One of the most non-polluting and also the cheapest sources of power is hydroelectricity. It’s true that it may cause some initial ecological damage, but it has much better compatibility with the climate than other major forms of energy, such as coal, gas, nuclear power, and others. For some top hydroelectric power countries like China and India, which have enormous energy needs, hydroelectric energy sources are the only remaining options among the sources that do not contribute to global warming. (Is global warming fake? Read here – click here).

Hydroelectric power production began on a small-scale basis. The main advantage of hydroelectric energy sources and hydroelectric power plants in general is their extremely long life span. Some of these existing plants are 50 or even 100 years old, and they are still producing electricity. So, as it currently stands, the world is producing large quantities of hydroelectric energy, some reaching production to hundreds of megawatts. Certain hydroelectric power plants have a capacity of some 10,000 megawatts, which on their own can meet the energy needs of millions of people. (To read about the advantages of hydroelectric power, click here).

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory carried out a survey, which concluded that all hydroelectric power plants worldwide have a total electricity production capacity of 6,750,000 megawatts. This capacity translates to an annual 2.3 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, and it is enough to meet the electricity needs of almost a quarter of today’s global population (over a billion people).

The U.S. alone has more than 2000 large, medium, and small-scale hydroelectric power plants. Hydropower in the United States comprises almost half of the renewable energy sources’ total installed capacity. In 1920, about 16 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity was produced by hydroelectric power plants. In 1999 this figure increased to 306 billion kilowatt-hours due to the formation of efficient commissions as steps taken by the U.S. government.

Many countries in the world are striving to utilize renewable energy (To find out about the top 8 clean sources of energy to replace oil by 2050, click here) in an efficient way, and have high hopes for hydroelectric power towards the middle of the century. However, today’s hydroelectric production is dominated mainly by a few nations. The following is a list of nine top hydroelectric power countries:

1 – China – currently a leader with 171 gigawatts of installed hydroelectric capacity.
2 – Canada – 90 gigawatts
3 – The United States – 79 gigawatts
4 – Brazil – 70 gigawatts
5 – Russia – 45 gigawatts
6 – India – 33 gigawatts
7 – Norway – 28 gigawatts. It’s worthy to point out that even though Norway is toward the bottom of this list, it produces more than 98 percent of the country’s electricity from hydroelectric plans; whereas China, while being at the top for installed capacity, produces less than 18 percent of its total electricity from hydroelectric power.
8 – Japan – 27 gigawatts
9 – Venezuela – 15 gigawatts.

For more information on hydroelectric power, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity
http://www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk/hydroelectric-power/

Waves, tides, and currents are all examples of underwater energy sources. As technology advances, scientists are looking more to the ocean as a renewable energy source in order to replace the harmful burning of fossil fuels. Ocean waves, tides, and currents can all produce insurmountable amounts of energy, but it has proven tricky to capture this energy.

One solution to harnessing energy from underwater is through the use of underwater turbines. They look somewhat like wind turbines, but they are a lot stronger, because they have to withstand the pressure and power of very rough currents. Many areas exist that are perfect locations for such turbines, an example of which is the northeast U.S. coast, just off the state of Maine. The ocean currents are very strong, and they can easily turn the turbines that are underwater. This generates electricity and other energy forms.

Another renewable energy source available from the ocean is called ocean thermal energy. The ocean surface water is warmed up by the sun, which creates a massive difference in temperature between the deeper water and the surface water. It is precisely this temperature difference that provides thermal energy. This energy source is dependable and renewable because the ocean comprises over 70 percent of the earth’s surface. So, utilizing ocean thermal energy could be yet another step to a cleaner environment.

Another type of energy available form the ocean is called mechanical energy. This energy entails using waves and tides. Tides are found under the surface of the water and are the result of the gravitational pull of the moon. Turbines can be used to harness tidal energy, much like in the case of currents. The turbine must be carefully placed though, in order to get the most use out of them. They are most effective where the tidal ranges are the largest.

