Alternative Energy

Alternative energy projects integrate solar PV, wind turbines, battery storage, and smart grid controls, using power electronics, inverters, and HVDC to optimize grid integration, reliability, and decarbonization in electrical engineering applications.

What Are Alternative Energy Projects?

Projects deploying renewables and storage with power electronics to ensure efficient, reliable grid integration.

✅ Solar PV, wind, and storage integrated via power converters

✅ Smart inverters, MPPT, and grid-forming control strategies

✅ HVDC links, microgrids, and protection coordination

Alternative energy projects are technologies that use alternative energy sources (wind energy, solar energy, among others) instead of conventional fossil fuels that damage the environment with toxic greenhouse (GHG) emissions. Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are among some of the North American governmental organizations looking for ways to use alternative energy sources. While using the alternative energy source is important, so is educating the public about ways that they can someday use future alternative energy projects. Here are some energy systems the government is working on for your home: For a concise primer on definitions and policy context, see what alternative energy means to better frame the technologies discussed below.

Alternative Energy Projects - Home Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

As one of several major categories, the forms of alternative energy place solar alongside wind, geothermal, and hydrogen options for residential planning.

This alternative energy project is a great way to preserve Earth's fossil-fuel resources and an efficient way to reduce air pollution. Another benefit of home PV systems is that it reduces the amount of power bought from local utilities thus making the residence less vulnerable to fluctuating price increases. A drawback to a home PV system are the extremely high installation costs, however, funding could be available from governments as an incentive to invest in alternative power. Unobstructed and clear access to the sun’s rays for most or all of the day is required throughout the year for well-designed PV systems. Location affects performance meaning that the roof of a house must be facing south (best option), east or west. Flat roofs are great options for solar electric systems because the PV modules are flat on the roof facing the sky or mounted on frames on an optimal angle facing south. One option for commercial application includes building structures that can create provide shade (such as window awnings) or covered parking. For homeowners evaluating PV feasibility, a detailed guide to solar power clarifies system sizing, orientation, and incentive considerations.

Alternative Energy Projects - Solar Concentrator System

Solar concentrators are alternative energy projects that track and focus the sun's energy; the sun's energy is then converted to hot water and space heat for day-to-day consumption. These alternative energy projects also have thermal storage, so it can distribute the sun's energy during the night or during a cloudy day. In addition to thermal applications, alternative energy power resources explain how concentrators integrate with broader energy management strategies.

Alternative Energy Projects - Hydrogen Electrolyzer

Hydrogen could be a valuable energy source in the future, so alternative energy projects are being funded by governments to heat residential homes. One such project, the hybrid hydrogen electrolyzer/high efficiency furnace system works by generating hydrogen from water using electricity. The generated hydrogen is then used to replace the natural gas that is conventionally used in furnaces. These hybrid energy systems can be installed in a variety of houses, including single detached houses. For system comparisons and component basics, an overview of alternative energy systems outlines how electrolyzers interface with storage and heating equipment.

Alternative Energy Projects - Geo Power

Geothermal Energy is also being used to provide heat to residential homes. One such alternative energy project, known as the Geo Power System, takes heat from the ground and sends it into the house. This tube-in-tube ground heat exchanger, made from polyethylene and aluminum is inserted vertically into a bore-hole in the ground either in the basement or crawlspace of a house. The alternative energy project is supposed to contribute energy during the winter months and absorb energy during the summer months in the ground. For site assessment and retrofit pathways, these alternative energy solutions highlight best practices for efficient geothermal installations.

Alternative Energy Projects - Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells

Fuel-cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems are alternative energy projects that can heat houses and provide hot water while electricity is sent to and from the electricity grid. The continued issues this residential alternative energy project faces include grid connection, thermal storage and proper fuel-cell size. To see how residential CHP fits within the wider clean energy mix, a primer on renewable and alternative energy offers context on adoption trends and grid impacts.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy development integrates renewable generation, photovoltaics, wind turbines, battery storage, power electronics, and HVDC to optimize grid integration, smart inverters, and microgrids for resilient, efficient electrical systems and decarbonized power networks.

What Is Alternative Energy Development?

It is the engineering of renewable power systems—generation, storage, and grid integration—to decarbonize electricity.

✅ Design of PV/wind converters, MPPT, and grid-following/g-forming inverters.

✅ Energy storage sizing, BMS control, and dispatch for frequency regulation.

✅ HVDC, microgrids, protection coordination, and grid integration studies.

Alternative energy developments represent a transformational opportunity to not only attract new global investment and create new jobs, but to reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels. And, the future looks bright because experts predict that completed alternative energy developments will add 4.5 trillion dollars in value to the economy by 2030. For readers new to the field, the fundamentals of alternative energy help clarify key terms and drivers shaping this transition.

Alternative Energy Development - Wind Energy
Wind energy, as an alternative energy development, is the world’s fastest-growing energy source. In fact, 42 per cent of all new power plants installed in 2008 are powered by the wind. In January 2002, installed world capacity exceeded 24,000 megawatts, of which 205 megawatts (or 0.85 per cent of world capacity) was located in Canada. Over the past decade the cost of wind energy has fallen from 30 cents per-kilowatt-hour to around eight cents per-kilowatt-hour. In major policy reviews, the U.S. Department of Energy and the British government have predicted future wind energy costs of between 3.4 to 5.5 cents per-kilowatt-hour by 2020. A recent assessment of wind’s prospects and impacts released by the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that the United States could supply 20 per cent of the nation’s electricity needs through wind by 2030. This assessment and related analyses found achieving this goal would:

• Reduce electric-sector greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 per cent, relative to a scenario with no new wind additions;
• Reduce electric sector natural gas and coal consumption by 50 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively; and avoid construction of 80,000 megawatts of new coal plants;
• Reduce electric-sector water consumption over 15 per cent by 2030, with nearly one third of the reduction in the arid western states; and
• Increase annual property tax revenues and rural landowner payments to more than 1.5 billion dollars and 600 million dollars, respectively, by 2030.

Positioning wind alongside other resources in renewable power generation portfolios can further enhance grid reliability and reduce overall system costs.

Alternative Energy Development - Solar Energy
Photovoltaic (PV) technology has become a focal point in solar alternative energy development due to a number of social and economic factors, including the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, deregulation, and the restructuring of electric power generating companies. PV cells convert sunlight directly into electricity via the photovoltaic effect using specially treated semiconductor materials. Over the past 30 years crystalline silicon has been the material of choice in PV panels Solar PV systems represent a 42-million-dollar industry in Canada, with sales increasing, on average, more than 20 per cent annually over the past decade. In 2000, 1.5 megawatts of modules were sold in Canada, with 98 per cent of this total being used in off-grid or remote applications, and two per cent grid-tied. Based on annual 20 per cent growth rates, the production price of electricity from photovoltaics in Canada can be expected to drop below that of conventional thermal sources by 2020. Each installed kilowatt of PV power has the potential to offset 1.6 tonnes of CO2 per year when replacing coal-generated electricity, 1.3 tonnes per year when replacing oil and 0.7 tonnes per year when replacing natural gas. When integrated into broader alternative energy systems across homes and businesses, PV can provide resilient, distributed capacity for communities and industry.

Alternative Energy Development - Biomass Energy
Biomass, as an alternative energy development, is increasingly seen as a competitive and sustainable energy source. Almost six per cent of primary energy demand is currently supplied by biomass energy (mostly used by the pulp and paper industries, who burn their own residues to turn steam into electricity). The remainder is mostly cordwood, used for residential heating. At the moment, most biomass combustion alternative energy development is concentrated on small-scale cogeneration systems to utilize industrial waste, of around one-megawatt output. Various recent studies have confirmed that extensive biomass resources remain under-utilized across Canada. This includes over five million bone-dry tonnes of lumber and sawmill plant residues, which are being incinerated or landfilled without heat recovery. Successful deployment often depends on well-structured alternative energy projects that align feedstock logistics with local heat and power needs.

Alternative Energy Development - Geothermal Energy
Approximately 35,000 Canadian homes and buildings currently receive heating and cooling through geo-exchange installations. However, policy obstacles still exist which prevent extensive alternative energy development of Western Canada’s high-temperature geothermal resources for electrical generation. The cumulative geothermal resource remains poorly quantified due to a 25 year hiatus in government funding of geothermal science. Through commercial avenues, approximately 100 megawatts of geothermal power potential has been identified as of 2009, although there is still no geothermal power in Canada’s electrical grid. As an under-explored geothermal resource, geothermal projects will represent a pertinent frontier for commercial development in the near future. The corporate and public awareness of geothermal technologies has grown in the recent past through an increased media focus, and a strengthening support for carbon-friendly lifestyle choices. Currently, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association is leading 33 government policy projects to establish a foundation for the imminent development of geothermal electrical projects. As the effect of recent carbon taxes continues to saturate electricity markets, new geothermal opportunities will be available to fill the void with reliable and clean alternative energy. As part of integrated alternative energy solutions across provinces and territories, geothermal can deliver firm, low-emission baseload to complement variable renewables.

Alternative Energy Development - Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is an alternative energy development that is extracted directly as kinetic energy from a moving stream, whereby seawater is ‘partially impounded’ in its flow through a channel. Local effects on the tidal regime are considered low or negligible, depending on the technology used to extract energy. Tidal current energy is predictable and regular, and will be unaffected by global climate change. Nevertheless the technology for exploiting this resource is still in its infancy, and there are, as yet, no commercial installations anywhere in the world. Tidal current power development is estimated to be one to three years behind ocean wave energy and five to eight years behind wind energy. A clear overview of technologies and site considerations is provided in this guide to what is tidal energy for those evaluating pilot deployments.

