| The world's reliance on oil is staggering, | | | | companies could enter the market and continue |
| and it seems that new predictions for when we | | | | to innovate. |
| will run out of petroleum are popping up | | | | |
| every day. World governments are moving to | | | | Solar power is the process of converting the |
| start drilling in new places, in a desperate | | | | sun's rays in to energy. The vast majority of |
| attempt to secure more black gold. Oil is | | | | sunlight which strikes the Earth is left |
| used for a variety of products, including | | | | unabsorbed, so we might as well try to take |
| fuel, which is the number one commodity that | | | | as much as we can get. Solar energy is |
| people associate oil with. | | | | produced through the application of solar |
| | | | cells, and several solar cells put together |
| If we are to survive as a species, it is | | | | form solar panels. The solar cells convert |
| integral that we embrace the number of | | | | sunlight in to direct current energy through |
| alternative fuels that are sitting before us. | | | | the photoelectric effect. When light hits the |
| Even if one alone is not enough to wean us | | | | surface of the cell, electrons are released, |
| off oil, it is surely possible that together, | | | | and they are harnessed in to usable |
| we can replace oil once and for all, at least | | | | electricity. Solar engineers are currently |
| in terms of fuel. | | | | trying to develop more efficient and |
| | | | effective solar cells, so that we may one day |
| There are innumerable benefits to embracing | | | | be able to rely on them for the majority of |
| alternative fuels, and very few negatives. In | | | | our appliances. |
| fact, the only arguably bad thing about | | | | |
| alternative fuels is that they ultimately | | | | Wind energy uses the power of the wind to |
| decrease the profits of oil companies, | | | | generate electricity. Wind is converted in to |
| although most people do not care about that. | | | | electricity through the utilization of wind |
| Petroleum based fuels are known to release | | | | turbines, which have taken on a thin, three |
| greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants in to | | | | bladed shape in modern times. Currently, wind |
| the air. Over time, greenhouse gases have | | | | power supplies one percent of the world's |
| been shown to accelerate global warming, and | | | | electricity needs, although with coming |
| the dirtier the air is, the unhealthier we | | | | advancements in wind technology and the |
| are. By taking advantage of alternative | | | | expansion of the industry, that number could |
| fuels, we can reverse these downward trends, | | | | rise substantially in the next few years. |
| stop global warming, and make air completely | | | | |
| safe to breathe again. | | | | Hydroelectric power is the most used form of |
| | | | alternative energy, supplying nineteen |
| Proponents of oil say that our economy would | | | | percent of the world's electricity. It is |
| be extremely damaged by our disposal of | | | | generated by the potential energy of falling |
| traditional fossil fuels. It seems, however, | | | | water, which powers a water turbine and |
| that the onset of alternative fuels will | | | | generator. Large dams have been constructed |
| actually be beneficial to our economy. | | | | solely for the purpose of creating this kind |
| Companies that research and provide | | | | of energy, and due to the continuous flow of |
| alternative energy are popping up at an | | | | water, hydroelectricity has proven to be |
| increasing rate, creating jobs and | | | | quite effective. Like other renewable energy |
| stimulating the economy. If alternative fuels | | | | sources, there remains a lot of untapped |
| were supported more heavily, additional | | | | potential in this field. |