Alternative Energy Shawn Ogden Josh Sizemore

Alternative Energy Solar, wind, hydro and nuclear are just some of the forms of alternative energy. Usually they are renewable and more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. The costs of each differs with relation to fossil fuels such as oil and coal. They are just as effective in most cases.

Solar Energy Radiant light and heat from the sun. A solar cell is a device that converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. In the photoelectric effect, electrons are emitted from solids, liquids or gases when they absorb energy from light. Electrons emitted in this manner may be called photoelectrons. By 2012 available efficiencies exceed 20% and the maximum efficiency of research photovoltaic is over 40%. Solar panels today are still relatively expensive and cannot be all encompassing.

Wind Energy Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships. A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind, also called wind energy, into mechanical energy; a process known as wind power. Wind Turbines are widely used but fairly expensive.

Hydroelectric Energy Electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 percent of global electricity generation. The cost of hydroelectricity is relatively low, making it a competitive source of renewable electricity. The average cost of electricity from a hydro plant larger than 10 megawatts is 3 to 5 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

Nuclear Energy Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provided about 5.7% of the world's energy and 13% of the world's electricity, in Water reactors which use uranium-235 (0.7% of all natural uranium), fast breeder reactors use uranium-238 (99.3% of all natural uranium). Economics involving nuclear are unpredictable given demand changes.