Alternative Energy Development - Wave Energy
Ocean wave technology, as an alternative energy development, extracts kinetic energy from the up-and-down motion of waves, using it to generate electricity. Inventors have taken out hundreds of patents for wave energy devices over the years, but concentrated effort in this direction dates from the 1970s oil crisis. The first wave power plants were built near Bergen, in Norway, in the mid-80s. Together, both plants had a combined capacity of 850 kilowatts. The first wave energy plant that was used for commercial purposes was brought online in Islay, Scotland, in November 2000. Today, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Australia, and countries of the European Union have undertaken numerous government-supported projects. BC Hydro, an electrical utility in the Canadian province of British Columbia, has committed to implementing three to four megawatts of ocean wave generating capacity as part of the Vancouver Island Green Energy Demonstration project. In order to develop wave power towards its potential, extensive data collection is needed to pinpoint prime sites. Further research is also needed to assess the impact of heavy storms on installed equipment. These demonstrations illustrate how emerging ocean resources can contribute to diversified alternative energy power mixes when supported by robust data and engineering standards.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy systems integrate solar PV, wind turbines, battery storage, and smart grids using power electronics, inverters, and microgrids to optimize reliability, grid integration, load management, and decarbonization in modern electrical engineering.

What Are Alternative Energy Systems?

Renewable power architectures using solar, wind, storage and power electronics for reliable grid-integrated electricity.

✅ Design with MPPT inverters, DC/DC converters, and protection relays

✅ Grid integration via PCC, power quality control, and harmonic mitigation

✅ Energy management: SCADA, EMS, forecasting, and battery SOC control

Alternative energy systems - What are solar power systems?

Solar electric technology, an adequate alternative energy system, takes sunlight and coverts it into electricity directly. The technology works best when the sun is at its peak, at which time it strikes the solar electric modules directly. Solar electric technology does not use the sun's heat to make electricity, but there are certain solar alternative energy systems that are used to heat water. Instead, this alternative energy system produces the electricity directly from the electrons that are freed from sunlight's interaction with semiconductor materials that are found in the solar electric cells. For a deeper overview of photovoltaic system types and performance, see this guide to solar power systems for additional context.

The basic building block of solar electric technology is the solar cell, which are then are wired together with other solar electric cells to produce a solar electric module. The power output on these modules ranges from about 10 watts to 300 watts. One or more solar electric modules connected to an inverter means that the solar electric alternative energy system is tied to the utility grid. The inverter switches the system's direct-current (DC) power to alternating current (AC). This current is what is compatible with the utility grid and it powers devices such as appliances, lights, televisions, and computers. This AC output integrates with household circuits as a reliable source of alternative energy power used by everyday devices.

Alternative energy systems - What are wind power systems?

Wind is air in motion, which comes from the sun. It's an overly abundant fuel source that doesn't harm the environment. The alternative energy systems for this renewable fuel source deflects or stops the wind, converting the wind’s kinetic energy into potential energy of pressure, thus create wind loads. These wind loads are harnessed by wind electric alternative energy systems such as wind turbines to create electricity. Because wind replenishes naturally, it is a prime example of renewable alternative energy that supports long-term decarbonization.

Here are some of the components that make up a wind turbine:

Ongoing advances in materials, controls, and siting practices are central to alternative energy development that improves turbine efficiency and reliability.

• Blades: Most of the wind turbines of this alternative energy sytems have three blades, though there are some with two blades. Blades range from 30 to 50 meters (100 to 165 feet) in length, with the most commonly-used sizes at around 40 meters (130 feet). A 40 meter LM glass-fiber blade for a 1.5 MW turbine weighs 5,780 kg (6.4 tons) and one for a 2.0 MW turbine weighs 6,290 kg (6.9 tons).

• Controller: There is a controller in the nacelle and one at the base of the turbine. The controller monitors the condition of the turbine and controls the turbine movement.

• Generators: Most wind turbines convert the mechanical energy generated from the wind turbine’s rotation into electrical energy using a single AC generator.

• Nacelles: The nacelle houses the main components of the wind turbine, such as the controller and the generator.

   

   

• Rotor: The rotor includes both the blades and the hub (the component to which the blades are attached).

   

   

• Towers: The towers are usually tubular steel at varying heights starting at about 60 to 80 meters (about 195 to 260 feet). There are some towers with heights around 100 meters (330 feet).

Alternative energy Systems - What are geothermal power systems?

Geothermal technology, an alternative energy system that doesn't hurt the environment, produces electricity from hydrothermal (hot water/steam) resources. Hydrothermal resources at high temperatures (between 300 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit) can be used to make electricity. These high-temperature resources may originate from either hot water wells or dry steam wells. These resources can be used by drilling wells into the earth and, at that point, piping the steam or hot water to the surface. Geothermal wells are one to two miles deep. Geothermal stands alongside solar, wind, and other forms of alternative energy that leverage naturally replenished resources.

In a dry steam power plant, the steam from the geothermal reservoir is connected from a well to a turbine generator to make electricity. In a hot water plant, some of the hot water is turned into steam. The steam powers a turbine generator just like a dry steam plant. Then, when the steam cools, it turns into water and goes back into the ground to be used over again. These closed-loop practices exemplify the principles behind what is alternative energy in practical power generation.

Alternative energy systems - What are wave power systems?

Wave power plants are rare because waves aren't produced on a consistentent basis. However, if harnessed, wave production can supply an adequate amount electricity. This electricity production starts with wave energy converters (WEC), which converts wave energy into mechanical energy, and then uses a power take-off system to generate electricity. The power is generally taken using a turbine driven by pressurized air, pressurized oil, or pressurized water. Many coastal pilot sites evaluate device survivability and grid integration through targeted alternative energy projects across diverse sea states.

There are three categories of wave energy converters, an environmently-friendly alternative energy system, based on how they capture the mechanical energy:

• Point absorbers are devices whose surface area is very small in comparison to the wave length of ocean waves.

   

• Attenuators are relatively long devices that are placed parallel to the general direction of wave travel.

   

• Terminators are placed a certain way, so that they can absorb energy from the wave.

   

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy solutions leverage renewables like solar PV and wind turbines, with battery storage, smart grids, power electronics, and advanced inverters enabling grid integration, microgrids, load balancing, and high-efficiency electrical systems.

What Are Alternative Energy Solutions?

Systems using renewables, storage, and power electronics to provide efficient, reliable, grid-integrated electrical power.

✅ Power electronics: MPPT, inverters, converters for grid-tied PV and wind.

✅ Energy storage and EMS for frequency regulation and peak shaving.

✅ Smart grids, microgrids, protection, SCADA, and IEC 61850.

Why are alternative energy solutions so important? Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, continue to contribute to the ever-growing pollution in the environment by producing carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals, which causes further damage to Earth's atmosphere by increasing the hole in the layer of the upper atmosphere (the ozone layer). The ozone layer, which protects Earth's inhabitants from the sun's radiation, prevents the snow in the Northern and Southern atmospheres from melting. These increased atmospheric temperatures, known as global warming, is a concern for governments all over the globe because flooding could occur on such catastrophic levels (much of North America, Europe and other parts of the world would be under water and countless lives would be lost). So, many of the world's nations are rallying together to reduce their fuel consumption and dependency on fossil fuels and find other alternative energy solutions. For readers new to the topic, see this overview of what constitutes alternative energy to understand how these technologies differ from conventional fuels.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fossil fuels currently give the U.S. more than 85 per cent of all consumed electric power and almost all of consumed transportation fuels. DOE points out that the likelihood that America's reliance on fossil fuels will continue to increase over the next two decades as the economy expands--even with aggressive development and deployment of new alternative energy technologies. In parallel, DOE and industry roadmaps highlight the role of renewable alternative energy in moderating long-term demand growth.

What does this mean? Energy is essential to economic growth. Without adequate energy supplies, a world population of six to ten billion people would not be possible. Every human life and every sector of the economy requires energy and even the most basic needs of humanity (such as food and water) could not be supplied without adequate energy supplies. Diverse renewable energy sources can help meet these fundamental needs while reducing environmental and supply risks.

For any alternative energy solution to be successful in today's marketplace, it must provide more energy than other large energy sources (fossil fuels and natural gas), which presents a formidable challenge. Why? Most of today's energy sources are already considered difficult to satisfy current demand. The difficulty doesn't exist in the resource being too small, but the challenge is to maintain a high rate of growth necessary to keep up with demand. How is this to be done? Here are some alternative energy solutions. For a broader primer on technology categories, explore the principal forms of alternative energy described by industry educators.

Alternative Energy Solutions - Hydro Power

Hydroelectricity is a well-established and cost-effective form of alternative energy. This alternative energy solution has helped support energy-intensive industries like rely on cheaper forms of electricity. Hydro Electricity also plays an important role in energy storage, but, hydro energy's potential won't be enough to power the global economy on hydroelectricity. However, hydro-electric energy projects will continue to be deployed wherever the resource is readily available. Readers can compare hydro with other options by reviewing key alternative energy sources and their typical applications.

Alternative Energy Solutions - Solar Power

Solar energy hasn't gone large scale mainly due to cost and distribution issues, but that hasn't stopped solar energy companies from making investments. In fact, recent expansions have resulted in 265 megawatts of energy and more than two billion dollars of investment in the U.S. economy. When cost isn't such a major factor, it's expected that solar energy will play a larger role in the world economy. Solar energy, particularly in thee electricity sector, will have to become much more cost efficient before it can compete with other energy resources. While there is no obvious floor to the price of solar energy, progress in the last few decades has been slow. Another factor affecting cost is electricity storage, which, at present, is not currently available to meet immediate high energy demands. But, if cost becomes roughly three times cheaper than other electricity sources that satisfy immediate demand, then solar energy stands a chance of becoming a major energy source. It's expected that prices will decrease dramatically with emerging solar technologies, such as photovoltaic cells. It remains be seen, however, if these reductions can give solar energy the competitive edge in the world economy. For technology pathways and case studies, see this guide to alternative energy solar power and its emerging cost trends.

Alternative Energy Solutions - Wind Power

Wind energy is helping many nations meet their ever-growing energy demands. Today, wind energy provides the U.S. with enough electricity to power over 9.7 million American homes. And, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), there is a potential of 37 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity that could be used to power the U.S. annually——nearly 10 times the country’s existing power needs. At the moment, there are over 400 American manufacturing plants that build wind components including blades, towers and other major turbine components. Plus, new wind energy manufacturers are currently coming online, being announced or expanding (over 100 since 2007). However, wind energy requires further development in technologies before they are ready to operate at full scale. Grid planners often analyze how alternative energy power integrates with reliability standards and transmission upgrades.

