Solar Energy Plus Water Energy Plus Biofuels Equal the Future

Imagine a world where the air is clear and gas prices are virtually non-existent. Imagine the United States is no longer dependent on foreign oils. This is a future driven by alternative energy. There are three forms of alternative energy that are relatively easy to harness, they are: sun light, hydropower and bio-fuels (fuels coming from corn and other veggie crops) (2) (4) (3). These three alternative fuels can create a country that is environmentally friendly and self-sustaining.

History of Solar Energy

Solar technology is not a new technological innovation; in fact, it has existed since the times of the ancient Greeks and the Romans. In the 7^th century B.C. the magnifying glass was first used to start fires. In the 3^{rd Century} B.C., Greeks and Romans used burning mirrors to light torches for religious purposes (3). In the 2^nd century, Archimedes used bronze (a reflective material) to set fire to wooden ship. Though there is no proof that this happened, in 1973 it was be proven that it was possible to set fire to a ship from fifty meters away (3).

In 1839, French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electricity-conducting solution-electricity-generation increased when exposed to light. In 1891, Baltimore inventor Clarence Kemp patented the first commercial solar water heater (3).

In 1905, Albert Einstein published his paper on the photoelectric effect. Armed with the photoelectric and photovoltaic information in 1958 The Vanguard I space satellite used a small array to power its radios. Later that year, Explorer III, Vanguard II, and Sputnik-3 were launched with PV-powered systems on board. It has become the excepted source of space power today (3).

In 1973, The University of Delaware built "Solar One," one of the world's first photovoltaic powered residences. The roof-integrated arrays fed surplus power through a special meter to the utility during the day and purchased power from the utility at night. In 1976, the NASA Lewis Research Center started installing 83 photovoltaic power systems on every continent except Australia (3). These systems provided such diverse applications as vaccine refrigeration, medical clinic lighting, telecommunications, water pumping, and classroom television. The Center completed the project in 1995, working on it from 1976-1985 and then again from 1992-1995. In 1993, PG&E completed the installation of the first grid photovoltaic system in Kerman, California (3).

In 1999, a break through at Spectrolab, Inc. and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a photovoltaic solar cell that converted 32.3 percent of the sunlight that hits it into electricity(3).

In 2001, the efficiency of solar panels became profitable when Home Depot began selling residential solar power systems in three of its stores in San Diego, California. A year later, it expanded sales to include 61 stores nationwide (3).

In 2002, the largest solar power facility in the Northwest was built. It produced 38.7-kilowatts a day at White Bluffs Solar Station in Richland, Washington (3).

History of Hydropower

Hydropower first started as early back as 100 B.C. when the Greeks and Romans used a waterwheel, which was vertical and placed a long a stream or river, for grinding corn. Milling was the main task performed with hydropower back then. By 4 A.D. the water wheel had traveled through Asia and the rest of Europe (1).

As the water wheel spread to different parts of the world, people tried to perfect the wheel by changing the orientation (5). Eventually in the 18^th century; John Smeaton tested a number of different orientations. He found that an up right horizontal "overshot" wheel was the most effective. This type of water wheel became common all around the world. In the centuries to come, engineers added curved paddles which worked better then the traditional flat paddles (4). Eventually, water turbines slowly replaced waterwheels but waterwheels are still in use today. The water turbine used gravity to turn the wheel in the form of falling water. The water turbine was invented by Samuel Howd and perfected by James Francis. In an effort to control streams and rivers, people began to create dams. These dams were used to divert water flow or to obstruct it. The dams were and still are used as reservoirs. When the idea of creating electricity from water arose, the water turbine was back and being used to transform water energy into electricity (1). In 1882, Wisconsin's hydropower station was the world first hydroelectric plant to produce 12.5 kilowatts of power. In 1936, Hoover Dam on the Colorado River was established and it produced 130,000 kilowatts of power. This power was provided to major cities through high voltage power lines. Countless countries all around the world have followed the lead of the United States by building stations and supplying their citizens with electricity (4). Even to this day the debate on the pros and cons of hydropower is still unsettled. As shown, the transition from mechanical energy to electric energy took a long time but in the end, it was worth it.

History of Bio-Fuels

Bio-fuel did not start as far back as the previous alternative energies, but it has had its share of history. For example, in 1898, Rudolph Diesel premiered the diesel engine at the World's Exhibition in Paris which ran on peanut oil (2). Henry Ford was a key player in the early alternative fuels movement, beginning with his 1908 Model T engine that ran on ethanol. Bio-fuels were instantly accepted as the key to the future. By the 1920's, Ford had established a partnership with Standard Oil, and 25% of oil sales were non-petroleum related (2). The petroleum industry saw the threat, undercut their prices and developed petro-diesel, a petroleum based alternative to vegetable oil. By the early 1940's the use of any kind of bio-fuels became virtually non-existent. By the 1970's the U.S. became dependent on foreign oil. As early as 1973, the Middle East was controlling most of the world's oil and began reducing supplies and increasing prices (2).

Current Issues with Solar Energy

Solar Energy has always been looked at as high tech and for the most part this is true. So why have people neglected this technology? For $20,000 this will get you a Gaim's Mendocino Grid Intertie Basic Starter Kit. This kit comes with four 120-watts PV Solar Panels and also comes with everything you need. It is upgradable to 36 panels at a cost of over $80,000. As we can see that for the average American this is a lot of money. It appears to be expensive, but as the experts say, over time it will pay off (2). A house running on solar energy is still far from common but another solar panel may start to be more common. It is the Nomad from Solar Sense. It retails for under $1,000. This fairly little system will get you more for less, so to speak. According to thesolarguide.com it is able to run about 5 to 6 lights and some small appliances like a toaster or a blender. According to the thesolarguid.com, as the solar panels become more common, the prices will come down to a reasonable level (2).

Current Issues with Hydropower

Hydropower costs a lot of money, not because the technology is advanced but more because of the amount of land permits and laws that have to be followed when constructing dams. Nevertheless, currently there are new forms of hydropower that only require a small river or stream, creating a system that produces electricity (1). These smaller systems work much like the turbine in the dam but with out the amount of dramatic change to the environment. As of today, hydropower accounts for 97.9% of electricity produced by alternative fuels. Hydropower is the largest producing alternative energy source (4).

Current Issues with Bio-Fuels

Bio-fuels along with the rise in oil have caused a spike in food prices that affect millions of people around the world. This spike is caused by the number of corn and wheat needed to make Bio-diesel and the number of corn and wheat to feed the world's masses. The demand over supply has caused prices to skyrocket (2). Now with the seemingly unending rise in gas prices, the immediate transportation of food costs more than it has in a long time. Currently inEngine Manufacturers Association v. South Coast Air Quality Management District, the case deals with the amount of emissions that cars produce and also the decommissioning of police cruisers in Orange County and Los Angeles. Police are now driving military grade golf carts (2).

My Thoughts on the Alternative Energies

I believe that alternative energies are the key to the worlds growing demand for energy. However, I do not believe that bio-fuels are the key to the future. I do believe that it is a great gateway to getting people to think "green." Bio-diesel is just another form of gasoline contributing to the tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere already. I believe that though the price of solar panels is at the start extremely expensive, over time they will pay for themselves. On the topic of hydropower, hydropower is a great source of electricity because it is able to produce energy rather efficiently. Now solar energy and hydro energy go hand in hand. One very important reason is people use electricity during the day and at night. During the day, you can use solar energy as it is being created and at night, you can use hydro energy, which is being produced millions of miles away. A future free of oil and it damages is the only way to go. We are a very industrious society and if we try hard we can beat all odds.