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Energy |
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Students! Thinking about your future?
Click here for a special
section of our site made just for you. Tons of career
and homework resources.. |
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Future
Energy Technology
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Renewable
Energy Sources
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural
resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and
geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally
replenished). Most renewable
energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun.
Solar energy can be used directly for heating and
lighting, for generating electricity and a variety of
commercial and industrial uses.
The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose energy is
captured with wind turbines. Rain or snow flowing downhill
into rivers or streams can be captured using hydropower.
The organic matter that
makes up plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used
to produce electricity, transportation fuels, or
chemicals. The use of biomass for any of these purposes is
called biomass energy.
Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds, as
well as water. It's the most abundant element on the
Earth. But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's
always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen
to make water. Once separated from another element,
hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into
electricity.
 Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat for a
variety
of uses. And the energy of the ocean's tides comes from
the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun upon the
Earth.
In fact, ocean energy comes from a number of sources. In
addition to tidal energy, there's the energy of the
ocean's waves, which are driven by both the tides and the
winds. The sun also warms the surface of the ocean more
than the ocean depths, creating a temperature difference
that can be used as an energy source. All these forms of
ocean energy can be used to produce electricity.
Source:
National
Renewal Energy Laboratory
More Information on
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Power
Biomass and biofuel
Hydropower
Geothermal power
Wind power
Wave power
Tidal power
Lake source cooling |
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Fusion
Confusion?
Lately, it seems you can't
swing a catalyst without hitting something
called FUSION. Cars, candy bars, soft drinks, even razor
blades are named after it. Probably to give you the
impression that what's inside is high energy. (I still
haven't figured out
what fusion has to do with shaving).
My
girlfriend used the word recently during a discussion we
were having in front of the local theatre. She suggested that we see a romantic comedy. I countered
with a film about a family of crazed killers. She said something about boundaries
and followed it with, "Hey, it's not
fusion". The next thing I know, I'm sitting in a
center loge seat watching a movie I think was entitled "Tender Magnolias".
I decided
that before our next date, I would learn more about fusion
and exactly how it relates to movie selection.
Fusion Energy
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
In the near future,
hydrogen fuel cells promise to change our lives. These fuel
cells will power our vehicles, homes and offices more
efficiently and will be less harmful to the environment
than traditional energy sources. Fuel cells using pure
hydrogen do not emit any air pollutants or greenhouse
gases.
Hydrogen fuel
Micro-Generator Feeds On Good Vibrations
A sugar-cube-sized electric
generator that feeds on environmental vibrations has been
developed. It could power swarms of wireless sensors or
even medical implants, researchers
claim.
Micro-Generator
Lettuce Be Green
Researchers have coaxed common bacteria to produce
hydrogen in a new, efficient way
microbial fuel cells
Turning
Plastic Back To Oil
Global
Resource Corporation has developed an energy conversion
process using microwaves that can produce oil and gas from
tires and plastics.
Gas from recycled plastics
Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil
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