Alternative Energy Solutions - Geothermal Power

The geothermal potential is very large. At the moment, the technology for this alternative energy solution is limited to special locations (such as Iceland, Kenya and locations in California) with very steep thermal gradients, resulting in very large temperature differentials between the surface and the geological reservoir. For the time being, many of the possible energy resources are simply not large enough to operate at the scale necessary to satisfy a substantial fraction of the world’s energy demand. In some cases, like wind energy, the locations are large enough, but raise serious questions about the environmental impact of large-scale deployment.

What is the best alternative solution?

Governments continue to strive to find one energy solution that can power the world, but it might be that a collaboration of alternative energy solutions is best to saving the world.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy power drives renewable grids using solar PV, wind turbines, and hydroelectric sources, optimized by power electronics, inverters, battery storage, and microgrids for efficient, resilient distribution and grid integration.

What Is Alternative Energy Power?

Alternative energy power delivers renewable power using electronics, storage and controls for efficient grids.

✅ Power electronics: MPPT inverters, VSCs, and converters

✅ Grid integration: protection, stability, and harmonics

✅ Storage: Li-ion, BESS sizing, EMS, frequency response

What alternative energy power technologies will make the largest impact? Alternative energy technologies have progressed so much in the past decade. However, some studies are starting to show that conventional power sources (such as fossil fuels and natural gas) will continue to have the lion's share of the world's energy mix for the next two decades. One study, conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, reports that forms of alternative energy power sources, such as wind power, will continue to provide smaller amounts of alternative energy power generation while other alternative energy power sources are ready to make a huge economic impact. Who? Let's take a look at the sources and their technologies. For readers new to the topic, this overview of what is alternative energy provides helpful context and definitions.

Alternative Energy Power - Solar Photovoltaic Technology

The BCG study predicts that solar PV (photovoltaic) will reach its cost competitiveness by 2015 to 2020 in the sunny regions of the world. However, the intermittency of PV's energy generation won't reach its full potential until technology breakthroughs are made in energy storage.

For practical insights, see how solar power in alternative energy is being deployed across different regions today.

Taking a look back into the last five years, it's clear that solar PV has significantly grown (up from 1.1 gigawatts in 2004 to 7.3 gigawatts in 2009, which is a 46 per cent annual increase). Today, solar panels are divided into two applications. Individual or small groups of panels can be used for distributed solar generation and larger groups of panels can be used to create utility-scale projects (also known as solar farms.) The underlying economics of the two applications are not that different, although solar farms can produce electricity at cheaper rates. Comparative data on renewable power generation helps benchmark PV performance against other resources.

Alternative Energy Power - Concentrated Solar Power Technology

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is another alternative energy power technology that is on its way to becoming a cost-competitive option - and soon (between 2015 and 2020). The beauty of this alternative energy power technology is that it can provide on-demand power through cost-effective thermal storage. Limitations to infrastructure and deployment barriers are significant, but surmountable.

Understanding the spectrum of renewable power sources clarifies where CSP complements wind and PV.

The generation potential of this alternative energy power solar resource over land is more than 100 times the total global demand for electricity. Solar energy without storage capacity technologies, such as thermal storage or hybrid solar-natural gas configuration, isn't reliable enough to be a sustainable energy source. However, CSP allows solar energy to play a larger part in the global electricity market and puts the alternative energy power source ahead of its alternative energy power counterparts. This perspective aligns with broader trends in renewable alternative energy adoption as grids adapt with storage and hybridization.

CSP is still small in terms of global power-generation capacity, but installed GSP capacity is expected to rise eightfold from 2009 (roughly one gigawatt) through 2015 (to more than eight gigawatts). Costs must drop for this alternative energy power technology to reach its full potential.

Cost curves are also influenced by policy and financing innovations within alternative energy solutions that scale deployment efficiently.

Alternative Energy Power - Smart-Grid Technologies

Many alternative energy power sources are capped due to their intermittent nature, but technologies like smart grid helps to accelerate their growth in the global energy marketplace.

A comprehensive view of the many forms of alternative energy underscores why flexibility is essential for balancing supply and demand.

By definition, a "smart grid" is a collection of equipment, infrastructure and information technologies designed to optimize the production, transmission and usage of electricity.

Incentives for smart-grid technologies include utility cost reduction, generation optimization and intelligent demand-response management. Smart-grid technologies improve the ability to integrate distributed generation and the ability to implement demand-response programs in intermittent energy sources such as wind energy and solar energy. Both factors are key enablers to expanding deployment in solar PV and wind technologies.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy tax credits reduce CAPEX for solar PV, wind turbines, battery storage, EV charging, and high-efficiency HVAC, with IRS incentives, rebates, and depreciation accelerating power electronics upgrades and grid integration for clean energy projects.

What Are Alternative Energy Tax Credits?

Fiscal incentives lowering costs for EE-led renewable systems, backing PV, wind, storage, and grid modernization.

✅ Eligible assets: PV inverters, wind generators, BESS, EVSE

✅ Requires NEC, IEEE 1547, UL 1741, and interconnection compliance

✅ Boosts CAPEX ROI via ITC, PTC, MACRS, transferable credits

How can I earn money using alternative energy? New financial incentives are available to homeowners and businesses for a number of alternative energy and energy efficiency measures. For a broader overview of current programs, see the resource at alternative energy incentives which summarizes eligibility and timelines.

• Alternative energy tax credits for residential and commercial photovoltaics, solar water heating systems, geothermal heat pumps, and other renewable technologies.
• Alternative energy tax credits for homeowners for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes.
• Alternative energy tax credits for builders of highly efficient new homes.
• Alternative energy tax deductions for owners or designers of highly efficient commercial buildings.
• Alternative energy tax rebates for energy efficient appliances

   

  Alternative Energy Tax Credits Using Solar and Renewables For Residential Homes

  If you're new to the space, this concise primer on what is alternative energy helps frame the technologies covered in this section.

  For new and existing homes, alternative energy tax credit limitations have been removed by some country's governments for many alternative energy systems including geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar photovoltaics, small wind energy, fuel cells and microturbine systems. Qualified products can receive an alternative energy tax credit equal to 30 per cent of their cost. Many homeowners start by reviewing the latest renewable energy tax credits before requesting contractor quotes.

  Some examples of alternative energy tax credit qualified products are:

  When weighing options like PV and solar thermal, this overview of alternative energy solar power clarifies system types, site suitability, and typical payback periods.

• Solar water heating systems property certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) which provide at least 50 per cent of the system demand.
• Photovoltaic systems which provide electric power for the residence.
• Wind energy systems which provide 100 kW or less electric power to the residence.
• Geothermal heat pumps which satisfy the ENERGY STAR criteria.
• Fuel cells with a capacity = 0.5 kW and efficiency = 30 per cent.
• Microturbines with a maximum capacity of 2,000 kW and a minimum efficiency of 26%.

  Alternative Energy Tax Credits For Existing Homes - Energy Efficiency

  To align upgrades strategically, compare technologies using this guide to renewable alternative energy so your efficiency measures complement future renewable additions.

  Qualified products receive an alternative energy tax credit of 30% of their cost, up to the $1,500 limit.

  Some examples of alternative energy tax credit qualified products are:

• Insulation material which meets 2009 IEEC and amendments.
• Exterior windows with SHGC = 0.30 and U-factor = 0.30.
• Exterior doors with SHGC = 0.30 and U-factor = 0.30.
• Furnaces using natural gas or propane with an AFUE = 95.
• Geothermal heat pumps (Not subject to $1,500 cap):
• Hot water boiler with natural gas, propane, or oil furnace and AFUE = 90 per cent.
• Advanced main air circulating fan used in natural gas, propane, or oil furnace that uses no more than 2% of the total annual energy use of the furnace.
• Water heater using natural gas, propane, or oil with EF = 0.82 or a thermal efficiency = 90%.
• Water heater using an electric heat pump with EF of 2.0 or greater.
• Biomass stoves with efficiency rating of at least 75 per cent and used to heat a home or heat water.

   

  Alternative Energy Tax Credits For Commercial Buildings

  Owners or tenants (or designers, in the case of publicly-owned buildings) of new or existing commercial buildings may qualify for a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot. The buildings must be constructed or reconstructed to save at least 50 per cent of the heating, cooling, water heating, and interior lighting energy cost of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001.

  Each of the three energy-using systems of the building — the envelope, interior lighting system, and heating and cooling system — is eligible for one third of the incentive ($0.60/ft) if it meets its share of the whole-building savings goal. Case studies of compliant facilities can be found among curated alternative energy projects that detail design choices and savings outcomes.

  Software meeting federal tax laws for accuracy and consistency determines projected energy savings. Third party inspectors review the plans and verify building parameters to determine compliance.

  Alternative Energy Tax Credits For Businesses

  The business investment tax credit varies from 10% to 30% depending upon they type of system installed. This alternative energy tax credit is possibly available to businesses that purchase solar water heaters, solar photovoltaics, small wind energy, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells and microturbine systems.

  Combined Incentives For Alternative Energy Tax Credits

  In many cases, multiple tax incentives may be claimed. In the case of a new home for example, the builder may claim credit for the high efficiency home and the homeowner may claim tax credits for solar hot water, photovoltaic, and fuel cell systems. Other financial incentives, such as local utility rebates, further reduce the cost of building or owning a solar and energy efficient home. To supplement credits and rebates, many jurisdictions also offer targeted alternative energy grants that can further reduce upfront costs.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy grants fund renewable energy R&D, power systems upgrades, and grid modernization, supporting solar, wind, microgrids, battery storage, high-efficiency inverters, and electrification projects for utilities, manufacturers, and engineers, focused on decarbonization and smart grid.

What Are Alternative Energy Grants?

Grants that fund renewable power systems, grid upgrades, and storage for electrical engineering projects.

