How is electricity produced conventionally?

Conventionally, electricity is produced by moving colossal turbines. These turbines are moved with the help of various types of energy. Let’s look at the most conventional ways of producing electrical energy:

• By using various fuels and water – Water is heated on a large-scale in furnaces. The vapor generated helps move the blades of turbines. Fuels like petroleum, coal, and natural gas are used to heat large quantities of water.

• By nuclear fission – Electricity is produced in nuclear reactors by making use of the heat generated in the chain reaction caused by nuclear fission. This heat boils water on a large scale converting it into vapor that turns the blades of the turbines.

• By bio-waste – Electricity is now also being produced by burning bio-fuels instead of fossil fuels. Bio-fuels are obtained from biological waste, mainly from plants. Bio-fuels are considered safer than fossil fuels.

• By hydro-power – Water is also a popular method of producing electricity. Rivers and large bodies of water are used to move huge turbines. Though this method of electricity production does not affect the air around us, it spoils the ecological balance inside the water bodies.

• By wind – Electricity is produced by wind generators. These wind generators convert wind energy into mechanical energy which is further converted into electrical energy.

Why is there a need for looking for alternate electricity sources?

Alternate power solutions are needed in the light of highly-depleting fuels and energy sources. Moreover, most of the convention ways of electricity production harms the environment in one way or the other.

The world is currently faced with tremendous power-crisis. We can no longer depend on fossil fuels for power. At the same time, we need to take measures to prevent the harmful effects that convention power production has on the environment.

How can we produce electricity?

In times of global power-crisis and severe environmental-damage, the question is: what can we do to help? We can do plenty if we want to. We need to start with consuming less power. Next, we can employ any of the following energy solution to make electricity:

• Wind power solution – Installing a wind turbine can help generate electricity for our homes and farms.

• Solar power solution – Using the solar power to cook light up and heat our homes is a wise idea.

• Bio-gas – Bio-gas can be used to produce electricity on small scales.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at earth4energy.com

As the term suggests, bio-fuels are fuels that are formed when biological matter decomposes. The bio-fuels are mostly derived from plants. Bio-fuels exist in all the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Difference between bio-fuels and fossil fuels
Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways:

• Fossil fuels take a million years to build whereas bio-fuels can be made extremely fast, in a matter of days.
• Fossil fuels generate huge amounts of pollution. Bio-fuels are comparatively safer.
• Bio-fuels are renewable sources of energy unlike fossil fuels.

Different types of bio-fuels
Bio-fuels have been categorized into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation.

The first generation bio-fuels are derived from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in turn derived from food-crops. The first generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Biogas, bio-diesel, and vegetable oil are some examples of this type of bio-fuels.

The second generation of bio-fuels is mainly derived from waste biomass, thus making it a more balanced option compared to the first-generation bio-fuels. Different kinds of alcohols and diesel generated from wood fall into the category of second generation bio-fuels.

The third generation comprises of bio-fuels derived from algae. Algae are farmed on large scales for creating these bio-fuels. The algae fuels are extremely environment-friendly as they can easily decompose into the soil without harming it.

The bio-fuels in the fourth generation are derived by a method in which micro-organisms are raised to work with carbon dioxide to generate fuel.

Advantages of bio-fuels
Bio-fuels prove advantageous in the following ways:

• Bio-fuels lessen the burden on gradually-vanishing fossil fuels.
• Bio-fuels are environment-friendly. They help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
• Bio-fuels, especially, bio-diesel prove to be very cost-effective for consumers.

Disadvantages of bio-fuels

Bio-fuels are not bereft of criticism. Though beneficial for the environment, bio-fuels have its disadvantages, paradoxically in the environmental purview. Bio-fuels have received criticism for many reasons, a couple of which are stated below:

• Economists have long debated on the usefulness of first generation bio-fuels when compared to the lack of food they cause. Generating fuel from food crops makes food crops unworthy of human consumption. Some people believe that being a higher priority than fuel, food should not be farmed for making fuels but for human consumption.
• Making bio-fuels require acres of farming land, thus encroaching upon the natural habitat of plants and animals.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at earth4energy.com