Alternative Energy Forms

I think that geo-thermal energy would be a great source for Nicaragua. It could be taking advantage of the high heat sources from the volcanos. Nicaragua is in very big trouble energy-wise and does not have any alternative energy forms. They decided against these a few decades back because oil prices were low at the time. Now they can hardly afford to keep their energy producing. This leads to daily power outages for up to four hours being very common. This also has an effect on the availability of water. There are usually 2 times per week where there is no water for a period of 48 hours. People have learned to live with it by storing water if they have the means to do so. They desparately need a new source of power if they ever hope to progress because it effects everything--businesses, industry, government, traffic lights--it all grinds to a halt during the outages.

As an alternative energy wind turbines are the cleanest as solar energy relies on charging batteries which create a considerable problem when their life span is over and need to be replaced. The disposal of these batteries are the problem!

Wave power. refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work - including electricity generation, desalination, and the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Wave power is a form of renewable energy. Though often co-mingled, wave power is distinct from the diurnal flux of tidal power and the steady gyre of ocean currents. Wave power generation is not a widely employed technology, with only a few experimental sites in existence. The fundamental challenges of wave power are: - efficiently converting wave motion into electricity... generally speaking, wave power is available in low-speed, high forces and motion is not in a single direction. Most readily-available electric generators like to operate at higher speeds, with lower input forces, and they prefer to rotate in a single direction. - constructing devices that can survive storm damage and saltwater corrosion. Likely sources of failure include seized bearings, broken welds, and snapped mooring lines. Knowing this, designers may create prototypes that are so overbuilt that materials costs prohibit affordable production. - low total cost of electricity... wave power will only be competitive when total cost of generation (p/kWhr) is reduced. The winning team will be the one that develops the lowest-cost system (which includes the primary converter, power takeoff system, mooring system, installation & maintenance procedures.... ) Wave power could yield much more energy than tidal power. Tidal dissipation (friction, measured by the slowing of the lunar orbit) is 2.5 terawatts. The energy potential of waves is certainly greater, and wave power can be exploited in many more locations. Countries with large coastlines and strong prevailing winds (notably, Ireland and the UK) could produce five percent or more of their electricity from wave power. And excess capacity (a problem common with intermittent energy sources) could be used to produce hydrogen or smelt aluminum. taken from wikipedia.org

Im all for alternate energy forms. I remember for years that the US(in Maine) and Canada has studied the possibilities of a hydroelectric plant in Passamaquoddy Bay which has a 12 ft normal tide and currents that could produce hydroelectric energy. However, Passamaquoddy Bay is so wide that I don't believe a solution has been found yet. It was said that enough electric power could be generated to supply electricity to almost all of New England and Northeastern Canada. Having been gone so long I'm not sure where that project stands now. I have no object to nuclear power, even if it were in my back yard. I believe that as long as the safeguards are in place and will attended to the possibility of a nuclear meltdown are lessened. As for solar panels I would certainly have them on my rooftop if I lived in a house. As I understand it, the sun rays absorbed can be stored for quite some time so there would be little fear of the energy to dissipate. I have seen a couple of small wind farms here in Portugal but I don't believe they have promoted it sufficiently. Where I live would be more than adequate to store energy and we live daily with winds...rarely a day goes by that the wind doesn't blow. However, I live in a dormitory area where there are apt buildings and houses but little space to set up a wind farm. No matter what system is used I think that more important that adding more...the consumers should be more aware of what they consume and be more energy conscious.

We have already got 2 solar panels ..... they supply a little of our power needs but would like more ..... when we can afford them that is. Everyone should do what they can to help out and even just the 2 panels we have is enough to heat our hot water and maybe a little more as well. Governments will not do everything ..... they will lose money if they did so ...... so instead we should help where we can. Some places have wind turbines ...... they are good but very expensive and mainly have to be done by the government and not individuals. Nuclear Power would be good ...... if handled properly but many countries will not accept this option ...... instead they prefer to rely on fossil fuels which are cheaper.

I personally don't have a problem with nuke power plants - with the qualifier that they are an industrial scale proposition, and mprobably not suited to colcation with domestic neighborhoods on that basis alnoe. To be blunt, a nuclear power station is just a glorified steam engine with a generator attached. Only you don't have to shovel coal into the boiler fire to keep it going - the boiler fire in the nuke plant keeps itself going. Yes there are toxic byproducts, but for the benefits gained it appears to me that these are probably a tolerable cost. There is one HUGE benefit associated with nuclear power plants, incidentally - they don't depend on Solar Energy. That might not seem so significant until you consider that we have NO CLUE what the Sun is or how it works (honestly - everything that you've ever been taught about the Sun beyond the fact that it rises every morning and sets every evening is just so much hogwash!). The Sun has been getting hotter ever since records were kept on the subject, and no-one has ANY CLUE why! Who is to say that it might not decide to do something different in the future? My point here is that all the alternative energy forms EXCEPT nuclear power is dependent on incoming Solar energy. The light, the heat, the wind, the ocean currents - all pretty much depend ultimately on energy from the Sun (one possible exception is tidal power - I will grant that). But in the case of nuclear power, we control the energy source. We might have some problems figuring out how to manage some of the byproducts, but the key point here is (for example) if the Sun decided to shut down over the next 10 years, what would our options be then? I think the nuclear option would become the dominant paradigm.

