We have written elsewhere about “Alternative Energy
Economy”. In refining this consideration, we might well define it as
Renewable Energy.
Our entire way of life, including all of our economic
projections, is built on the assumption that there will always be more
energy when we want it. The fact is, everything we do depends on some
form of energy. In order for this to continue, we must develop
alternative energy sources. The best and most practical are those
sources that are accurately characterized as renewable energy, i.e.,
those forms of energy that will exist beyond oil, coal, natural gas and
nuclear.
While we continue to plod along with the fossil fuels,
lets take a look
at some of those which are readily available and have the capacity to
generate enough power to satisfy all our energy requirements.
Wind
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has stated that
wind is capable of providing about 15 times the current annual global
energy demand.
Solar
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has indicated that
enough electric power for the entire USA could be generated by covering
a piece of Nevada, about 100 miles square, with solar power systems.
Geothermal
The first geothermal power plant was constructed just
after 1900 in Italy. It is still operating today and serving some 2
million people. According to M.I.T., there are over 100 million quads
of accessible geothermal energy worldwide. The world only consumes
about 400 quads.
Marine Energy
The Electric Power Research Institute has estimated
the wave energy along the U.S. coastline equal to half the total US
consumption of electricity.
Magnetic Energy
The most recent breakthrough is in Magnetic Power
Generators.
Magnetic Power Generators are an amazing technology, for a few key
reasons:
They create free energy by harnessing harmless
magnetic waves in a
frictionless environment;
They take very little space and can be conveniently
place virtually
anyplace in the building;
They can help relieve the "weight" of the monthly
energy bill ... and
when scaled properly, can even eliminate it entirely;
They can be built with easily accessible, very
affordable materials;
Plus, with the right blueprints, even an elementary
school kid can
build one!
Biofuel
Biofuels are a wide range of fuels which are in some
way derived from biomass. The term covers solid biomass, liquid fuels
and various biogases.[1] Biofuels are gaining increased public and
scientific attention, driven by factors such as oil price spikes, the
need for increased energy security, and concern over greenhouse gas
emissions from fossil fuels.
One of the latest thrusts in
this arena is the utilization of algae to produce biomass:
Uses
sunlight,
CO2, saltwater and algae to produce ethanol and other valuable
hydrocarbons via photosynthesis.
Uses
marginal
or desert land, produces oxygen and provides fresh water.
Unlike
all
other biofuel processes, the main production does not involve biomass
harvesting.
Productivity
6,000 gal/acre-yr; target is 10,000 gal/acre-yr.
No
competition
with food, farmland or feedstock supplies.
Obviously, the difficulty is,
WE’RE NOT
DEVELOPING THESE RESOURCES!
Albert Einstein once said, "In the middle of every
difficulty lies opportunity."
"...[Obama] will invest $15
billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating five
million new, green jobs that pay well, can't be outsourced, and can
help end our dependence on Middle East oil." - The Wall Street Journal
Obama has pledged to spend $150 billion
over 10 years to promote wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable
energy resources. – Bloomberg
These are tremendous statements. While I certainly hope
this plan
materializes, we’ll see if it holds water and truly develops.
Whether
it becomes real or
not, the opportunity that we have today is to build a future that
embraces clean, renewable, economical energy. It is an opportunity that
will enable better living conditions for the global community while
creating the potential for new income, possibly new wealth for those of
us who invest in renewable energy. This is an opportunity that may not
repeat itself if we don't act on it now.
The prudent entrepreneur should be about his
research and development now!
