Probably, almost every person on Earth at least once entered into a discussion of the alternative energy of the future, wondering if this makes sense and is it worth it. The debate on this topic can be endlessly long. Now the development of alternative energy projects of the future is gaining momentum. Humanity is striving for a more comfortable and safer life. And its provision requires constant changes, discoveries and innovations. We want to live in a progressive world, while causing as little damage to the environment as possible, conserving and wisely using all kinds of resources.
Alternative energy sources of the future - fairy tale or reality?
Alternative and free energy of the future - does this sound like an attribute of science fiction, or is it an absolutely real and achievable goal for the coming years? Mankind has been engaged in research and development almost all the time of its existence. Starting from the invention of the wheel, continuing with electricity and approaching the use of the energy of the atom, people do not stop searching, creating and implementing more and more new devices, research methods and ways of functioning. Living comfortably and easily is the main goal of all these innovations and innovations.
One of such areas that can significantly change a person's life is the development of the energy of the future. Many sources are already used quite actively, some are only in general use, others are still at the development stage.
What do we know about alternative energy sources of the future?
- Solar energy.
Solar panels are now hardly anyone can be truly surprised. At the present time, this resource is used quite actively, albeit not everywhere. The mechanism of operation of such equipment is quite simple, but its price still does not allow anyone to use this type of autonomous energy supply.
Also, climatic conditions play a huge role in the productivity of solar panels. Indeed, in latitudes where most of the year is cold and cloudy, such equipment will be less effective than in hot and sunny regions.
- Wind power plants.
Another fairly popular source of alternative energy is wind. Such power plants are often found in rural areas and are often located in the fields, on the plains. The generation of electricity is carried out by converting mechanical energy into electrical. This happens thanks to special generators. The blades of windmills rotate, receiving wind energy, after which it is processed into electricity that we use.
Unfortunately, the cost of this equipment is not publicly available, and climatic conditions also play a decisive role.
- Energy of geothermal sources.
The next type of energy resources is not as widely known as the previous two. However, it also has its place. Steam from hot springs is another option for providing alternative self-contained power. The principle of operation of equipment for obtaining such energy is that the turbines are driven by steam, after which electric generators begin to function.
This method cannot be widely used, since its operation is ensured only in the presence of geothermal sources.
In areas where there is access to the sea or ocean, the energy of water is successfully used. During high and low tides, the mechanical force of the water drives special turbines installed at the station. Then it is converted into electricity.
Such power plants are not so common. They may not always pay off well enough, and in some cases they are characterized by low efficiency.
Can alternative energy be effective for a private home?
If we consider the above energy resources, they are often used on an industrial scale to generate a large amount of energy that can ensure the operation of an entire enterprise or a small settlement. But is it possible to choose alternative energy sources for the home to meet the needs of, for example, one particular area?
The answer to this question is undeniably yes! If you correctly calculate the required amount of thermal or electrical energy, then you can find a way to meet this need through autonomous sources.
What resources can be used in this case?
- Sources of electricity can be photomodules or wind turbines. When choosing this or that equipment, it is very important to assess the climate in the area where the installation is supposed to be. Also, the calculation of the required amount of equipment to meet energy needs. And also how the operation of the devices themselves will be regulated.
- As for the provision of thermal energy, it is worth paying attention to solar collectors or solid fuel boilers. In this case, choosing the second option, you should take care of the availability of fuel. As for the reservoir, its productivity will change with the advent of a particular season. In this case, heat generation will be non-uniform throughout the year.
Thus, we see that alternative energy sources for a private home can be affordable and efficient. Nevertheless, for this it is necessary to correctly carry out all preliminary studies of the area, an assessment of energy consumption, an analysis of the productivity of a particular resource and the selection of the most suitable equipment for all points and parameters. At the same time, the invested funds will benefit and pay off only if the equipment is used correctly and expediently.
What is the future of alternative energy, and does it exist?
Of course, the high cost of equipment and dependence on climatic conditions slightly slows down the wider adoption of renewable energy resources. Nevertheless, progress in this area is observed, moreover, very rapidly, even taking into account certain inconveniences and difficulties in the early stages.
Answering the question, “Does alternative energy sources have a future?”, we can say with confidence that it exists. It is important to note that this area includes not only the development of new resources, but also the optimization of existing potential. Energy generation is not a simple process in many respects and requires large investments and efforts. Therefore, in addition to the introduction of alternative energy for home or production, great attention is paid to the reconstruction old system power generation and supply.
