Importance of Alternative Energy / Fossil Fuels What Went Wrong?

The term fossil fuel refers to fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. They are prefixed
fossil because their source (carbon and hydrocarbons) was found in earths crust. In
laymans term, fossil fuels are the remains of animals and plants that lived up to millions of
years ago. Most importantly, fossil fuels are non-renewable.
In earlier times, we heavily relied on wood for all our energy needs. Deforestation became a
regular phenomenon and we worried about planet earth. And then coal was discovered, an
efficient alternative to wood. Later we found petroleum.
During this period we thought our energy needs had been taken care forever. Industrial
revolution ensured that their usage spiked through the sky.
However, after never-ending mining and drill baby drill, we realized that there is was
limitation to how much we can use them. Because one day, the mines will be empty and
drilling pipes would dry out. Over the years, their demand has been far outstripping their
availability.
The other thing that shook us was the irreversible harm that done to the environment. We are
left with acres of destroyed shorelines and ocean beds, forests and wildlife.
Combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain) and
carbon monoxide (contributing to greenhouse effect). Due to the adverse affects, the globe is
heating up and the polar ice caps are melting faster.
Importance of Alternative Energy / The Solution
It is essential to understand the term alternative energy for realizing the importance of
alternative forms of energy. The term alternative energy implies energy that is used as an
alternative to using fossil fuels.
The dictionary defines alternative energy as solar, wind, or other renewable energy, that
can replace or supplement traditional fossil-fuel sources, as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Though nuclear energy is also a safe energy form, it is often not included in the alternative
energy category because of its feared radioactive waste.
Wind, water and sun are never ending source of energy. However, the biggest advantage of
using them is that they dont harm environment in any way. Importance of alternative energy
thus becomes paramount. We have already enjoyed benefits of using water energy. Hydroelectricity is increasingly being used throughout the world.
These renewable energy sources can be easily used to turn turbines in a generation process
and thus replace oil and natural gas. As for wind and solar energy, the technology related to
reaping energy out of these is still in development phase. Money spent on the research and
setup is huge. However, once the technology is perfected, these sources will prove to be the
most cost effective.

Geothermal energy is also being considered a good renewable energy source; however its
implications are still under research. Another energy source that looks promising is bio-diesel
(diesel-like product extracted from plants).
In engine, bio-diesel burns like the ordinary diesel, and thus is an eco-friendly substitute.
With the advent of electric cars, even electricity is being considered as an alternative fuel.

Wind Energy
We have been harnessing the wind's energy for hundreds of years. From old Holland to farms
in the United States, windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain. Today,
the windmill's modern equivalent - a wind turbine - can use the wind's energy to generate
electricity.
Wind turbines, like windmills, are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100
feet (30 meters) or more aboveground, they can take advantage of the faster and less turbulent
wind. Turbines catch the wind's energy with their propeller-like blades. Usually, two or three
blades are mounted on a shaft to form a rotor.
A blade acts much like an airplane wing. When the wind blows, a pocket of low-pressure air
forms on the downwind side of the blade. The low-pressure air pocket then pulls the blade
toward it, causing the rotor to turn. This is called lift. The force of the lift is actually much
stronger than the wind's force against the front side of the blade, which is called drag. The
combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller, and the turning shaft
spins a generator to make electricity.
Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone applications, or they can be connected to a utility
power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. For utility-scale sources
of wind energy, a large number of wind turbines are usually built close together to form
awind plant. Several electricity providers today use wind plants to supply power to their
customers.
Stand-alone wind turbines are typically used for water pumping or communications.
However, homeowners, farmers, and ranchers in windy areas can also use wind turbines as a
way to cut their electric bills.
Small wind systems also have potential as distributed energy resources. Distributed energy
resources refer to a variety of small, modular power-generating technologies that can be
combined to improve the operation of the electricity delivery system.

Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the
earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain,
bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "harvested" by
modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity.

