31+ Alternative Energy Examples: Uses And Detailed Facts

In this article, let us discuss some of the alternate sources of energy that can be bought into use to conserve the sparse sources of energy.

It is an alternate source of energy in order to conserve the natural resources and prevent the harmful gases leading to global warming, which can be renewable sources and available abundantly. Here is a list of alternative energy examples that we are going to discuss further:-

Hydrogen Fuel

It is an eco-friendly fuel and most efficient and can provide more amount of energy as compared to the rest of the fuels. It comprises hydrogen stored in the form of liquid by compressing and storing in coolants.

Galvanic Cell

It is a method to generate electricity through chemical energy. Two different solutions are taken in a beaker connected with a salt bridge, and two rods of different charges are inserted into each beaker. The chemical reaction is carried out due to the motion of ions through a wire connecting both the rods and the salt bridge. The motion of ions thus conducts the electric current.

Steamboat

The steamboat works on the steam engine which has a boiler. The heat is supplied to the boiler filled with water.

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A man igniting a fire under a boiler; Image Credit: Pixabay

As the temperature reaches the boiling point, the water turns into the vapor state and evaporates on the turbine which rotates due to the vapor pressure.

Geothermal Energy

It is the energy derived from the Earth. As the pressure increases down the depth beneath the Earth’s crust, the temperature also rises, thus the liquid matter turns into the vapor state of high temperatures. These vapors are made to pass on the turbine by inserting a pipe making a borehole. Due to the thermal pressure, the turbine starts rotating. This mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy at the generator.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear fission gives out a huge amount of energy.

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Nuclear energy plant; Image Credit: Pixabay

Nuclear power plants are set up to produce nuclear energy, and this energy is utilized for various purposes like electricity, production of hydrogen fuel, desalination of seawater, heat energy, etc.

Solar Panel

Solar energy is converted into electrical energy with the help of solar panels. The sunlight incident on the solar panel energies the free electrons due to which they start migrating towards the oppositely charged particles and conduct electricity.

Wind Energy

The wind energy is converted into electrical energy by establishing the windmills. As the wind blows over the windmill, propellers start rotating and its rotational speed is intensified with the help of the shaft and motor. This is then converted into electrical energy.

Tidal Energy

The tides are of great height in the ocean as the volume of water in the ocean is more compared to other water bodies.

The ocean is an immense source of potential energy. The tides are formed due to the gravitational pull of the Moon exerted on the Earth.

Biogas

Biogas is a renewable source of energy that is generated by the waste remains of the flora and fauna. This biogas fuel is easily available, cheapest, and a good source of energy.

Hydro Power Plant

Hydropower is the power generated by the application of water. The water turbine is used to transform the potential energy of the water into mechanical energy, which is then converted to electrical energy.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is derived from the Earth’s crust which is found near the crude oil deposition.

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Natural gas used in burner; Image Credit: Pixabay

This is used as cooking fuel, vehicles, etc. This helps to reduce the emission of carbon into the atmosphere.

Oven

The microwave oven basically works on the microwaves generated by the magnet that emits heat waves. These heat waves are imposed on the food items kept inside the oven and cook food in the time set. This helps to save natural gas, and also reduces the emission of carbon dioxide by getting rid of coal and firewood.

Solar Heaters

The solar energy from the sun is an abundant source of energy on the earth and can be used to convert it into various forms of energy for different purposes. The solar heater absorbs the radiation from the Sun during the day and irradiates the energy during the night to provide warmth.

Solar Cooker

Since the black body completely absorbs the radiations, it is used here along with the reflectors to reflect the incident light on the black body.

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Solar cooker; Image Credit: Pixabay

The black body absorbs these radiations and the temperature inside the cooker rises essentially for cooking the food.

Desalination

The heat energy generated in the nuclear power plant is derived by the coolants running through the pipe and finally through the seawater. The immense heat energy is utilized for the desalination of seawater.

Dam

The dams are constructed to store the water for utility during summers when there is water scarcity. The water in the dam has gravitational potential energy depending on the height at which the level of water is raised.