Ocean energy is a very attractive source of energy in many ways, simply because of the vastness of the planet’s oceans. The costs of implementing underwater energy projects are projected to decrease drastically, and the payback period on investments will also decrease proportionately. Our oceans hold one of the keys to a more sustainable world and clean environment, and it is very possible that one day we will be able to access and capture a lot of the energy the oceans have to offer. This would be a tremendous breakthrough in the world of alternative energy. Where we stand today, it takes a lot of capital to implement an underwater energy project, and it could take years before all of the materials and specialists are gathered in order to build the equipment necessary to build the machinery. It is important for this machinery to be strong enough to withstand rough weather and water conditions. So, because of the high costs, it is not yet common to produce underwater turbines. However, it is a very sound concept, and it is only a matter of time before it is properly implemented.

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For more information, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
energysavers.gov

With the ever increasing threat of runaway global warming (also termed as climate change) nations and individuals are looking into other sources of power and energy generation. When discussing alternative energy resources the technologies that are most heard of include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and hydroelectricity. Out of all these energy resources most research has been done on hydroelectricity, solar energy and wind energy. The main advantage, and underlying reason for developing these technologies is to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. This article discusses the advantages of hydroelectric power.

Hydroelectricity is one of the oldest forms of alternative energy. It was used centuries ago by the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations. These civilizations used the force of the river and stream to run waterwheels which would then their turn their equipment such as the millstones. Hydroelectric plants of this day and age work in a similar way as these ancient civilizations. The only difference is that now hydroelectric power plants use rapidly flowing water to turn a turbine which in turn powers a generator which then produces electricity.

There are countless advantages of hydroelectric energy. The greatest of which, as mentioned earlier, is that it doesn’t harm the earth in the way that oil or nuclear power plants do because it does not produce any toxic wastes or emissions.

Another obvious advantage of hydroelectric power is that a hydropower plant does not have to depend on fuel like oil, uranium or coal. Thus, completely eliminating the expense of buying a fuel source to generate power. A hydropower plant’s fuel is effectively rapidly flowing river water, which is available in abundance and free of cost. Besides saving on the fuel expenses, a hydropower plant also saves on the people employed at the plant. Such a plant doesn’t require many personnel to manage it, nor does it require a great number of specialists. Therefore, this saves a great deal of capital that would have otherwise been spent on operating the plant. These two factors help reduce the cost of generating electricity.

The power stations that are established within each plant are not very difficult to set up. This is because the size of the hydropower plant varies according to the size of the river or the stream. Even an individual can build his/her own small hydropower plant to power their home, all they need is the required capital investment and a stream or a river that is near to the home and flows throughout the year (a perennial river or stream).

Another great advantage of hydropower power is the useful life of a hydroelectric power plant, which last quite a bit longer than, for instance, a nuclear power plant (30-40 years).

For the original article, click here,

For more information on hydroelectric energy, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
www.energy.gov

Tidal power energy is still being studied and developed, but in the future it could be a major renewable hydropower energy source. It is possible to convert tidal power renewable energy into electricity using turbines. The way it works is water is channeled to flow past turbines – through a dam or underwater in the sea – and these turbines then generate energy. Currently there are only a few stations that generate tidal power energy around the world. The oldest and the biggest of these is at La France River in northern France. Other places have great potential for tidal power renewable energy generation as well. England, for example, could supply over 10 percent of its electricity in this way. In the U.S. the coast of Maine is the best place, as tides there have a large amplitude.

Tidal hydropower energy has various advantages. The first of these is reliability and consistency. Other alternative energy sources like wind and solar can have varying amounts of energy generated depending on the weather conditions. Tidal power energy can generate electricity by the clock and indefinitely. This means that shortages can be easily avoided. In addition, tidal turbines are efficient when it comes to generating energy. They can convert about 80 percent of the energy into electricity. Wind and solar energy generators convert much less. Of course, another great benefit of tidal power renewable energy is that it is environmentally friendly. There are no CO2 emissions that are damaging to the atmosphere or Sulfur Dioxide emissions responsible for acid rain.

