What Is Alternative Energy? | Teems Electric

Whether it’s to lessen our dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuels or to reduce the impact our energy production has on the earth, there are plenty of good reasons we as a country look for other power sources. That includes developing new ways of generating power or ways to expand what we get from existing technologies, which may mean making production more effective or installing new generators.

As part of that, the United States has embraced dozens of alternative energy sources, from the large-scale to the small, the well-known to the obscure. Chances are you’ve heard a lot of discussion about alternative energy sources, but you may not know exactly what that means. If you’re in that group, read on to learn about some of the generation means we’re using now, even right here in northeast Georgia and southeast Tennessee.

We’re presenting these in order of how much we use each in the United States:

Biomass

This method uses organic materials, such as wood and food waste, to create energy. In most cases, the fuel is burned to create energy, so this method isn’t necessarily a way to eliminate the impact of power production on the earth.

However, it does help deal with another problem: trash. Old cooking oil can be converted into fuel for vehicles and manufacturing. Even municipal waste can be used to create energy.

Wind

You can’t see the wind, but you can capture it to power your city. Wind turbines have giant blades that are spun by the wind.

They use that mechanical energy to operate generators that use electromagnets and discoveries made by 19th century scientist Michael Faraday to create electricity.

Hydroelectric

Water-generated power is a long way from being a new technology; humans have used the power of water for countless tasks for millennia. From grinding grains to make meals and flours to clearing land, water’s power is incredibly useful to humans.

Hydroelectric power is generated with turbines inside dams or nearby powerhouses that are turned by moving water. As with the wind turbines, the spinning turbines create mechanical energy and work with generators to turn that into electricity.

Solar

All energy on earth comes from the sun, so it makes sense that we’d be able to capture some of the energy the sun sends out all the time to keep our cell phones and washing machines running.

This method involves capturing the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun using either photovoltaics or concentrating solar-thermal power generators.

Geothermal

The temperature of the earth at about 20 or 30 feet down is always between 50 and 60 degrees year-round, all around the world. To capture that, engineers drill deep into the ground and run pipes down into those holes, then a refrigerant is run through the lines to capture the heat.

That heat is then converted into electricity by systems back on the other side of the dirt. Geothermal systems are also used to heat and cool structures, chill water used in manufacturing, and much more.

The experts at Teems Electric can help explain your options and ensure you’re making the best choices for your budget and priorities. For any project, we’re ready to partner with you to build your success.