This water is used to generate electricity by planting the water turbine at the gate of the dam. The kinetic energy of the water is converted into the mechanical energy of the turbine which is then transformed into electrical energy.

Batteries

The rechargeable batteries used over the general chemical batteries can help prevent chemical and electronic waste. The rechargeable batteries are made up of lithium-ions, nickel-cadmium, etc.

LED Bulb with Inverter

Nowadays, there are LED bulbs that come along with the inverter circuits inbuilt in it, and hence come in handy even in absence of current, thus this bulb saves a lot of electricity.

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Flashlights and bulbs; Image Credit: Pixabay

The LED bulb has also replaced the commercial old bulb of a tungsten filament. Since tungsten is a very rare element, the use of LED bulbs will reduce the requirement for tungsten.

Exothermic Reaction

Exothermic Reactions are those reactions that release a huge amount of heat energy when the reactants react to form products. This heat is generated due to the fact that the amount of chemical energy released on breaking the bonds, not all the energy is utilized to form the new bonds.

Trees

Trees provide us with food and oxygen. The food has stored chemical potential energy. The burning wood of the tree converts the chemical energy into heat and radiant energy. The fossilized tree is turned into coal which is used as a fuel.

Rockets

An immense amount of energy is required to push the rockets to overcome the gravitation force of attraction of the Earth.

Since hydrogen fuel is light in weight and produces more amount of energy as compared to the rest of the fuel, this could be very essential in rocket launching.

Pesticides

Nuclear pesticides are very beneficial in agriculture and farming. This pesticide can sterile the male bug and thus control the population of the bugs and insects, consequently reducing their population and resulting in a good percent of yield.

Windmill to Grind the Grains

Building a windmill near a farm can be very profitable.

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Windmill near the farm; Image Credit: Pixabay

The mechanical energy of the windmill can be converted into electrical energy and can also be used to grind the grains produced on the farm.

Lights on Road Lane

At night, in absence of the sunlight, the light absorbed from the daylight is emitted from the LDR fixed along the road lanes. This shows the pathway for the driver at night by emitting the red light which is traverse through the atmosphere at a far distance.

Induction Stove

This works on electricity and cooks food in very less time compare to the gas stoves because its efficiency of transfer of heat is more.

This also helps in saving natural gas and fuel and prevents the environment from harmful chemicals and gases too.

LED Lamps

Instead of traditional oil lamps, we can switch to LED lamps. This can conserve the oil and the carbon and arsenide released from the burning oil. This will also avoid the accident caused due to fire.

Blenders

The blender works on electrical energy and transforms the mechanical energy into chemical energy by grinding the ingredients.

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Blender; Image Credit: Pixabay

The blades rotate with the shaft attached to them due to the acceleration of the rod on electromagnetic effect.

Reflection

If you have a single source of light of less intensity then how will you light the entire hall from this single source? The reflections of the rays emerging from this source would help. The reflection of the light will help to produce more radiant energy.

Vehicles

The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles will help to reduce the air pollution index ratio as this causes less pollution as compared to the rest of the fuels. It releases less carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Scientific Calculator

The scientific calculators have solar cells which can be charged when exposed to sunlight.

These solar cells last for a longer duration as they can be easily charged back.

Water Turbines

The water turbine is used to convert the potential energy of the water into electrical energy by its mechanical energy. The water emerging from the turbine applies force and sets it in a rotational motion. These rotations are intensified and sustained by the motor and shaft attached to it. This mechanical energy is further converted into electrical energy by the generator.

Friction

The frictional force is the resistive force exerted on the body of the object. The frictional force generates heat energy as well as radiant energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main sources of alternative energy?

The energy that can be an alternate solution to reduce the global warming issues and sustain development is an alternative energy source.

The main sources of alternative energy are solar power, water and wind source, wave energy, biofuels, and nuclear energy. These are renewable sources of energy available on the planet.

What are the benefits of alternative energy?

It is obviously very beneficial to choose alternative energy sources.

It conserves biodiversity and nature by reserving its rare sources for the future generation as well as tackling the various environmental problems that would affect the diversity on the planet and sustains development by conserving a large amount of energy.

Also, please click to know about 20+ Passive Solar Energy Examples.

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