✅ Funds power electronics, inverters, and grid-integration R&D

✅ Supports microgrids, DERs, and smart grid reliability projects

✅ Covers feasibility studies, prototypes, and pilot deployments

Alternative energy grants - Wind, solar, geothermal and other alternative energy soures are the new "in" to replace forms of energy that harm the environment such as fossil fuels, so both Canadian and the U.S. governments are giving alternative energy grants (free conditional money) to individuals, businesses and local governments to promote the use and development of alternative energy sources. Here are three alternative energy grants currently offered by the U.S. government. For broader context on the field, the overview at what is alternative energy explains key terms and categories clearly.

Alternative Energy Grants - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program

These alternative energy grants help eligible entities in beginning their conservation and energy efficiency strategies. For those interested in applying for these alternative energy grants, they must have reduced their fossil fuel emissions, reduced total energy usage and improved energy efficiency within the company. Furthermore, those eligible must develop and implement an energy efficiency and conservation strategy with the assistance of a third-party technical consultant. Also, eligible entities must conduct regular residential and commercial building energy audits to monitor results and financial incentive programs (loan programs, rebate programs, waive permit fees) with the goal of improving energy efficiency must be in place. Other requirements are also required to be eligible for this alternative energy grant. To identify complementary rebates and policy tools, agencies can review alternative energy incentives relevant to their jurisdiction for alignment with EECBG goals.

Alternative Energy Grants - State Energy Program

Ultimately, provinces and states are expected to lower their overall fossil fuel carbon emissions so that the use of alternative energy sources can become more prevalent. Financial support, in whole or in part, may be provided for salaries, materials, and supplies, equipment, travel, publication costs, and services required for deployment of alternative energy activities and initiatives. The states energy program goes to competing states for funding to implement activities relating to a number of programmatic areas such as building codes and standards, alternative fuels, industrial efficiency, building efficiency, and alternative energy technologies. Many states layer alternative energy tax credits on top of SEP funds to catalyze private investment.

Alternative Energy Grants - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

The REAP program provides alternative energy grants to rural small businesses & agricultural producers for the purchase & installation of alternative energy systems in rural areas. Alternative energy grants are limited to 25 per cent of the project cost or $500,000 – whichever is less. Alternative energy grant applications of $20,000 or less are greatly favored in the competitive, selection process. Projects needing larger grants can improve their chances by simultaneously seeking a REAP guaranteed loan. For the loan seekers, the details are the same as the aforementioned alternative energy grant, but provides 60 to 85% per cent loan guarantees to commercial lenders financing such projects. Loans up to $25 million can be guaranteed. Combination grant and guaranteed loan assistance up to 75 per cent of total project cost; such “combo” proposals may improve a project’s access to grant assistance and speed approvals. Prospective applicants can benchmark typical capital and O&M figures using resources on alternative energy cost to prepare stronger pro formas.

Case studies of farm-scale solar, wind, and efficiency upgrades in the alternative energy projects library illustrate successful REAP financing structures.

Alternative Energy Grants - State Energy Special Projects

The State Energy Program aims to develop and deploy energy efficiency and alternative energy technologies and practices. The State Energy Program (SEP) makes it possible for states in the U.S. to design and carry out energy efficiency and alternative energy programs tailored to their State-specific needs, while contributing to national energy priorities. The State Energy Program enables the States to address both national energy initiatives and local energy priorities through two funding mechanisms: alterntive energy formula grants and Special Projects grants. States utilize these funds to design and implement energy projects tailored to meet community needs, economic conditions, individual energy situations, and climactic variations. SEP Special Projects funds are awarded on a competitive basis to States from each of the four end-use sectors (buildings, industrial, power technologies, and transportation) and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) for cost-shared technology projects. Special Projects often accelerate alternative energy development by targeting pre-commercial demonstrations and regional testbeds.

For program designers seeking cross-sector approaches, curated alternative energy solutions can inform competitive proposals and stakeholder engagement plans.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy incentives accelerate grid decarbonization via tax credits, rebates, net metering, and grants for solar, wind, storage, power electronics, microgrids, and smart grid upgrades, reducing LCOE and supporting EV charging infrastructure.

What Are Alternative Energy Incentives?

Incentives—tax credits, rebates, net metering—finance clean electrification, grid upgrades, and storage to cut costs.

✅ Lowers LCOE for solar PV, wind, and battery storage projects

✅ Supports grid modernization, smart inverters, and microgrid controls

✅ Enables EV charging, demand response, and power electronics R&D

Alternative energy incentives encourage companies to pursue non-fossil-fuel energy as a way to consume power. Different countries have different alternative energy incentive programs available for businesses and residences through country, state/province, or municipality levels. However, in this article, alternative energy incentives for business take the center focus. For background on definitions and technologies, see this overview of what constitutes alternative energy and typical market drivers.

In the U.S., two alternative energy incentives available are the investment tax credit and the production tax credit (both can be claimed on a taxpayer’s federal income tax return). A third incentive is a grant program that gives businesses opportunities to receive cash payments from the government for purchasing alternative energy property. Detailed federal and state guidance on credits is summarized in this resource on renewable energy tax credits for common project types.

The investment tax credit, the energy production tax credit or the federal energy grant cannot be claimed in tandem, meaning that a taxpayer can only choose one of these alternative energy incentives. Obviously care will need to be taken in deciding which alternative energy incentive will be best for a specific taxpayer.

Many businesses model total installed cost and depreciation using these alternative energy cost references before selecting an incentive.

While incentives are available They are available for both businesses and individuals; and they can be found at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with utility companies and product manufacturers. A concise primer on renewable alternative energy helps stakeholders align technologies with applicable programs.

1. Alternative Energy Incentives - Investment Tax Credit

A taxpayer can claim a tax credit equal to thirty percent of the cost of qualified eligible energy property placed in service. For credit calculations and eligibility nuances, consult this guide to alternative energy tax credits and common compliance pitfalls.

Property eligible for this alternative energy incentive are:

• Solar property,
• Geothermal property,
• Qualified fuel cell property,
• Stationary micro turbine property,
• Combined heat and power system property,
• Qualified small wind energy property, and
• Geothermal heat pump property

  The federal tax credit is not considered to be taxable income; however, the cost basis of the energy property will need to be reduced by one-half of energy credit claimed. The investment tax credit is also subject to an alternative minimum tax limitation. The credit cannot reduce a taxpayer’s regular tax below the taxpayer’s alternative minimum tax. Any unused credit can be carried back one year and forward twenty years. Case studies of successful deployments in solar, CHP, and wind are profiled among these alternative energy projects to illustrate basis and credit interactions.

  A percentage of the investment tax credit will have to be recaptured if the energy property is disposed of within five years of being placed in service.

2. Alternative Energy Incentives - Production Tax Credit

A taxpayer can claim a tax credit equal to a percentage (between .0075 cents and 2.1 cents per kilowatt hour) of energy generated from qualified energy resource property placed in service. The credit can be claimed for a ten year period starting with the date that the energy resource property is placed in service.

Eligible energy resources for this alternative energy incentive include:

• Geothermal or solar energy,
• Wind,
• Open-loop biomass,
• Closed-loop biomass,
• Marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy

   

• Small irrigation power,
• Qualified hydropower production, and,
• Municipal solid waste

  Unlike the investment tax credit, the cost basis of energy property does not have to be reduced by the production tax credit claimed. In addition, for facilities that generate electricity, there is no alternative minimum tax credit limitation for the first four years that a facility is placed in service.

  Similar to the investment tax credit, an unused energy credit can be carried back one year and forward twenty years.

3. Alternative Energy Incentives - Grant For Specific Energy Project Investments

This grant program offers cash payments to eligible taxpayers who place in service specific energy properties. Only taxpayers that are in a trade or business can qualify for this grant, which means that a residential energy-efficient property does not qualify. Application procedures and deadlines are outlined in these alternative energy grant resources for business applicants.

The grant is in lieu of the aforementioned alternative energy incentives, meaning that a taxpayer can apply for the grant or claim one of the business tax credits, but not both.

The following persons are not eligible to receive payment:

• Federal, state or local governments,
• Non-profit organizations,
• Cooperative electric companies.

   

  Property eligible for this alternative energy incentive are:

• Solar property,
• Geothermal property,
• Qualified fuel cell property,
• Stationary micro turbine property,
• Combined heat and power system property,
• Qualified small wind energy property, and
• Geothermal heat pump property

   

The cost basis on which the payment is based upon is its original cost and, which includes all costs. These costs, such as installation and cost of freight, are part of property’s depreciable basis.

The investment tax credit, which is similar to the above alternative energy incentive, the cost basis of the energy property has to be reduced by fifty percent of the grant received. In addition, to the extent that specified energy property is disposed of within five years of being placed in service a percentage of the grant will need to be recaptured.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy cost analyzes LCOE, CAPEX, OPEX, and grid parity across solar PV, wind turbines, and battery storage, considering efficiency, load factors, and grid integration to optimize system design and lifecycle economics.

What Is Alternative Energy Cost?

Alternative energy cost is LCOE-based pricing for solar, wind, and storage, reflecting CAPEX, OPEX, and grid impacts.

✅ Uses LCOE comparing PV, wind, and storage across duty cycles.

✅ Includes CAPEX, OPEX, maintenance, and financing assumptions.

✅ Evaluates grid integration, curtailment, and reliability metrics.

Alternative energy cost is determined by how utilities typically set their rates and account for the cost differential between alternative energy and conventional energy sources. Basically, cost recovery of a utility’s investments and operating expenses determine electricity rates. For background on definitions and resource types, see this overview of what is renewable energy to align terminology across programs.

These alternative energy costs include:

Understanding the breadth of technologies captured under renewable alternative energy helps clarify why cost components vary by resource.

• owning generation
• owning transmission and distribution assets
• a return on owned assets
• purchased power contracts
• recovery of various operating expenses, including fuel costs, maintenance, and administration.

  Costs for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity are in a utility’s rate. Because utility costs are bundled together, all generation resources are combined to create a utility “system mix” of generation. In other words, utilities do not normally distinguish between individual generation sources for their customers. Therefore, an equivalent mix of the utility’s generation resources and purchased power is provided to each customer. In practice, product structures for alternative energy power are designed to work within this system mix paradigm.