Of course, like with any alternative energy source, there are disadvantages to tidal power energy. One disadvantage is that disrupting the tides dramatically affects the wildlife in the area. But scientists and engineers are looking for ways to work around this problem. Another disadvantage is that the start-up costs involved are very high and a lot of time is required for the construction projects, which can cost millions of dollars and take up to 10 years to build. But at the same time, any alternative energy generation system is expensive to build, and if you put a tidal barrage in a good area, it will make it worth it because it will generate a lot of energy. Of course, this brings us to the next disadvantage – that there is a limited number of locations where the installation of these tidal power energy generation plants would be economically feasible. To make them worth it, the volume of ebbing water has to be very high. Of course, many countries do not even have coastlines, so this kind of alternative energy is not relevant to them.

The bottom line is that tidal power energy is a great potential renewable energy source of the future, but it remains to see how widely tidal power projects will be implemented.

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en.wikipedia.org

Before we discuss the ocean thermal energy pros and cons, we need to explain how the process actually works. This energy generation method takes advantage of the fact that the water at the bottom of the ocean is very cold, but it is warm on the surface. The technology of ocean thermal power generation uses a heat engine, much like in other energy generation methods. This heat engine is then put between two reservoirs – a low temperature one and a high temperature one. When the heat flows between the reservoirs, it is converted into energy.

Ocean thermal energy pros are numerous, and this method could be an answer to the projected energy crisis. One of the ocean thermal energy benefits is that it does not emit any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It also does not rely on limited materials or waste. This method is energy efficient and an outside power source is not required for it. Perhaps one of the most important ocean thermal energy benefits is the fact that it can be used 24 hours a day, 365 days a year continuously. The sun is what warms the top water layers, and this is a constant daily event. So, as far thermal energy pros go, this is a very different one from other sources of alternative energy, which can only be used at certain specific times. This means that this method can provide a constant supply of electricity, regardless of the time and weather conditions.

However, the ocean thermal energy cons are also numerous. The main drawback is that it is extremely expensive to plan, design, and build such power generation plants. It requires huge investments up front and a long wait for returns. Wide diameter pipes with the length of thousands of feet need to be installed so that ice cold water can be extracted from the ocean depths without increasing in temperature. Another disadvantage is the costly maintenance of these pipes, as well as other equipment, since the corrosion they will experience from salt water. Another one of the thermal ocean energy cons is that organic materials like plankton and algae often get sucked from below the surface straight into the pipes. These materials tend to block up the whole system and cause it to break down. Ocean weather may also create problems. Certain areas are prone to severe tropical storms and hurricanes, which may damage the thermal ocean energy plants, or even completely destroy them.

Ocean thermal energy plants are most ideally suited to be located in tropical areas, especially in the Pacific Ocean around the islands in its tropical region. This is because the ocean temperature in that region has the greatest difference between surface and depth – about 24oC. Also, it is because these plants can provide both pure water and energy at a relatively low cost in this region.

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For more information on ocean thermal energy, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
www.energysavers.gov

Amongst the multitude of renewable energy sources that are being touted as having great potential, there is ocean wave energy and tidal energy (energy from tides and energy from currents). Every year, advancements are made in these fields which are making ocean wave energy and tidal energy increasingly economically and environmentally feasible.

Energy from tides is perhaps the most promising of all the ocean alternative energy sources, as tides are completely regular and predictable. Energy from tides is generated in areas of high tidal movement, where the difference between the low and high tide is at least 4.8 meters. An enormous amount of electricity can be generated in this way in places such as the Bay of Fundy, which has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world (over 15 meters). This means that over 100 billion tons of water flow in and out of the bay each day.

Energy from tides is generated by building a barrage, through which water flows which is moving due to the effect of the tide. This water then runs turbines, which in turn generate electricity. Tidal energy can also be tapped into by using the tidal currents which are 20 to 30 meters below the surface. In this case, underwater turbines are used like those that you can see on wind farms, but adapted for underwater use. The rotors can be up to 20 meters in diameter. Such rotors, which generate energy from currents, are favored by many above barrages as they have less of an environmental impact.