The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to
generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into
mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or
pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity to power homes,
businesses, schools, and the like.
Wind Turbine

A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power.
A wind turbine used for charging batteries may be referred to as a wind charger.
The result of over a millennium of windmill development and modern engineering, today's
wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of vertical and horizontal axis types. The
smallest turbines are used for applications such as battery charging for auxiliary power for
boats or caravans or to power traffic warning signs. Slightly larger turbines can be used for
making small contributions to a domestic power supply while selling unused power back to
the utility supplier via the electrical grid. Arrays of large turbines, known as wind farms, are
becoming an increasingly important source of renewable energy and are used by many
countries as part of a strategy to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Types
Vertical axis design

Vertical-axis wind turbines (or VAWTs) have the main rotor shaft arranged vertically. One
advantage of this arrangement is that the turbine does not need to be pointed into the wind to
be effective, which is an advantage on a site where the wind direction is highly variable. It is
also an advantage when the turbine is integrated into a building because it is inherently less
steerable. Also, the generator and gearbox can be placed near the ground, using a direct drive
from the rotor assembly to the ground-based gearbox, improving accessibility for
maintenance.
The key disadvantages include the relatively low rotational speed with the consequential
higher torque and hence higher cost of the drive train, the inherently lower power coefficient,
the 360 degree rotation of the aerofoil within the wind flow during each cycle and hence the
highly dynamic loading on the blade, the pulsating torque generated by some rotor designs on
the drive train, and the difficulty of modelling the wind flow accurately and hence the
challenges of analysing and designing the rotor prior to fabricating a prototype.[20]
When a turbine is mounted on a rooftop the building generally redirects wind over the roof
and this can double the wind speed at the turbine. If the height of a rooftop mounted turbine
tower is approximately 50% of the building height it is near the optimum for maximum wind
energy and minimum wind turbulence. Wind speeds within the built environment are
generally much lower than at exposed rural sites,[21][22] noise may be a concern and an
existing structure may not adequately resist the additional stress.

Horizontal axis

Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator at
the top of a tower, and must be pointed into the wind. Small turbines are pointed by a simple
wind vane, while large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor.
Most have a gearbox, which turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker rotation that
is more suitable to drive an electrical generator.[17]
Since a tower produces turbulence behind it, the turbine is usually positioned upwind of its
supporting tower. Turbine blades are made stiff to prevent the blades from being pushed into
the tower by high winds. Additionally, the blades are placed a considerable distance in front
of the tower and are sometimes tilted forward into the wind a small amount.
Downwind machines have been built, despite the problem of turbulence (mast wake), because
they don't need an additional mechanism for keeping them in line with the wind, and because
in high winds the blades can be allowed to bend which reduces their swept area and thus their
wind resistance. Since cyclical (that is repetitive) turbulence may lead to fatigue failures,
most HAWTs are of upwind design.
Turbines used in wind farms for commercial production of electric power are usually threebladed and pointed into the wind by computer-controlled motors. These have high tip speeds
of over 320 km/h (200 mph), high efficiency, and low torque ripple, which contribute to good
reliability. The blades are usually colored white for daytime visibility by aircraft and range in
length from 20 to 40 meters (66 to 131 ft) or more. The tubular steel towers range from 60 to
90 meters (200 to 300 ft) tall. The blades rotate at 10 to 22 revolutions per minute. At 22
rotations per minute the tip speed exceeds 90 meters per second (300 ft/s).[18][19] A gear box is
commonly used for stepping up the speed of the generator, although designs may also use
direct drive of an annular generator. Some models operate at constant speed, but more energy
can be collected by variable-speed turbines which use a solid-state power converter to
interface to the transmission system. All turbines are equipped with protective features to
avoid damage at high wind speeds, by feathering the blades into the wind which ceases their
rotation, supplemented by brakes.
Wind Farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of
electricity. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines
distributed over an extended area, but the land between the turbines may be used for
agricultural or other purposes. A wind farm may also be located offshore.
Almost all large wind turbines have the same design a horizontal axis wind turbine having
an upwind rotor with three blades, attached to a nacelle on top of a tall tubular tower.
In a wind farm, individual turbines are interconnected with a medium voltage (often 34.5
kV), power collection system and communications network. At a substation, this mediumvoltage electric current is increased in voltage with a transformer for connection to the high
voltage electric power transmission system.[citation needed]

Offshore wind power

Main articles: Offshore wind power and List of offshore wind farms

Offshore wind power refers to the construction of wind farms in large bodies of water to
generate electricity. These installations can utilise the more frequent and powerful winds that
are available in these locations and have less aesthetic impact on the landscape than land
based projects. However, the construction and the maintenance costs are considerably highe

Wind power in India

The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased
in the last few years. Although a relative newcomer to the wind industry compared with
Denmark or the United States, India has the fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the
world.[1] In 2009-10 India's growth rate was highest among the other top four countries.
As of 31 March 2014 the installed capacity of wind power in India was 21136.3 MW,[2][3]
mainly spread across Tamil Nadu (7253 MW),[4] Gujarat (3,093 MW), Maharashtra (2976
MW), Karnataka (2113 MW), Rajasthan (2355 MW), Madhya Pradesh (386 MW), Andhra
Pradesh (435 MW), Kerala (35.1 MW), Orissa (2MW),[5][6] West Bengal (1.1 MW) and other
states (3.20 MW).[7] It is estimated that 6,000 MW of additional wind power capacity will be
installed in India by 2014.[8] Wind power accounts for 8.5% of India's total installed power
capacity, and it generates 1.6% of the country's power

Advantages of Wind Energy

1. Green

Wind energy is a green energy source. Harnessing wind energy does not pollute the
environment nearly as much as fossil fuels, coal and nuclear power do.
It is true that the manufacturing, transportation and installation of a wind turbine contributes
to global warming slightly, but the electricity production itself does not involve any
emissions of climate gases whatsoever.
There are some environmental issues associated with wind energy that we will discuss in
the disadvantages section.

2. Enormous Potential

As mentioned in the introduction of this article, the potential of wind power is

absolutely incredible. Several independent research teams have reached the same
conclusions: The worldwide potential of wind power is more than 400 TW (terawatts).[1]
Harnessing wind energy can be done almost anywhere. Whether or not a resource is
financially feasible is another question.

3. Renewable

Wind energy is a renewable source of energy. Wind is naturally occurring and there is no
way we can empty the energy resources. Wind energy actually originates from the nuclear
fusion processes that take place on the sun.
As long as the sun keeps shining (don`t worry, according to scientists it will for another 6-7
billion years)?, we will be able to harness wind energy on earth. This is not the case for
fossil fuels (e.g. oil and natural gas), which our society relies heavily on today.

4. Space-Efficient

The largest wind turbines are capable of generating enough electricity to meet the energy
demand of 600 average U.S. homes.[2] The wind turbines can`t be placed too close to each
other, but the land in-between can be used for other things. This is why many farms would
benefit more from installing wind turbines as opposed to solar panels.

5. Rapid Growth

Although wind power only accounts for about 2.5% of total worldwide electricity
production, the capacity is growing at an incredible rate of 25% per year (2010).[3] This
does not only contribute in the fight against global warming, but also helps lowering costs:

6. Prices are Decreasing

Prices have decreased over 80% since 1980.[4] Thanks to technological advancements and
increased demand, prices are expected keep decreasing in the foreseeable future.

7. Low Operational Costs

It is generally true that operational costs tend to be low once the turbines first have been
manufactured and erected. However, not every wind turbine is created equal some are
more susceptible to maintenance than others.

8. Good Domestic Potential

People can generate their own electricity with wind power in much the same manner as
people do with the best solar panels (photovoltaics).

Net metering (currently implemented in more than 40 states across the U.S.[5]) allows
homeowners to receive bill credits for their excess electricity productionThere is good money
to save/earn with residential wind turbines, but maybe the best perks come from not being
reliant the utility for electricity, which can protect you from blackouts as well as fluctuating
energy prices.