  For alternative energy cost determination, utilities and regulators are interested in separating the specific alternative energy costs related to securing green power. In this way, green power products are unique, differentiated electricity products. Since customer participation is voluntary, only those customers that choose to sign up for these programs pay the incremental costs. Alternative energy power program participants typically pay the higher alternative energy cost in the form of a premium on their monthly bill. In some jurisdictions, available alternative energy incentives help offset premiums for early adopters.

  Four Main Components In Determinating Alternative Energy Cost

• 1. The cost of the alternative energy source. This includes the total cost of electricity and/or environmental attributes from all alternative energy resources used in the product, whether from wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, or another source, and whether owned by the utility or acquired through a power purchase contract. For example, cost trajectories for alternative energy solar power have declined sharply in recent years due to technology improvements.
• 2. Program implementation costs. Any additional alternative energy costs attributed to implementing the alternative energy program, including administration and marketing. Utilities sometimes leverage alternative energy grants to defray outreach and administration expenses.
• 3. Ancillary services costs. The additional costs incurred to integrate variable output resources, particularly wind, into a utility’s system.
• 4. Displaced utility generation (and capacity) resource costs. The renewable resource displaces electricity that the utility would otherwise have generated or purchased.

   

  In conclusion, alternative energy costs can be represented as: Alternative energy premium = (1) + (2) + (3) – (4)

  Alternative Energy Cost Determination

  Alternative energy costs are captured through the specific power purchase agreements for alternative energy (in this case, the term alternative energy is interchanged with renewable energy) or RECs (renewable energy contracts), or through the regulatory approval process for utility-owned renewable projects. As long as these are tracked separately from the rest of the generation mix, the appropriate alternative generation costs can be determined. However, generation costs are hard to determine because it's uncertain how many customers plan to enroll in the program and how long they plan to participate. In electric markets that have not gone through restructuring from the electric industry, contracts for generation are typically long-term (10 years or more), and investment in owned facilities is generally considered to be for the life of the facility (20 years or more). For readers new to key terms and market structures, this primer on renewable energy facts provides helpful context for interpreting contract and REC pricing.

  The long-term nature of the resource commitment severely contrasts with the program subscription commitment required of most customers. Most alternative energy programs do not require that customers enroll for a specific term, much less sign up for 10 or 20 years to match the facility or contract life of the renewable power supply source. Therefore, while the annual cost of renewable energy is straightforward to determine, the utility faces some level of risk that will likely be reflected in the product pricing.

  However, if the utility is also subject to a renewable portfolio standard and is therefore required to procure a certain fraction of renewable energy for its overall load, there may be less risk, because the utility has greater flexibility in managing its overall renewable portfolio between its compliance and voluntary program obligations.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Biomass energy converts organic feedstocks into renewable power via combustion, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, enabling CHP systems, grid integration, carbon-neutral generation, improved thermal efficiency, and dispatchable biofuels for resilient electrical infrastructure.

What Is Biomass Energy?

Biomass energy produces electricity from feedstocks through combustion or digestion, enabling CHP and grid reliability.

✅ CHP raises electrical efficiency to 70% with heat recovery

✅ Gasification feeds syngas to turbines or SOFC for power

✅ Dispatchable output supports frequency and voltage stability

Biomass energy comes from biomass feedstock (crops and residues, farm animal wastes, industrial wood, etc.). The heat from this substantial renewable resource can generate electricity, fuel and other forms of energy. It has been estimated that just one eighth of the total biomass energy produced annually could provide all of humanity’s current demand for energy. For a deeper overview of how biomass fits within the clean energy landscape, see this guide on biomass renewable energy and its practical applications today.

Some forms of biomass fuels (or biofuels), derived from biomass feedstock, can be solid, liquid, or gas. Kitchen scraps, sewage, the leftovers of the food processing industries, paper, sawdust, and lawn clippings are some of the available biomass energy sources. Biomass energy has received a lot of attention because an opportunity to convert waste into something very valuable has presented itself. These pathways are often discussed alongside other forms of alternative energy that leverage different feedstocks and conversion methods.

Biomass Energy – How can we use it?

Biomass energy can be converted to generate electricity, fuel vehicles and heat buildings using biofuel technologies. At the moment, biomass energy sources used in power plants include agricultural and farm residues, food processing residues, wood residues and methane gas from land fills. Biomass energy producers hope to significantly expand the supply of biomass energy by using trees and grasses as well. In power markets, biomass can contribute to renewable electricity portfolios alongside wind and solar resources.

Currently, there are more than 350 biomass energy plants generating 7,000 megawatts of biomass power in the United States. The producers who own these plants are quite diverse; they range from the electrical utilities, independent power producers, the wood manufacturing industry, and the pulp and paper industry. Such facilities are part of broader trends in renewable power generation that emphasize reliability and grid integration.

Biomass energy is considered a renewable energy source because it can replenish itself (regrown), unlike fossil fuels such as coal and oil, which when used, are gone. And, unlike coal and oil, biomass energy is an alternative energy source because it doesn’t hurt the environment with harmful chemicals, such as carbon dioxide, which cause greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Using renewable biomass resources not only reduce greenhouse gases, but they also reduce air pollutants and landfill wastes. This classification aligns with definitions of alternative energy that prioritize low emissions and resource sustainability.

As policies evolve, many jurisdictions frame biomass within broader renewable alternative energy strategies that support decarbonization goals.

Biomass Energy in Today’s Marketplace

Within the spectrum of renewable energy sources, biomass competes and collaborates with wind, solar, and hydro depending on local resource availability.

• High costs in handling and transportation, as well as high moisture content, have long outweighed the low price of biomass energy feedstocks. Fuels that are filled with moisture are hard to burn properly and heat release is slow and hard to control. However, fuel upgrading options, such as pelletization and drying remedy this situation, thus making biomass energy more economically attractive.
• Biomass energy can also make be useful in blending and co-firing applications with coal because of the low SO2, NOx, and metals emissions from biomass energy fuels, and their CO2 neutral status.

Biomass Energy – Benefits of Cogeneration

Cogeneration, the practice of producing both electricity and useful heat, is a great way of improving energy efficiency. Some sawmills, for example, use a lot of heat from boilers powered by biomass energy to supply energy to their kiln-drying operations. But any extra heat can help gasify biomass energy fuels so they can be used in a gas turbine, which is more efficient than a simple steam boiler. Additional savings can be produced by using combined cycle technology, which takes additional waste heat from the gas turbine to give power to a steam-driven turbine.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy geothermal delivers baseload renewable electricity via hydrothermal reservoirs, binary-cycle ORC turbines, and EGS, using heat exchangers, generators, and power electronics for efficient grid integration, low emissions, and stable capacity.

What Is Alternative Energy Geothermal?

It converts subsurface heat to electricity via steam or ORC cycles, generators, and grid-tied power electronics.

✅ ORC and flash steam cycles drive turbines and synchronous generators

✅ Power electronics, inverters, and transformers enable grid integration

✅ EGS, drilling, and heat exchangers expand capacity with low emissions

Geothermal energy comes from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. Also known as thermal energy, geothermal is considered to be an alternative energy because it produces very little greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), which harm the Earth once it's generated into electricity. Geothermal wells release these greenhouse gases, but not nearly as much as its fossil fuel counterparts oil and coal. For context on how this resource fits within energy policy, see our overview of what is alternative energy to understand key definitions.

Alternative energy geothermal is a product from Earth's original formation: radioactive decay of minerals thanks to volcanic eruptions and solar energy digested and stored from the Earth's surface. Thermal energy is produced from the continuous conduction of heat that emanates from the Earth's core that moves upward to the surface. This process is known as the geothermal gradient. If you've ever had the opportunity to bathe in hot springs, you'll be glad to know that the thermal heat comes from beneath the Earth. When comparing technologies, placing geothermal alongside other alternative energy sources highlights its base-load role and unique subsurface dependence.

Alternative Energy Geothermal - How can we use it?

In practice, many integrated alternative energy systems combine geothermal with insulation and smart controls to maximize year-round efficiency.

Energy producers have been able to convert alternative energy geothermal into electricity. These same producers have high hopes for geothermal energy because power can be generated 24 hours a day, unlike other intermittent renewable energies, like wind energy and solar energy. This contrasts with the variability seen in resources such as solar power during cloudy periods or at night.

Geothermal energy can also be used to heat pumps or for other direct uses such as cooling and heating buildings. The Earth's crust temperature a few feet below is buffered to a constant seven to 14 °C (45 to 58 °F), so a liquid can be pre-heated or pre-cooled in underground pipelines, providing no-cost cooling during the summer, and with a heat pump, heating during the winter months. Other direct uses include aquaculture, agriculture (greenhouses), and industry. Project planners often consult practical alternative energy solutions to evaluate lifecycle costs and integration pathways.

Alternative Energy Geothermal - How is geothermal electricity produced?

Within the broader family of forms of alternative energy, geothermal distinguishes itself through high capacity factors and minimal fuel risk.

Geothermal energy uses Earth's natural heat to generate electricity. Geothermal plants are built on or near reservoirs that contain Earth's hydrothermal resources (underground steam and heated water). The heat mining process begins when drills penetrate these reservoirs to obtain the steam and water to power electricity-generating turbines.

There are different ways to produce alternative energy geothermal. Two popular processes include:

• Flash Steam Geothermal water with temperatures exceeding 350°F is extracted under extremely high pressure by flash steam plants. When the heated water surfaces, a sudden pressure reduction causes some of the hot water to flash off as steam. This flashed steam operates a generator, at which time, the extracted steam and water are reintroduced into the geothermal reservoir.
• Dry Steam Dry steam is extracted directly from under the earth’s surface by dry steam plants to operate a generator. When the steam condenses into water, it is then reintroduced into the alternative energy geothermal reservoir.

   

  Alternative Energy Geothermal - Is Geothermal Energy a Sustainable Energy Source?

  Alternative Energy Geothermal is considered to be sustainable, cost-effective, great for the environment and reliable. Recent advances in technology have expanded alternative energy geothermal applicable uses (such as home heating), which could lead to global exploitation. However, advances in technology, cost, government incentives and implementation of geothermal power projects will determine if alternative energy geothermal will become a viable global competitor.

