The Alternative Energy Source to Oil Essay -- Renewable Energy Solar P

The Alternative force Source to OilIntroduction1.0Renewable Energy is the term used to describe those animation flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment, e.g. from the sun, wind and the oceans, and from plants and the fall of water. It also refers to the zipper available from wastes and to the emerging clean technology of fuel cells.There ar wide ranges of renewable energy sources/technologies, varying in technical and commercial viability. These includeSolar Power (Photovoltaic)Hydro electric PowerHydrogen Fuel Cells geothermic Wind PowerNuclear Power1.1The modern drive to harness renewable energy began in the 1970s. It was promoted by concerns over the price and availability of fogey fuels oil, gas, and coal. Fossil fuels are finite only coal is predicted to be available in significant quantities at the end of the 21st century at latest rates of consumption. Using fossil fuels to generate electricity also produces pollutants, which can lead to environm ental problems (such as social disease rain and the greenhouse effect).By contrast, renewable energy produces few, if any, harmful emissions. Exploiting renewable, which at present meet over 2% of the UKs electricity needs, also reduces the rate at which other energy resources are used up. With the worlds population continuing to grow, renewable energy promises to play an increasingly significant role in the future.1.2The estimated oil reserves in the Earths crust are about 1 trillion barrels. Oil consumption is at 25 billion barrels per category and increasing at 1.5% per year. At current rates of consumption, measured against known reserves, there is only a 30-year supply of oil in the Earths crust. Even if the reserve estimate were doubled, it is a moral imperative that the population takes immediate action to develop a sustainable energy economy.Solar Energy2.0Solar energy is quite simply the energy produced by the sun and collected elsewhere, normally the Earth. The sun creat es its energy through a thermonuclear execute that converts about 650,000,000 tons of hydrogen to helium e genuinely second. The process creates heat and electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, infra-red light, and ultra-violet radiation) streams out into space i... ..., such as natural gas. Practical fuel cell systems are therefore likely to include a fuel processor, which generates hydrogen from hydrocarbons.There are a outlet of types of fuel cells currently the focus of development workAlkaline fuel cells AFCDirect methanol fuel cells DMFCMolten carbonate fuel cells MCFCPhosphoric acid fuel cells PAFCProton exchange membrane fuel cells PEMRegenerative fuel cells RFCSolid oxide fuel cells SOFC3.5Fuels cells are inherently clean and efficient and are uniquely able to spoken language the issues of energy security and environmental degradation. Now market experience is showing that the technology provides a range of critical bene fits that no other single index number generation technology can match.Fuel cells are quiet and reliable with no moving parts.They produce no emissions (other than water) when using pure hydrogen and very light emissions when using hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel.They are extremely efficient compared to conventional means of generating electricity typically 40 50%.PEM fuel cells restrain a very low operating temperature