Experts believe there is tremendous potential for solar energy. Anything could be possible with the sun’s energy. It provides heat for our swimming pools, rivers, lakes and ponds. It is as a basic as hanging your laundry out on the line and it being dried by the sun. However we have been unable to harness it as a natural source of energy that can be used efficiently.

Scientists believe it is the best alternative source of power. This energy is drawn from heat that strikes the earth. Solar energy has been around for millions of years and it is safe for the environment. It can be renewed and concentrated. Experts are considering it as a viable alternative energy source so it can be used world wide.

It is being used across the world. Inherently, the sun provides a natural heat source which can be used to control temperature without converting it. TO be used for electricity, it needs to be collected and converted. There are different forms of solar energy.

There is widespread use of solar panels to heat houses. Experts have been experimenting and have used solar energy to power cars, unsuccessfully. The technology is not quite there yet. You will not be seeing solar powered cars anytime in the near future. However some experts believe it may be around the corner.

Once captured, solar power, changes and distributes the sun's power so it can be used for heat and ventilation. A trombe wall is an example of this. It uses solar heat with a system made up of channels of air that are between a window and wall. Then the sun heats the area and circulates through vents and then stores the heat. At night, this stored heat is utilized.

Solar power is dense and is quite an efficient use of power. These facilities could be set up across the world and they are maintenance free. The operating cost is very reasonable after the initial installation.

Australia has spent millions of dollars on a solar powered energy station. It is currently generating clean electricity to well over 40,000 locations in the small town of Victoria. It's very energy efficient and safe for the environment due to there being no gas emissions.

There are other options for solar power such as PV systems. It is connected to an electrical grid and when there is an excess of energy it transfers to another grid. This is extremely efficient and cost effective

The PV cells are set up as a solar panel, and they have become more efficient and the cost of them has gone down tremendously. The designs have improved so that the harnessed sunlight can be focused on a centralized point. The size of the cells decrease as efficiency rises.

Were you aware that there is energy in the Ocean? The Ocean Energy Conversion or OTEC originated in 1881.

There is a Natural Energy Laboratory in Hawaii that is home to an experimental energy plant. OTEC is an experimental energy source that should be explored.

The great obstacle to get around with OTEC implementation for wide and practically useful levels is cost. It is expensive and is at and is not cost effective to mass produce at this time. This type of energy is very clean and would not add pollutants to the air. We are not as technologically advanced in this area and therefore, we do not have the technology to work with the plant and produce it on a large scale basis. At this time, it could actually in fact damage the environment so much more research needs to be done.

There are three types of OTEC.

A closed type of OTEC uses a liquid such as propane which acts as an intermediary fluid. The plant pumps the warm water into a chamber and boils the fluid. This results in a vapor which pushes the turbine and this motion generates electricity. Then the vapor is cooled by placing in cold water.

Then there is open cycle OTEC which does not use a fluid. The water drives the turbine engine in this format. Warm water is turned into a low vapor which is then vacuumed. The vapor is released and it now has the power to control the turbine. The vapor is then cooled down and made for human consumption.

There is also a theory called Hybrid OTEC which is still in the planning stages. Hopefully in the future I can be used with thermal energy in ocean water.

There are two principals on the theory behind Hybrid Cycling. One involves the use of closed cycling for generating electricity. Then the electricity is used to make a vacuum which is needed for open cycling. Next, the second aspect uses the combination of two cycles such with twice the amount of water which creates an open cycle.

Along with the production of electricity, a closed cycle plant can be used for chemical treatment. OTEC plants, which use two types of cycling can also be used for pumping cold water which can used for refrigeration purposes as well as air conditioning.

Also, when the plant is not in use, other projects can take place such as aquaculture projects and fish farming. In the future, experts are looking forward to discovering a variety of services and products that can be used from this promising alternative energy source. Scientists believe there is a great deal on the horizon that has yet to be discovered in this area.

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.