  Alternative Energy Geothermal - Is Geothermal Energy a Renewable Energy Source?

  Scientific evidence shows that geothermal sites can provide heat for many decades, but eventually these specific locations cool down, which brings into question if alternative energy geothermal truly is a renewable energy source, since renewables are defined as green energy sources that never deplete. Understanding how geothermal fits into renewable alternative energy frameworks can help policymakers set realistic targets.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative Energy Solar Power converts sunlight via photovoltaics into electricity using PV modules, inverters, MPPT, and battery storage for grid-tied systems, microgrids, and off-grid resilience, improving efficiency, reliability, and decarbonization.

What Is Alternative Energy Solar Power?

A renewable electrical system converting solar irradiance to AC via PV modules, MPPT inverters, and optional storage.

✅ PV arrays generate DC; power electronics regulate voltage and current.

✅ Inverters with MPPT perform DC–AC conversion, grid sync, and protection.

✅ Battery storage and EMS enable peak shaving, backup, and microgrid control.

Alternative energy solar power is, perhaps, the first energy source that comes to mind when most people think of alternative energy sources, but — unlike wind — alternative energy solar power is still a long way from being considered a mainstream source of electricity generation. In fact, it accounts for less than one per cent of the world’s electricity production. For readers new to the topic, what is alternative energy clarifies key definitions and the role solar plays among emerging options.

Two main ways to harness the sun's energy to generate alternative energy solar power include: photovoltaic (PV), where solar cells directly convert sunlight into electricity, and solar-thermal power. PV is a proven alternative energy solar power technology that is most appropriate for small-scale applications to provide heat and power to individual houses and businesses. Sunlight falls on a layer of semiconductors, which excites electrons. This, in turn, creates an electrical current that can be transmitted via electrical cables to serve useful applications. Alternative energy solar power solar PV cells are already cost effective for powering houses and businesses in some regions. As with alternative energy wind power, costs have reduced in the past few years thanks to technological developments. But, unlike alternative energy wind power, however, large scale electricity production using alternative energy solar power costs about 22 cents per kilowatt-hour, significantly more expensive than its fossil fuel generation competitors and nuclear power. Comparative cost and performance data across technologies are summarized in alternative energy power, which details where PV is most competitive.

Solar-thermal energy is a completely different technology. It collects and concentrates the sun's rays to heat up fuel such glycol or any other liquid that heats up easily. The heat trapped within this medium is then used transferred through a heat exchanger so that heated water can be used for regular hot water applications like bathing and space heating and heating swimming pools, etc. Fossil fuels are sometimes used as a back-up to heat the water in the boiler if the sun is not shining and cannot heat the system. There are three different methods for concentrating the sun’s rays:

• Parabolic Trough — This method uses long, parallel rows of glass mirrors in the shape of a trough to concentrate the sun’s rays directly at the “absorber tube," which is often filled with oil, to achieve maximum effect.
• Power Tower — Similar in principle to parabolic-trough technology, the mirrors are placed in a circular pattern. At the center of the circle is a tower, at the top of which is a receiver filled with water, air, liquid metal or molten salt that moves to a power block and is used to power a steam turbine.
• Parabolic Disk System — In this system, dishes rather than troughs are used to concentrate the power of the sun.

To see how these concentrating approaches integrate with storage, controls, and grid interconnection, alternative energy systems offers design-level guidance for practitioners.

Advantages of Alternative Energy Solar Power

In spite of its cost versus other sources of energy, alternative energy solar power is attracting interest due to the following:

• Alternative energy solar power makes use of a renewable natural resource that is readily available in many parts of the world.
• The process used to generate alternative energy solar power is emission-free.
• Costs have greatly reduced thanks to technological advances in solar power technlogy to a point that it can compete with fossil fuel alternatives in specific circumstances.
• The technology is scalable in that it can be used for domestic heating purposes or on a larger scale for commercial electricity generation, as solar water heaters are an established technology, widely available and simple to install and maintain.

For a deeper dive into real-world performance benefits, case studies in advantages of solar power highlight emissions reductions and lifecycle savings.

Disadvantages of Alternative Energy Solar Power

The biggest barriers to increasing alternative energy solar power generation are the cost, the amount of land required for large-scale electricity production, and the intermittent nature of the energy source. In terms of the latter, thermal systems do not work at night or in inclement weather. Storage of hot water for commercial or domestic use is simple because only insulated tanks are needed, but further technology advancements are required to improve storage for the higher-temperature liquids required to generate electricity on a large scale and storage of the electricity itself. Emerging roadmaps in alternative energy solutions discuss thermal storage media and hybrid configurations that mitigate intermittency challenges.

Outlook for Alternative Energy Solar Power

Although alternative energy wind power is more economical and has been more widely adopted for large-scale power production than solar energy, solar energy is the most flexible in scale and application. It also is widely available and an environmentally benign source of alternative energy. Broader market drivers and renewable policy trends are tracked under renewable alternative energy, providing useful context for long-term solar adoption.

It is currently a $7 billion per year business that is growing at 40 per cent per annum. As part of the wider clean-energy portfolio, the taxonomy in forms of alternative energy situates solar alongside complementary technologies.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy fuels drive renewable power systems, integrating hydrogen, biofuels, and electricity with power electronics, smart grids, and energy storage for efficient conversion, decarbonization, and resilient distribution across modern electrical networks.

What Are Alternative Energy Fuels?

Alternative energy fuels are renewables—hydrogen, biofuels, electricity—supporting conversion and smart grid integration

✅ Power electronics convert DC/AC and manage grid-tied renewables.

✅ Fuel cells and hydrogen storage integrate with microgrids.

✅ Battery systems and EMS stabilize variable solar and wind.

Alternative energy fuels can help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions produced from traditional gasoline or diesel fuels. Using alternative energy fuels means that you might have to change your conventional vehicle in for a more environmentally-friendly ride. Is this true? Let's find out. To start, a quick primer on what alternative energy is can clarify terms and set expectations in practical terms.

Alternative Energy Fuels - Battery-electric Vehicles

Your first option is battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), which powered by motors that draw electricity from on-board storage batteries. These batteries act as an engine to propel the motor. Using electric vehicles presents a great potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and smog-forming pollutants because pollution isn't produced from the tailpipe or through fuel evaporation. The vehicles can also have low overall (life-cycle) GHG emissions depending on the electricity source used to recharge the batteries. This option would require you to say goodbye to your conventional vehicle. When charged from renewable energy sources, BEVs can further minimize lifecycle emissions and operating costs.

Alternative Energy Fuels - Hybrid-electric Vehicles

If you don't necessarily want to give up your conventional vehicle, but still want the environmental and energy benefits of electric vehicles, then hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are your best option. HEVs are made up of a battery powered electric motor with combined with a conventional internal combustion engine. Instead of paying outrageous gas prices every time your gas tank nears the empty mark, a rapid refueling option recharges your conventional vehicle. If this alternative energy fuel option appeals to you then you'll be glad to know that many hybrid vehicle models are already widely available on the market, with many more manufacturers planning on introducing new hybrid electric/gasoline vehicles in the next few years. Many buyers also view HEVs as pragmatic alternative energy solutions that ease the transition away from full reliance on gasoline.

Alternative Energy Fuels - Fuel Cells and Hydrogen

If you are using a portable or a stationary power device, then fuel cells might be the ideal option for you. Electricity is generated in fuel cells electrochemically when hydrogen and oxygen are combined. Fuel Cells can produce zero or very low emissions depending on the source of the hydrogen. These energy-conversion devices can also utilize hydrogen and other fuels and, in the future, might be used for transportation applications. This alternative energy fuel source is also an option for vehicles and prototypes for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that are currently in the works. But, unfortunately, barriers exist. A lack of a hydrogen distribution infrastructure has made it difficult for this alternative energy fuel source to move ahead. Also, costs are high for fuel cells and hydrogen-production technologies and there are challenges related to hydrogen storage. However, fuel cells are a viable energy technology that can offer significant environmental, supply, economic and energy efficiency benefits because of the variety of fuels available for conversion to hydrogen. This pathway fits within the spectrum of alternative energy sources, each with distinct infrastructure and cost considerations.

For a broader perspective on where hydrogen, electricity, and fuels like bioenergy fit, explore the major forms of alternative energy and how they complement one another across sectors.

Alternative Energy Fuels - Ethanol

When scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown used food to add fuel to his gas tank in the famous ‘80s flick, Back To The Future 2, he must have been thinking of ethanol, a liquid alcohol made of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon obtained from the fermentation of sugar or converted starch contained in grains and other agricultural or agri-forest feedstocks. Using fuel ethanol (or gasohol, which means that the alternative energy fuel source is distilled and dehydrated to create a high-octane, water-free alcohol) might one day be a viable alternative energy fuel source. However, oral consumption is unadvised because this alternative energy fuel is made unfit for drinking when a small amount of a noxious substance such as gasoline is added. In order for fuel ethanol to work as an effective alternative energy fuel source, all traces of water must be removed because water and alcohol combined cannot dissolve in gasoline. Further research into technology to produce ethanol from non-food sources is quickly moving this alternative energy fuel source toward commercialization. Because many feedstocks derive from crops and residues, ethanol often intersects with biomass energy pathways and agricultural policy.

Alternative Energy Fuels - Biodiesel

Conventional diesel combustion harms the environment, but biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating that produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This alternative energy fuel source is a non-toxic and biodegradable fuel that comes from vegetable oils, animal fats, waste cooking oil, or tall oil (a by-product from pulp and paper processing). Biodiesel is made from these feedstocks through transesterification, a process that reacts the oil with an alcohol (methanol is usually used, but so can ethanol) and a catalyst (eg. sodium hydroxide). Glycerine, an ester called biodiesel, is produced from this chemical reaction. Most biodiesel is generated using this method. In practice, successful biodiesel programs are often part of broader renewable alternative energy strategies that leverage regional feedstocks and local distribution.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Alternative energy sources encompass solar PV, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal generation, leveraging power electronics, inverters, HVDC, storage, and smart grid integration to deliver efficient, low-carbon electricity and resilient microgrids and stable operation.

