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Sources of Non-Fossil Fuel Energy

Fossil fuels provide energy for human use on a limited basis. Processing fossil fuels releases carbon into the air through combustion, creating a blanket that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Called global warming, this process leads to negative consequences that destroy the health of the environment and humans globally. Alternative energy sources, also called non-fossil fuels and renewable resources, provide unlimited energy for human use, without the disastrous consequences of fossil fuels.

  1. Biomass Energy

    • Organic matter can create energy to sustain human activity. Known as biomass, this renewable energy source is carbon neutral, which makes it a healthy alternative to fossil fuels such as oil. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When those plants are used as biomass, they release the carbon dioxide stored inside of them. This process recycles existing carbon dioxide rather than contributing new carbon emissions to the atmosphere like fossil fuels do. From wood chips wasted by the lumber industry to the grass growing on lawns in your neighborhood, organic matter is unlikely to run out, making it a renewable energy source that can sustain humanity for generations.

    Wind Energy

    • Turbines harness wind that can replace fossil fuels as an energy source. Since wind exists all over the world, wind energy seems a practical and cheap solution to governments seeking cleaner, more reliable energy sources. Wind blows at different speeds and in different amounts geographically. Scattering turbines across regions ensures that energy is harnessed more evenly when some areas are windier than others. Wind turbines generate more power during daylight hours and less at night. This pattern reflects consumer demand, since humans require more energy during the day to power more gadgets, appliances and machinery.

    Solar Energy

    • A free and unlimited resource, sunlight can be converted into usable energy through two processes, as thermal energy and photovoltaic energy. Thermal energy refers to heat from sunlight. Heat is applied to an engine or steam generator where it is converted into electricity. Thermal energy heats buildings and water, to dry crops and incinerate waste. Alternatively, photovoltaic energy generates power when sunlight reaches a semiconductor, creating an electric charge. Photovoltaic energy seems the most viable option off all renewable energy sources because it does not require any machinery or moving parts, requiring little maintenance over long periods of time. However, solar energy can be expensive and highly variable, since sunlight does not reach different parts of the Earth in equal amounts at all times during the year. Still, governments investing in solar panels for photovoltaic energy spend less money over time since it costs virtually nothing to harness once the technology is in place.

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