Wind energy is also one best source as they are avilable freely and in large quantity.They can be used to generate power.But it wont be sufficient for a entire country's need.So some other option should be explored.Solar energy..at present most of nations are using this.Even in silicon valley they are producing large number of solar cells than the silicon chips.it is gaining popularity.i wont go for nuclear power,though all country claim that it is safe.there is a always some drawback and danger attached with this.Research is going on to convert the kinetic energy of the waves of the ocean and waterfall to electical energy.if all thseoptions works out then sure it will be best to the human race in the coming years.

Its a gr8 topic u have put for discussions.I m for the solar energy.I think it does not require much paraphernalia as such except the space for housing the solar panels.Wind farming I suppose require lots of heavy infrasturcture so operating on small scale is not feasible.As far as nuclear energy is concerned I think it has got lots of complexities involved right from to simple things such as radiation hazards to technology transfer & also the various legislation etc.So to summarise, I m ready for solar panels ne time.

Many of my neighbors have solar panels on their roofs. We weren't able to afford that when we had our home built in 1990. But when we retire and move next year, that's something I want to check into doing. I don't know much about wind farms or wave power, but I am learning more from this discussion. As for nuclear power, we have a nuclear plant about 50 miles south of us, and I don't like that idea at all. As far as I'm concerned, there are too many cons and not enough pros. Our electrical bills have gotten higher and higher and now only half of it is for actual consumption...the rest is fees and taxes (and added charges for us to pay for the electric company's damages during hurricanes...they should have to have insurance like we are required to do...but that's another discussion). I'd be willing to have a windmill (or more) in my yard, solar panels on my roof, but I don't like the idea of a nuclear plant almost in my backyard. I do know that something has to be done.

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Solar is the beat alternative,but people must be ready for the one time investment!!!I'm ready too switch to solar.Besides being an endless source,its is also availble aplenty on the earth...

i suppose the best method would be to use wind , wave and geothermal energy. these do not polllute the environment at all and we all do know how much power they possess. but the problem lies in tapping the enrgy. because these resources can be erratic in ature, one cannot tap the enrgy when and as reqiured. also these resources are not at all under our control. that is where science should take a step forward. instead of wasting precous time and money on nuclear experiments, science couold do better by making some progress towards utilizing these energy resources.

My home is a wind and solar powered operation. No electric bill and when the sun did not shine the wind blew and somedays it was a windy sunny day. You live more in tune with nature and it is quite doable in many areas. Nuclear is way too risky to be easily and over a long time period safe. Also just too dirty.

I would love to see more wind turbines/wind projects. I think they are very interesting to see and watch. I think most places have enough wind to keep these turbines going. And if you have never been up next to one of these tall tall turbines you are missing a wonderful site in my opinion. I hope to see more wind projects around the country. I know they take electricity to get them up and going, but very little compared to what they would generate.

i think it depends on the location where to install different energy sources. like for example. solar panels on extremely hot weather. wind mills on seashores. etc...

nuclear power plant in my district? you must be kidding... who would like to stay in these kind of enviroment? =.="

Its defend on place, in contry with sunshine over the year, teh solar is very good to develop. Country with around the sea, water energy can be used well

Wind farms are feasible only very few areas to generate considerable power. Nuclear plants are always on the verge of risk; I would definitely not approve of having such a a plant in my district. Solar power is the only perennial alternative source of energy.Lot more research in increasing the efficiency of device that makes use solar panels and related technologies should help. After all this energy is available as long as the sun rises.

People seem to forget the energy balance. Solar panels and wind turbines will never be able to produce the energy in their lifetime that it took to manufacture them in the first place. Yachts use wind turbines, solar panels and towed generators to supply power while crossing oceans and only just manage to do so if the crew accepts a primitave way of life that would be unacceptable to most landlubbers. And thats with the cooking done with bottled gas or oil! We have a choice. Use nuclear power (or maybe fusion if we can find out how) and live the way we are accustomed to; or use solar/wind/wave/bio fuel/etc. and reduce our standard of living to the 19th. centuary. We will survive - I'm sure of that.

the best alternate energy are tidal,wind,atomic,garbage etc