What Are Alternative Energy Sources?

Technologies that convert renewables to electricity using power electronics, storage, and advanced grid control.

✅ Includes solar PV, wind turbines, hydroelectric, and geothermal

✅ Uses inverters, MPPT, converters, HVDC, and protection relays

✅ Integrates storage, microgrids, smart grid controls, and V2G

Are there other alternative energy sources besides renewables? There are other alternative energy sources that are used instead of conventional energy sources, such as oil and coal, that produce (or hardly produce) greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that are harmful for the environment. For a broader definition of the term, see this overview at what is alternative energy to understand key concepts.

Alternative Energy Sources – Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is one of the few alternative energy sources that can generate a lot of electricity from very little fuel, which makes it a very abundant energy source. Nuclear energy is generated when atoms are either split (fission) or merged (fusion) to create energy from the reaction. It’s a clean energy because, unlike coal or oil, nuclear energy doesn’t introduce harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the environment. However, nuclear energy becomes harmful during the production stage. The leftover waste is highly radioactive (unstable continuously decaying elements with high-energy particles or rays that penetrate and damage anything that it touches), which makes it hard to contain. Nuclear waste has to be stored in a secure location until alternative containing options are determined. Nuclear energy is used to generate electricity, launch space ships, and to power weapons. Comparative context across non-fossil options is outlined in forms of alternative energy for additional perspective.

For contrast with resources that naturally replenish, explore renewable energy sources to see how they differ in fuel cycles and emissions profiles.

Alternative Energy Sources – Natural Gas

Natural gas is considered a nonrenewable fossil fuel, but it’s considered clean because it doesn’t produce the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Natural gas’s main ingredient is methane, with all other core elements filtered through an extensive filtering process. Advantages of natural gas include its global abundance, low cost and ease of use (natural gas plants can come online very quickly). However, isolating methane is quite a complex process, which makes it a disadvantage. And, even though natural gas doesn’t introduce carbons into the air, it still produces greenhouse gases. Natural gas can also be used to make electricity. Energy industry experts believe that natural gas will have a bigger role in electricity production as future demand for electricity increases. Within the broader mix of alternative energy fuels, natural gas is often positioned as a transitional option.

Grid planners evaluate flexible generation, storage, and demand-side measures among various alternative energy solutions to integrate resources efficiently.

Alternative Energy Sources – Hydrogen Fuel

Hydrogen hasn’t become a money-making venture, unlike other alternative energy sources, because the energy return on hydrogen isn’t very high. In other words, more energy is needed during the manufacturing process than the amount of hydrogen that is actually produced. At this point, hydrogen has proven to be an environment-friendly fuel source for vehicles. Hydrogen fuel is used mostly in batteries, by combining oxygen and hydrogen to produce power. The only waste factor is water vapor, which is a lot friendlier than the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Ultimately, advancements in technology are required in hydrogen production in order for this form of alternative energy to become profitable. Renewable electricity from sources such as solar power can drive electrolysis to lower hydrogen's lifecycle emissions.

For a strategic view of how renewables complement low-carbon options, review renewable alternative energy to understand deployment pathways and tradeoffs.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Renewable alternative energy integrates solar PV, wind turbines, hydroelectric and biomass with power electronics, battery storage, smart grids, and grid-tied inverters to deliver sustainable electricity, demand response, and resilient microgrids.

What Is Renewable Alternative Energy?

Renewable alternative energy uses low-carbon sources with power electronics and storage to deliver reliable electricity.

✅ Power electronics: inverters, converters, MPPT for PV and wind

✅ Grid integration: synchronization, frequency control, protection

✅ Energy storage: batteries, BMS, supercapacitors, grid services

What are renewable alternative energy sources? Renewable energy sources, such as solar energy and wind energy, are alternative energy supplies that are refilled by natural processes when they're used. The ultimate source of all renewable energy is the sun. Electricity can be obtained from the sun directly (such as solar heating systems) or indirectly (as in hydro electricity, wind power, and biomass fuels). Renewable energy supplies can run out if they are used faster than they become replenished. For example, most of England's forests were cut down and used for fuel before the English started using coal. Renewable energy supplies have the chance to last forever if used wisely. For fundamentals and current trends, the Electricity Forum explains key renewable energy sources that complement these concepts.

There are other alternatives to our typical energy sources that are not renewable. Although these are "alternative energy" rather than "renewable energy", they use the energy we have more efficiently than older technologies. In doing this, they help us make our existing energy supplies last longer and give us more time before we run out of stored fossil and atomic fuels. However, parallels can be drawn between the two, which can make them interchangeable. Alternative energy sources don't threaten the environment even though they cannot necessarily be renewed. Renewable energy sources are, as we previously mentioned, renew them as fast as we use them. In this article, we focus on the energy sources that can be called both "alternative energy" and "renewable energy." We call them "renewable alternative energy sources." To clarify terminology, this overview of what is alternative energy outlines distinctions commonly used by educators and policymakers.

Using renewable alternative energy sources can save money, protect the environment, and assure future generations of people that efficient energy will be available.

Practical adoption is often driven by proven alternative energy solutions that reduce costs and emissions in real projects.

Here are a few renewable alternative energy sources that are in use today. Broader context on evolving technologies appears in this survey of forms of alternative energy relevant to the categories below.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Hydroelectric power

Hydropower represents one of the oldest and largest renewable power sources (this renewable alternative energy source has an existing capacity of over 80,000 MW). Hydropower plants convert the energy of flowing water into electricity. This is primarily done by damming rivers to create large reservoirs and then releasing water through turbines to produce electricity. Hydropower results in no emissions into the atmosphere but the process of damming a river can create significant ecological problems for water quality and for fish and wildlife habitat. Comparative evaluations with other alternative energy sources highlight trade-offs in capacity, siting, and ecological impacts.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Biomass Power

Biomass is second to hydropower as a leader in renewable alternative energy production and has an existing capacity of over 7,000 MW. As a renewable alternative energy source, biomass as a fuel consists of organic matter such as industrial waste, agricultural waste, wood, and bark. Biomass can be burned directly in specially designed power plants, or used to replace up to 15% of coal as a fuel in ordinary power plants. Biomass burns cleaner than coal because it has less sulfur, which equates to less sulfur dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. Biomass can also be used indirectly, since it produces methane gas as it decays. Power can be produced from methane by burning in a boiler to produce steam to drive steam turbines. Steam can also be produce in gas turbines through internal combustion and reciprocating engines.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Geothermal Power

Geothermal power plants capitalize on high temperatures deep underground to make steam, which then powers turbines that produce renewable alternative energy. Geothermal power plants can draw from underground reservoirs of hot water or can heat water by pumping it into hot, dry rock. High underground high temperatures are accessed by drilling wells, sometimes more than a mile deep. In one sense, this geothermal energy is not renewable, since sometime in the future the core of the earth will cool. That time is so far off (hundreds of millions of years) that that we think of it as renewable. Geothermal heat pumps use compressors to pump heat out of the earth (for winter heating) or into the earth (when running as air conditioners in summer). The energy they pump into and out of the earth is renewable, since it is replaced by the cycle of the seasons. The energy that runs the compressor can either be renewable or conventional.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Solar Power

Solar power comes directly from the power of the sun and is used to produce renewable alternative energy, to produce heat, and for light. Solar represents a small share of the electric market in the United States – about one-half of one percent of electrical capacity. Solar power's contribution to heating and lighting is much larger because it can be produced either by power plants using the sun’s heat or by photovoltaic (PV) technology, which uses solar cells to convert sunlight directly to electricity. PV technology is more practical for residential use. Systems to use the heat of the sun directly can be either active or passive. In active systems, air or liquid circulate through solar collectors and bring heat to where it is used. In passive systems, buildings are built with heat-absorbing surfaces and windows set up to maximize solar heating in winter. Either renewable alternative energy solar technology is suitable for residential use. Systems to directly use the light of the sun are most common. The most usual device for using sunlight is the window, but skylights and skylight tubes are also used. Homeowners can explore design considerations in this primer on alternative energy solar power for residential applications.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Wind Power

Wind has been a fast growing energy source over the last decade mainly due to very significant improvements in wind power technology. Renewable alternative energy Wind power is produced by the wind's energy to turn aerodynamic blades that are mounted to a hub. The hub, which is connected to a shaft, turns a generator that produces electricity. Large utility-scale wind turbines range in size from 50 kilowatts to over four megawatts. Smaller wind towers (under 50 kW) are suitable for residential and agricultural use. Modern turbines are increasingly integrated into smart alternative energy systems that optimize output and grid reliability.

Renewable Alternative Energy - Fuel Cells

A fuel cell is an alternative energy device, but it is not necessarily a renewable energy device. It is only renewable if the source of the fuel used is renewable. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device, like a battery in that it converts the energy from a chemical reaction directly into electricity and heat. But unlike a battery, which is limited to the stored chemicals within, a fuel cell has the capability of generating energy as long as fuel is supplied. Modern fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen together without using combustion. The oxygen comes from the air, while the hydrogen can either be produced from water (using electricity) or extracted from fossil fuels. New fuel cells are being developed that can directly use fossil fuels. The 150-year-old fuel cell technology shows promise in providing energy for residential use and for powering vehicles.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

Forms of alternative energy span solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass, engineered with power electronics, inverters, and grid-tied systems for efficient generation, storage, and distribution across smart grids and microgrids.

What Are Forms of Alternative Energy?

They include solar PV, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass, converted via generators, inverters, and grid storage.

✅ Solar PV: MPPT inverters convert DC modules to AC for the grid.

✅ Wind: variable-speed turbines use converters to regulate frequency and voltage.

✅ Hydro, geothermal, biomass: dispatchable sources aid grid stability and storage.

Forms of Alternative Energy - Solar Energy

The sun is one gigantic star that constantly radiates an enormous amount of energy (solar energy). How much is "enormous?" Well, let's just say that the sun sends out more energy in one second than Earth has used since the beginning of time. Like most stars, the sun is a huge ball of gas made up mostly of helium gas and hydrogen. As a primer on solar technologies, the resource at solar power fundamentals offers context for how these systems scale.