Ocean wave energy has enormous potential simply due to the large number of locations where this energy could be harnessed. Wave energy generation is, however, more problematic than tidal energy generation because waves are unpredictable and the technology installed has to be able to cope with all possible wave sizes, including those that occur in severe storms. The most common type of wave power machine is an oscillating water column, which is located just below the surface of the sea. It rises and falls, which in turn compresses and depresses an air column attached to it, the moving air which result then powers a turbine.

Researchers developing alternative energy technologies that are connected with the sea have a specific set of problems to deal with – the sea is a very harsh environment and it is naturally corrosive to many elements. Scientists are busy as we speak finding ways to overcome these challenges, and harness the limitless power of the ocean. One way or another, if its not ocean based alternative energy that ultimately takes over fossil fuels, one or more of the alternative energy sources will get there some time in the not too distant future, be it solar, wind power, or whatever else: the world is relying on it.

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For more information on alternative energy, go to:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_energy,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy

Pros and Cons of Hydropower – Updated article with new information.

Hydropower renewable energy is derived from moving water, such as waterfalls, rivers, and dams, and it is an alternative energy source. It is very important to take a look at the pros and cons of hydropower to really evaluate its usefulness.

Hydropower pro 1 – There are no greenhouse gas emissionsor carbon dioxide from generating hydropower renewable energy, so there is no resulting air pollution to harm the environment or lead to global warming. Hydropower is generally considered clean.

Hydropower pro 2 – The flooding associated with hydropower can have positive aspects. The areas that are flooded as a result of generating hydropower renewable energy can become a new home for new species of wildlife and fish, which can survive in local conditions. Hydropower dams also have great irrigation effects, and they turn the surrounding area into fertile space.

Hydropower pro 3 – It is possible to produce electricity at a constant rate once a damn is constructed. It is also possible to stop electricity generation when it is not needed by closing the sluice gates. In that way, the water can be preserved for a time when there is not a high demand for electricity.

Hydropower pro 4 – Dams are built to last for a very long time, so they can generate electricity for many years or even decades. The water gets built up in a lake, which means that the energy gets stored until it is needed, and then the water can be released for electricity production.

Hydropower con 1 – Besides the pros, the cons of hydropower are also numerous. Its main con is the equipment used. The turbines can have devastating effects on the local fish population. With large amounts of water going through the turbines, there could be a lot of fish going along too. The turbine, of course, kills the fish, which may decrease the quantity of or endanger certain species. Thus, a dam changes the fish and wildlife in the area, as well as the landscape.

Hydropower con 2 – Hydropower dams affect the local population as well. People who live in towns and villages in the valley that will be flooded have no choice but to move. This could mean that their businesses and farms will be lost. In certain countries, sometimes people are forced to vacate the premises so that hydropower dams can be built.

Hydropower con 3 – Dams take up a lot of space and are usually built on undeveloped land that is wooded. It is often necessary to clear the woods, which increases greenhouse gas emissions in the area significantly. The plants and trees that previously acted as carbon sinks and captured the harmful carbon are no longer there, which adds to environmental damage.

Hydropower con 4 – Hydropower damsare extremely expensive to build and it can take years to gain some kind of return on investment.

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For more information, go to:
www.hydropower.org,
en.wikipedia.org

Here are some of the main pros associated with this form of renewable energy:

Tidal energy facts 1 – Consistency and reliability: Many other sources of renewable energy, such as solar and wind, generate a fluctuating amount of power which is dependant on weather conditions. This is not the case with tidal power, which can generate energy like clockwork indefinitely. This is a big benefit of this form of renewable energy and means that there will never be any shortage in supply.

Tidal energy facts 2 – Efficiency: Tidal turbines are considered a very efficient way to generate energy. Tidal dams convert up to 80% of the tidal energy in to actual electricity. Solar and wind generators work on a much lower efficiency level.

Tidal energy facts 3 – No harmful emissions whatsoever: With the world moving fast to a low-carbon economy, tidal power projects are in desperate need. CO2 emissions are zero, as are the emissions of other harmful gases, such as Sulfur Dioxide (which cause acid rain.)

