The world has learned in the last ten years or so that we cannot continue to use non renewable energy at the rate we have been so far. Oil, natural gas and coal are in limited supply, and once they're gone, they are gone for millions of years. Not to mention the overwhelming evidence of global warming caused by burning fossil fuels has proven to the world that green power is not an option anymore, it is a requirement.
As various green technologies continue to be developed, a few of them are already showing promise as serious contenders.
A wide range of new and green technologies are gaining momentum as they are being introduced into our power supplies.
With more money being invested in research and development, these technologies are being refined and geared towards replacing our reliance on fossil fuels. The development of Wind Farms has proven to be the most cost effective way to produce green and renewable energy so far. Their ease of manufacturing and installation and low maintenance make it a popular alternative that is being developed. Right now, only three percent of global power needs are supplied by wind farms, but that number is expected to skyrocket in the next couple of years.
As long as there is wind, they can generate a lot of electricity. They are relatively inexpensive to build and require very little maintenance once in operation. Wind turbines have very low emissions and they can provide a steady source of clean energy for a long period of time.
Turbines have also been adapted to work underwater as well. Capturing energy from moving currents, waves and tides, engineers have been able to design turbines to generate electricity without producing any emissions in the process. Unfortunately, the water turbines need a lot of maintenance, and wind generates more energy than current technology allows water to.
Solar Power is making a resurgence as a great renewable source of energy, however solar panels are still not cheap enough to be cost effective for general use. But, the great advantage of solar panels is how they only need sun to generate electricity, also with no emissions. There are huge solar farms found in the western United States, among other unpopulated areas in the world, and they are making a significant contribution. As solar technology develops, perhaps this source of power will be more widely used.
Since coal and natural gas are non renewable sources of energy, we cannot count on their availability for the long term power needs we share. Natural gas is a great and clean burning source of energy, but also very dangerous. Methane gas from decomposing matter in landfills burn the same as natural gas, and they are being developed and expanded to help fuel our power supply. Huge underwater pockets of methane have also been discovered all over the planet, and will be in use within the next twenty years or so.
There are limitless supplies of Renewable Energy Sources available to feed our hunger for power. The greatest promise that green power has is that it can come from different sources and be integrated to work together. As more time and money are spent on developing these promising technologies, the more our society will adapt to a green way of life.
Cheryl Kearns is an internet marketer and author. She writes about the environment and green issues . You can visit her site at environment