The Earth, being the third planet from the sun, only receives a small portion of the sun's solar energy, however, that amount is more than enough to supply all our electric power needs. For comparisons across resources, see renewable energy sources to understand how solar's potential relates to wind, hydro, and more.

Two ways to make electricity from solar power are photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. Photovoltaic electric generation is produced using photovoltaic (PV) cells: the sunlight hits the solar cell and converts sunlight into electricity instantly and silently--without the hassle of wearing out any mechanical parts. These solar systems are mainly used to generate power in areas that are a long distance from electric power lines. For configurations and component choices, alternative energy systems guidance explains typical PV setups used off-grid and in hybrid applications.

Solar thermal systems (or concentrated solar power) use a solar collector with a mirrored surface to focus sunlight onto a receiver that heats a liquid into steam and then turned into electric power. The process is in the same vain as coal plants: coal is burned into steam, which is then turned into electricity. Deployment considerations are explored in alternative energy solutions that compare CSP with other utility-scale options.

Solar power is expected to be a global supplier of electricity between 2015 and 2020. Solar power's benefits are phenomenal: it's free, its supply can never deplete, it doesn't pollute, and it doesn't damage the environment. These benefits underpin broader renewable alternative energy strategies that accelerate decarbonization across sectors.

Forms Of Alternative Energy - Wind Energy

The sun’s heat reaching the planet earth creates winds, which makes wind a form of solar energy. How does it work? Well, as the sun's rays heat the Earth’s air is heated by the sun, it expands and regions of high and low pressure are formed, these high and low movements create wind energy. For context on definitions and categories, what is alternative energy clarifies how wind fits within the broader mix.

Harnessing wind energy is done using contraptions such as wind turbines. Large wind turbines are built close together to operate on wind farms to produce large amounts of power for electrical utilities. Smaller small wind turbines can be used by homeowners and remote villages who want to generate their own electricity.

Generated Wind power, like other forms of alternative energy, can also be used for charging batteries, pumping water, or grinding grain. All of this can be done without causing greenhouse gas emissions which damage the environment. This form of alternative energy also uses minimal land area, but intermittent wind patterns make it difficult for this form of alternative energy to be a constant and reliable energy source.

Forms of Alternative Energy - Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is a way to turn your food waste into electricity. Biomass is any kind of organic matter (anything that was once alive) that can be used as an energy source. Besides food waste, crops, wood, animal and yard waste are examples of biomass. People have used this form of alternative energy for thousands of years - longer than any other energy source.

Biomass feedstock (farm animal wastes, crops and residues, etc.) is the main ingredient of biomass energy. The heat in this form of alternative energy is used to generate power, fuels and other energy options. The biomass fuels (or biofuels), which comes from biomass feedstock, can be used in a solid, liquid, or gas state. Disposed food, paper, sewage, lawn clippings and sawdust, are some available biomass energy resources used for power production.

Forms of Alternative Energy - Geothermal Energy

Geothermal is a Greek word: geo (earth) and therme (heat). This form of alternative energy comes from the heat, which is from the earth's core (almost 4,000 miles beneath the earth’s surface). Earth's double-layered core is made from melted rock (hot magma), which surrounds a solid iron center. The heat comes from the slow decay of radioactive particles produce high temperatures that constantly rise to the earth's surface. Geothermal electricity is created by pumping a fluid (oil or water) into the Earth, allowing it to evaporate and using the hot gases vented from the earth's crust to run turbines linked to electrical generators. Further technical detail is summarized in geothermal energy basics for readers interested in plant designs and resource types.

In some areas on the planet (such as Iceland), there is very hot water or steam that is close enough to the surface where this alternative energy resource can be reached economically with a drill. When obtained, the steam, or hot water flashed to steam, turns a turbine, which then, turns a generator that produces electricity. Many experts believe that geothermal energy only be a minor contributor to the global energy supply because of the scarcity of geothermal sites in the world.

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• Alternative Energy Channel

What is alternative energy? In electrical engineering, it denotes renewable power sources—solar PV, wind, hydro, geothermal—and enabling systems like power electronics, inverters, storage, microgrids, and grid integration to decarbonize electricity.

What Is Alternative Energy?

Alternative energy uses renewable electrical sources and grid tech to cut emissions and boost efficiency.

✅ Includes solar PV, wind turbines, hydro, geothermal, and bioenergy.

✅ Enabled by power electronics, inverters, converters, and smart grids.

✅ Integrates storage, demand response, and grid stabilization controls.

What is Alternative Energy? Alternative energy is power that comes from sources which are not going to run out, do not pollute as much as fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas), or do not create leftover materials that are harmful to people and the environment.

The term, "alternative," in a sense, is meant to contrast environment friendly energy against forms of energy that hurt the environment (coal power, natural gas, and oil power). Other names for alternative energy include clean energy, green energy and renewable energy. For readers new to the topic, you can explore concise summaries of technologies in the guide to forms of alternative energy to see how they compare.

Alternative Energy Vs. Renewable Energy

Renewable energy and alternative energy are often interchangeable, but they do have different meanings. Renewable energy comes from a replinishable energy source (it can never deplete). Electric energy that is generated from the sun (solar), the wind, the ocean (waves, currents or tides), the earth (geothermal), waste (biomass), landfill gas, or water (hydro power) is considered to be renewable energy. Renewable energy falls under the alternative energy umbrella because renewable fuel sources like wind and solar don't hurt the environment. For a broader overview, the relationship between categories like clean power and storage is outlined in the resource at renewable and alternative energy for further reading.

Alternative Energy Sources

A comprehensive overview of major options, deployment trends, and resource potential is compiled at alternative energy sources for additional context.

1. Alternative Energy as Solar Power

The sun has been around, shining on the earth with warmth and light for many, many years. This alternative energy source is available at no cost, and will be available to generate energy tomorrow and for millions of years to come, which explains why scientists continue to strive to figure out new ways on how to capture and use energy from the sun. For system basics, component choices, and siting tips, see alternative energy solar power to understand practical applications.

Long ago, it was discovered that leaving objects in the sun not only increased the object's thermal temperature, but the radiating heat also produced energy. Today, this type of alternative solar power, letting the sun heat something up, is called thermal solar energy. This alternative energy source is used to heat water for people's homes by passing cool water through pipes that are exposed to sunlight. As the pipes heat up, the water gets hot.

Another type of solar energy, known as light solar energy or photovoltaic energy, has only been used since the 1950s. This type of solar power comes from changing sunlight into actual electrical current. Very thin photovoltaic cells, which contain layers of different chemicals, absorb light from the sun and change it into electricity. The photovoltaic electricity is then stored in large batteries for later use, or it is actually sent back through the power lines to the electric company, which pays you for making electricity. Photovoltaic energy is growing in popularity every year. New types of photovoltaic cells, called “thin films”, are making solar electrical systems easier to put into homes, and less expensive than they were before.

Did you know: If one minute’s worth of all the sun’s energy that falls on the Earth was captured, it would be enough to provide the world with enough power for an entire year.

2. Alternative Energy as Wind Power

Wind energy has been utilized as an energy source for thousands of years. For example, the earliest sailors realized that putting sails on their boats to catch the wind made their boats go faster. More than 100 years ago, many farms used wind power to pump water from underground up to a container where it could be used for their homes or to water their animals. Today, wind power is used to turn large propeller blades that are put on top of towers. As the blades turn, their movement turns a generator, which changes the movement into electricity, which is sent to power stations or stored in batteries. Today, more people are buying small wind towers that make enough electricity to run their homes.

These days, very large windmills (known today as windfarms) are built in large groups. These windfarms are located miles away from where people live, and when the power is generated, the power is sent back to the cities and towns. Because wind patterns vary from location to location, some windfarms won’t work very well. But in windy areas, windfarms provide an efficient amount of electricity. Integrating wind with storage, efficiency, and grid modernization is covered under broader alternative energy solutions that help scale projects.

3. Alternative Energy as Water Energy (Hydro Electricity)

Water energy is another type of alternative energy that has been utilized for many years. Have you ever seen a water wheel next to a mill in an old painting or picture? The wheel was turned by the flowing water in a creek. The turning wheel was connected to a large millstone, which was used to crush grain to make flour and cornmeal. Today, electricity is generated using water. Large walls (dams) are built with tunnels to block flowing rivers so that the water can navigate through them, and, as the water goes through these tunnels, propellers turn a motor, which then generates electrical power. The generated power either is stored in batteries or is sent to a power station. Technology has developed enough that a small home can generate its own hydro power.

If a home is next to a creek or stream, a micro hydro system can turn a very small wheel, which then generates electrical power. Activists, scientists and some government officials have voiced their concerns that building large dams interrupt ecosystems, despite the fact that it generates millions of watts of power. However, the micro hydro technology can be used without hurting a small stream or the plants and animals that live there.

4. Alternative Energy as Biomass Energy

The farming industry, among other industries, are using corn and other plants as a biomass alternative energy source that can be put into the gas tanks of cars and trucks that can replace earth-damaging fossil fuels. Further feedstock pathways, conversion methods, and project case studies are outlined under biomass energy to illustrate real-world use.

The oldest type of biofuel is called biodiesel, which was first made out of plants and vegetables. Today, biodiesel is made out of old cooking oil and other types of plant materials that are not needed for other things. When it’s burning biodiesel made out of old cooking oil, the exhaust from a car’s tail pipe smells like french fries.

Ethanol, a second biofuel, is made by distilling plant materials (eg. corn) into grain alcohol, which is then mixed with small amounts of fossil fuel. When finished, this form of alternative energy can be used in cars, trucks and vans. While the farming industry is utilizing this readily available alternative energy resource, studies show that unless farms stop using petroleum-based chemicals for fertilizer and for killing pests, growing crops to make ethanol fuels may be more damaging to the environment than other forms of alternative energy. Comparisons with hydrogen, renewable diesel, and other alternative energy fuels highlight trade-offs in cost and lifecycle impacts.

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