We are currently experiencing an energy crisis and we need to look for alternative energy sources. We need to do more research and development in this area. We need to expand our horizons beyond the fossil fuels and are old ways of being dependent on foreign countries for oil. There are certainly a wide variety of alternatives to these energy sources. Experts believe that the situation is going to get much worse, rather than better so alternative resources for energy need to be explored and put into action as soon as possible.

Wind power can be considered a viable alternative. The use of wind turbines can be developed to progressively use energy efficiently and it is less costly. There are wind farms that are being developed across the world and they are designed to be strategically placed so that they are not damaging the environment particularly birds.

Another viable energy resource is the one that you may not have heard of or considered: solar energy. Solar cells are manufactured which gather and harness the energy given off by the sun and then transmits it into electricity or, into hot water. It is an environmentally friendly resource and does not pollute the atmosphere.

You have probably never heard of ocean wave energy, have you? Experts believe this source of power may have tremendous benefit for the future. Experts believe it has enormous generating potential. France, Ireland and Scotland have successfully been using generators as a source of power for years.

Hydroelectric power can be set up as a powerful generator of electricity and it runs cleanly so there is no potential damage to the environment. However, there are limitations because a large dam cannot be set up anywhere. Small electric generators that are localized have been set up in recently for this reason.

Geothermal energy is another abundant resource. It actually is just below the surface. This type of energy is produced by heating water through the earth's hot molten core. The water then turns to steam, which can be used to keep turbine engines running which converts to electricity. Experts believe there should be extensive research done on geothermal energy tapping.

A substitute for gas can be Ethanol. It can be derived from wheat, sugar cane, strawberries, and even wood and wood cellulose. Experts believe this source of fuel may not be economically feasible as a viable energy source.

Another potential energy source is biodiesel energy. It can be created out of plant oils. There is potential for making biodiesel from soybeans, seeds and other oils. This is a slow and developing energy resource. It may not be economically feasible to use this source of energy on a large scale basis. It is much cleaner than diesel which is oil based.

Did you know that wind has potential for power? It does not damage the environment plus its a powerful source of alternative energy. It is gaining popularity because other sources of fuel damage the environment and also fuel prices are now very high. When thinking of wind power you may think about windmills, but wind can also be turned into electricity. There are several countries in Europe using this power.

Wind power is transformed into electricity by using turbines. The blades turn generating an electrical current which is then powered by a generator. Almost 3% of the sun's energy can be turned into wind energy. But the origin and the use of it can be complex plus there are continuous variables that affect it’s efficiency and usage long term.

The energy of wind can be used as a generator. Most generally, wind turbines are grouped all together and in wind farms. The farms are located all across the country and there are many in California. There are large ones which have 200 turbines and put out approximately 200-300 watts of electricity. There are other countries in Europe that have used wind power successfully. Germany is one of the world's leaders in harnessing wind power.

The location of wind energy is the most important element so it can reap the most benefits. To be successful, they need be placed up as high as possible such as mountains, they also need to be put within close proximity to each other and most certainly, the speed of the wind matters. Experts are experimenting with these variables so they can harness the most energy efficiently.

Some points to consider are that the turbines tend to be quite noisy and will scare away animal life. Another is cost, they are costly to make and to put in place.

Wind energy has the potential to be a viable source of energy and is becoming widely used. To be a practical energy source, scientists are recommending to store up the energy.

This could be done by increasing the output of energy and storing the excess amounts in a surplus. It’s usage could fluctuate, because it should only be used when needed. There would need to be cost comparisons to assure that is cost effective. It can be stored with storage known as flywheel that is hydro electric.

Experts are just now exploring the use of this form of energy on a wide scale basis. There are several countries that are way ahead of us in this area and they include: China, Brazil, United Kingdom, Spain, Canada and Denmark. Denmark makes their own turbines. The US has a very long way to go yet before they can say that are using the power efficiently.