Alternative energy sourses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Alternative energy sourses - Research Paper Example If oil remains the world's pre-eminent source of energy in the coming years, it would make the problem worse for the whole world (Stern, 2007). The best course of action to resolve or reduce the danger of human’s oil dependence is an issue of much discussion and dissention (Green, 2007). Sustainable energy sources are the best option for decreasing oil dependence and this should be encouraged or even mandated. The problem of oil dependence World energy demand has been increasing continually and is projected to increase further. Despite increases in world oil prices, hydrocarbon fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas have been used primarily thus far to supply this increasing energy demand. There are a variety of dangers that result from this dependence according to Newman (2002). Because the last known major oil reserves that haven't been depleted are in the Middle East, the oil-consuming world is dependent on the Persian Gulf for oil, Which leaves oil consuming cities and co untries with a deep-seated feeling of vulnerability. US cities are especially vulnerable as they have an average consumption of 431 gallons of gas per person as compared with European cities using an average of 133 gallons per person (Newman, 2002). There are many different views on problem with dependence on oil. One very important theoretical approach to dealing with the problem is that certain actions should be supported by Federal legislation i.e. development of more alternative energy sources. Alternative Energy Sources The Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) is a leading authority on developing alternative sources of energy and they provide extensive information about various new alternative sources of power that are being developed. The main alternative power sources being used in the U.S. are solar power, hydrogen fuel cells, wind power, hydropower, geothermal power, biomass and tidal power (Green, 2007) The Alternative Energy Institute's about solar power are very positive. They observe that in a 24-hour period the sun provides more energy than the human race can use in the next 27 years (Riley and McLaughlin, 2001). Solar power has been being developed for over one hundred years. However, most of the development has taken place in the last thirty years since the first practical solar cells were developed in the early 1970's. AEI notes that solar power has tremendous potential, but what has caused this clean and renewable energy resource to not get the highest priority has been its cost. Coal and oil have been less expensive and this cost difference has precluded solar power from growing like it could (Riley and McLaughlin, 2001). Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technology also is of interest to the alternative energy institute. Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth and it has potential to propel planes, trains, automobiles, etc.(Elliott, 2003). It has been used in NASA manned flights since 1965. However, it will take years of research and development before this clean renewable energy source may revolutionize the transportation industry. Fuel cells have the benefits of being produced in country instead of being imported, affect the most oil-dependent transportation area and can dramatically reduce health hazards from automobile exhaust. Automakers from Japan, Europe and America are diligently working to perfect this technology. However, a limitation of hydrogen is that it requires energy to free it from water or other resources that contain it. Besides that, it also needs twice as much energy to produce