As much as we would like tidal power to have no disadvantages, unfortunately this is not the case. Here are the main cons:

Tidal energy facts 4 – Limited locations: There are a limited number of locations where it is economically feasible to install tidal energy generators. For it to be worthwhile, the tidal flow and the volume of ebbing water must be large. Some countries have no coastline, and naturally this form of renewable energy is irrelevant for them. Plenty of other countries do have a coastline, but the tidal movement is too small for tidal every to be considered. Also, tidal turbines can of-course only produce energy two or four times a day.

Tidal energy facts 5 – Up-front and maintenance costs: Power is generated through a system of barrages. This equipment is not only very expensive to install in the first place, but it requires a considerable amount of maintenance. The large costs associated with setting up and looking after such as system is a big disadvantage for this type of renewable energy. Saying that, any energy system is expensive to set up and run, and if a tidal barrage is located in a good place, the large amount of energy that it can produce makes it worth it.

Tidal energy facts 6 – Environmental issues: Tidal barrages can cause problems to the sea creatures that have a habitat in the vicinity. Fish migrations can be heavily disrupted too. A large number of fish can be killed as they pass through the turbines. For this reason extensive environmental audits are conducted before permission is given for a tidal barrage to be constructed.

For the original article, click here
For more information, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
energysavers.gov

The generation of tidal wave energy is an entirely clean process. It does not involve the use of any greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. Some generators of tidal wave power work in a similar way to wind energy generators, and they are called tidal turbines. The generators of tidal wave power are placed off shore into a tidal stream, using a tidal turbine for tidal power generation. The water flow makes the turbine move, which generates energy. Tidal power generation has huge potential and it really is the future of alternative energy, which is just waiting to be tapped into.

Other ways of generating tidal wave energy exist as well. One of them is called tidal barrages. First, the tide has to reach the shore, where it flows through a one-way gate into a reservoir. Then the water is stored until the tide becomes low again, after which it is released back into the sea though turbines. The turbine rotation is what generates electricity, and is very similar to the way power is generated at hydroelectric power plants.

However, tidal power generation does come with its problems, and of course there are negatives that come with it. The first problem is with generating energy continuously. Secondly, even if such a project is implemented, it would be extremely costly to plan and build an entire plant for tidal power generation. This project could also take over a decade to complete. What this entails is a large monetary investment, which will see a return only after 10 years, or maybe even longer.

On the other hand, although tidal barrages require high capital start up funds, the cost of running them once they are built is very low. Although the tidal power generation system will probably not provide returns for a long time, once it does start to pay off, it will most likely continue to bring profits indefinitely. If you invest into sources of alternative energy like tidal wave energy, it will help you make money from reducing pollution and conserving the earth’s resources for future generations.

It’s important to understand that before investing into any alternative energy source, you should do the necessary research and understand how the technology used actually works. This can assist you choosing high quality solid investments. Of course, this by no means guarantees your investments in tidal wave power, but in general the odds are in your favor, since all sources of alternative energy will be used more and more in the future. If you invest in tidal power generation, future returns could be fantastic.

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For more information, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
en.wikipedia.org

Using a wave energy generator to capture tidal and wave energy may sound like science fiction, but this source of alternative energy is already in use. The wave energy advantages are many, and this sustainable energy source is already in use in some areas around the globe. There is more than one type of wave energy generator, and this will determine exactly how the generator will work. One of the first devices used was the Pelamis Wave Energy Converter, and these devices are in use in the first commercial wave farm, which was started in 2008 in Portugal. These specific devices use the joint motion, which is caused by the device bobbing up and down on the waves, to cause the connected hydraulic pumps to work. These pumps are connected to generators which turn and produce electricity.

Another type of wave generator uses buoys. These buoys have a pump or other mechanical device installed inside, and the power of the wave washing over the buoy is converted from mechanical energy to electrical energy. A power cable is required which runs across the floor of the ocean, to transfer the converted tidal and wave energy to shore. This type of wave energy generator does offer some wave energy advantages, but it also has disadvantages that the Pelamis Wave Energy Converter does not. With the buoy method there is not a substantial amount of power that can be generated far offshore. Close to shore the buoys may be quite large, and can be twelve foot square. A number of these can be grouped together for more efficiency, but they are still limited because of the transfer needed and the limitations.