Development of Alternate Energy Sources

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Description

Alternative energy is defined to be fuelled in ways that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment. Some of the latest concepts in this sector include:
1. Algae fuel
2. Biomass briquettes
3. Biogas digestion
4. Biological Hydrogen Production
5. Floating wind farms
6. Hydrogen economy
7. Fuel Cells

The hydrogen economy is one of the promising of delivering energy using hydrogen. Hydrogen lobbyists promote hydrogen as potential fuel for transportation energy requirements. It can also be used for the energy needs of buildings and portable electronics. Free hydrogen does not occur naturally in quantity, and thus it must be generated by electrolysis of water or another method, the most economical source currently being hydrocarbons. Hydrogen production is a large and growing industry. Globally, some 50 million metric tons of hydrogen, equal to about 170 million tons of oil equivalent, were produced in 2004. The growth rate is around 10% per year. Within the United States, 2004 production was about 11 million metric tons (MMT), an average power flow of 48 gigawatts. (For comparison, the average electric production in 2003 was some 442 gigawatts.) As of 2005, the economic value of all hydrogen produced worldwide is about $135 billion per year.

Enablers:

1. R&D investment
2. Legal requirements to reduce green house gases
3. Public voice
4. Corporate involvement
5. Green finance
6. Media focus
7. Carbon trading

Inhibitors:

1. Cheap oil and gas
2. Nuclear power
3. Lesser energy yield

Paradigms:

Many corporates and governments are investing in the development of alternate sources of energy like hydrogen fuel cells. The nuclear power generation could be used for static energy requirements in fixed establishments like homes, buildings and industry. The energy requirement for transportation needs a much more easily transportable and refillable fuel. Hydrogen fuel cell presents a choice in this aspect. As the percentage of emissions from transportation are much less compared to those by power generation, any major development in this would not yield catastrophic shifts in the standpoint of the negotiating parties. However, some loosening effect would surely be seen.

Web Resources

1. http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/general/factSheet_history.pdf
2. http://www.iphe.net/index.html
3. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/5800
4. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309091632
5. http://www.fair-pr.de/background/worldwide-hydrogen-production-analysis.php
6. http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/press_releases/current/biodiesel.htm
7. http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/general/faqs.asp#howmuchproduced
8. http://www.interstatetraveler.us/Reference-Bibliography/Bellona-HydrogenReport.html
9. http://www.netpilot.ca/aes/
10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_Energy_Index#Notes
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy