When was alternative energy discovered

Marine Energy Basics. MHK energy technologies convert the energy of waves, tides, and river and ocean currents into electricity. The U. Learn about the breakthrough technology that could help expand use of this renewable energy source. The science and industry of biofuels is changing rapidly. Learn about key facts related to wind turbines used in distributed applications. Learn more about efforts to develop America's vast offshore wind resources.

Wind Energy Basics. Learn more about the wind industry here, from how a wind turbine works, to the new and exciting research in the field of wind energy. People began to take notice. This Colorado landmark was built to control the water-flow along the Colorado River and to provide Southern California and Arizona with a steady water supply. At the time, it was the largest hydroelectric facility in the US. Over 5, workers were employed during the five years it took to build, and at full capacity it can hold enough water to cover the state of Connecticut 10 feet deep.

The Vanguard 1 launched on St. There would be many more to come, but this tribal community was the first. Located in Spain, the Mojave Desert California , and wider regions of the US, the SOLAR Project consists of three solar power-plants, all built with the collective aim of furthering the technology and coming up with more efficient ways to harness and, ultimately, store the energy. In , the work of Solar Two — a plant in the Mojave Desert — succeeded in finding this better, more cost-efficient way.

Instead of using oil or water to store energy as Solar One did , the team at this particular plant used a combination of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. This combination allowed the energy to be stored for much longer periods of time, especially for when clouds obscure the light. This meant that systems could remain at full operation for up to three hours after the sun had set: a massive advancement for its time.

Diesel fuel. Heating oil. Also in Oil and petroleum products explained Oil and petroleum products Refining crude oil Where our oil comes from Imports and exports Offshore oil and gas Use of oil Prices and outlook Oil and the environment. Also in Gasoline explained Gasoline Octane in depth Where our gasoline comes from Use of gasoline Prices and outlook Factors affecting gasoline prices Regional price differences Price fluctuations History of gasoline Gasoline and the environment.

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Also in Coal explained Coal Mining and transportation Where our coal comes from Imports and exports How much coal is left Use of coal Prices and outlook Coal and the environment. Renewable sources. As a result, the search for energy derived from alternative sources — including geothermal, nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric technologies — has taken on enormous importance in political and scientific circles.

Many other nations, including the United States and China, are still largely fossil-fuel based, but are awakening to the need to make national-level investments in alternative energy innovations that could transform their economies in the near future. The next twenty years may well bring a massive reinvention of the world's approach to energy.

There are many questions that must be answered and hundreds of paths that can be followed in the quest to move beyond fossil fuels. Should the world's governments emphasize energy efficiency strategies that reduce the demand for fossil fuels by reducing energy consumption? One example of this approach is the use of "smart grids" that more effectively regulate the flow of energy from utility companies to homes and businesses.

Or should governments emphasize the cultivation of new energy sources such as wind or geothermal power? Or a combination of the two? Should the cars of the future run on fuel cells, electricity, plant-based fuels. In the alternative energy debate, there are no simple answers.

Forming a rich understanding of the many points of view in this dialogue is essential to developing a thoughtful, balanced position. In this Spotlight, we provide a guided tour through the quest for alternative energies. What are the various kinds of energies being explored, and what are their pros and cons? How are traditional energy companies — including oil and gas companies and utilities — reacting to the challenge?

How can cultivation of alternative energies spur economic growth? We hope your exploration of the resources we've gathered here to answer these questions will only be the beginning of a lifelong engagement with one of the most important issues of our time.