-geothermal hybrid cycle power plant
Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
17 WIND ENERGY
13 HYDRO ENERGY
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
METHANE
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR ENERGY
TIDAL POWER
WATER RESOURCES
WIND POWER
WOOD
AVAILABILITY
COST
ECOLOGY
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
PEAT
USA
ALKANES
CONVERSION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
299000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
290400 - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources
140100 - Solar Energy- Resources & Availability
150000 - Geothermal Energy
170100 - Wind Energy- Resources & Availability (Climatology)
130100 - Hydro Energy- Resources & Availability
090100 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- (-1989)
160000 - Tidal & Wave Power