Disadvantages of Wind Energy

1. Unpredictable

Wind is unpredictable and the availability of wind energy is not constant. Wind energy is
therefore not well suited as a base load energy source. If we had cost-effective ways of
storing wind energy the situation would be different.
We can hope for breakthroughs in energy storage technologies in the future, but right now,
wind turbines have to be used in tandem with other energy sources to meet our energy
demand with consistency.

2. Costs

The cost-competitiveness of wind power is highly debatable. Both utility-scale wind farms
and small residential wind turbines typically rely heavily on financial incentives. This is to
give wind power a fair chance in the fierce competition against already well-established
energy sources such as fossil fuels and coal.
Solar power (PV) is generally regarded as the first choice for homeowners looking to become
energy producers themselves, but wind turbines make an excellent alternative in some
situations. It would take a wind turbine of about 10 kilowatts and $40,000 to $70,000 to
become a net electricity producer. Investments like this typically break even after 10 to 20
years.

3 Threat to Wildlife

Birds, bats and other flying creatures have slim chances of surviving when taking a
direct hit from a rotating wind turbine blade. However, some environmentalists have
blown this issue out of proportions.
Studies have estimated the number of annual avian fatalities by U.S. wind turbines from
10,000 all the way to 440,000. As a comparison, collisions with buildings may kill up to 976
million birds.[6]

4 Noise

Noise is a problem for some people that live in the proximity of wind turbines. Building
wind turbines in urban environments should be avoided. Noise is not a problem with
offshore wind turbines at all. New designs show significant improvements compared to older
models and generate less noise.

Conclusion-Bare facts
1. Energy is necessary for daily survival. Future development crucially depends on its longterm availability in increasing quantities from sources that are dependable, safe, and
environmentally sound. At present, no single source or mix of sources is at hand to meet this
future need.
2. Concern about a dependable future for energy is only natural since energy provides
'essential services' for human life - heat for warmth, cooking, and manufacturing, or power
for transport and mechanical work. At present, the energy to provide these services comes
from fuels - oil, gas, coal, nuclear, wood, and other primary sources (solar, wind, or water
power) - that are all useless until they are converted into the energy services needed, by
machines or other kinds of end-use equipment, such as stoves, turbines, or motors. In many
countries worldwide, a lot of primary energy is wasted because of the inefficient design or
running of the equipment used to convert it into the services required; though there is an
encouraging growth in awareness of energy conservation and efficiency.
3. Today's primary sources of energy are mainly non-renewable: natural gas, oil, coal, peat,
and conventional nuclear power. There are also renewable sources, including wood, plants,
dung, falling water, geothermal sources, solar, tidal, wind, and wave energy, as well as
human and animal muscle-power. Nuclear reactors that produce their own fuel ('breeders')
and eventually fusion reactors are also in this category. In theory, all the various energy
sources can contribute to the future energy mix worldwide. But each has its own economic,
health, and environmental costs, benefits, and risks - factors that interact strongly with other
governmental and global priorities. Choices must be made, but in the certain knowledge that
choosing an energy strategy inevitably means choosing an environmental strategy.
4. Patterns and changes of energy use today are already dictating patterns well into the next
century. We approach this question from the standpoint of sustainability. The key elements of
sustainability that have to be reconciled are:

sufficient growth of energy supplies to meet human needs (which means accommodating a
minimum of 3 per cent per capita income growth in developing countries);
energy efficiency and conservation measures, such that waste of primary resources is
minimized;
public health, recognizing the problems of risks to safety inherent in energy sources; and
protection of the biosphere and prevention of more localized forms of pollution.

5. The period ahead must be regarded as transitional from an era in which energy has been
used in an unsustainable manner. A generally acceptable pathway to a safe and sustainable
energy future has not yet been found. We do not believe that these dilemmas have yet been

addressed by the international community with a sufficient sense of urgency and in a global
perspective.