There are different opinions regarding the development of energy in the country. Some see that alternative resources will be more and more applicable in the future, while others are of the opinion that proven and tested sources are more reliable and profitable. There is a sound note in both positions, since pros and cons, advantageous and disadvantageous sides are found in any area. Therefore, it should be noted that the most competent solution will be the cumulative and optimized use of both innovative methods and time-tested and proven resources.
According to their study, by the middle of the century, coal and oil will begin to lose their importance as energy sources, fossil fuels will be replaced by solar energy. But for this, it will be necessary to change the entire paradigm of relations within the industry - both technologies and the psychology of the players.
Big energy three
According to the experts of the "Global Energy" (they include 20 scientists from around the world, including, for example, the laureate Nobel Prize world by Rodney Allam), by 2100 the share of oil and coal in the global fuel and energy balance will be 2.1% and 0.9%, respectively, fusion energy will occupy a tenth of the market, and more than a quarter of all world electricity will be produced thanks to the sun. The reason for these changes is the gradual decline in hydrocarbon production and reorientation towards the construction of cleaner energy facilities.
The influence of different states in the energy market will also change: for example, by 2035 the United States will be the largest producer of fuel and energy resources (24%), followed by Russia (21%) and China (16%). However, in 50 years, according to experts, Russia will come out on top (19%), China will become second (18%), and the United States will "drop" to third place (17%). By 2100, however, the disposition will change again: China will take the first place (20%), while Russia and the United States will occupy the second and third lines of the rating (16% and 14%, respectively).
The experts also named the factors that, in their opinion, prevent the fuel and energy complex from developing in a “green” direction: more than a third of the scientists participating in the study noted that while alternative energy sources are too expensive, and competition from hydrocarbon and nuclear energy is high . At the same time, the image of “traditional” energy as undesirable and non-environmental is being actively formed, in addition, the modern economy requires a more efficient use of available resources, the development of waste processing and related technologies. In such a situation, according to experts, such areas as bioenergy and the development of biofuels, as well as thermonuclear reactors, will receive additional incentives for development.
The results of the study, presented by Global Energy at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, sparked a lively discussion about the future of energy in general and Russia's energy in particular. Trends are trends, but the starting positions and structure of the economy different countries(and different regions of the same country) are still different, which means that Russia, China and the United States will go their way to the top three energy leaders in the world in different ways.
Coal will be less, but more
Most experts believe that one of the prerequisites for reducing the share of hydrocarbons in the global balance is the Paris climate agreements, one of the main topics of which was the freezing of coal projects. Many banks and financial institutions announced their refusal to invest in coal mining and energy. Only four countries - Vietnam, India, Indonesia and China - have plans for large-scale construction of coal-fired power plants, although there are smaller players who do not want to abandon the development of this sector of the economy, in particular, Pakistan and Turkey. At the same time, there are ideas and projects for the revival of the coal component, taking into account new, more gentle technologies, as well as ideas for the restoration and development of solid fuel production in the Arctic territories.
One of these projects, for example, is being implemented in the Arctic zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory: one of the world's largest anthracite deposits is located on the Taimyr Peninsula, and its development began in 2015. Only in one section, the Malaya Lemberova River, the reserves of high-quality anthracite amount to about 600 million tons. By 2020, Vostok-Ugol plans to produce up to 30 million tons of anthracite per year here and ship anthracite to European countries via the Northern Sea Route.
But the Paris Agreements will most likely not have a direct impact on the oil sector, says Igor Lobovsky, president of the Global Energy Association for the Development of International Energy Research and Projects.
Significant changes will follow with the advent of the era of the widespread development of motor transport on electricity and other energy sources that are not related to hydrocarbons, experts predict such processes not earlier than 2030, so the maximum decrease in the share of hydrocarbons is predicted only by 2070, he argues. - Such a scenario is economically justified in the event of a decrease in the cost of electricity production from renewable sources - and this should indeed happen in the coming decades. For example, the 2017 Global Energy Prize winner Michael Grätzel is the inventor of the so-called "Grätzel cells" - a new generation of solar cells, the production of which is several times cheaper than the production of silicon batteries. Such inventions will allow renewable energy to develop everywhere and, as a result, significantly reduce its cost.
So the updated scenario for the development of hydrocarbon industries should be read as follows: the share of hydrocarbons in the energy sector will decrease, but consumption will grow.
We forget that today oil is increasingly used in petrochemistry, in the production of consumer goods, - says Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, - We have 9 out of 10 goods today contain refined products. And if today 11 million barrels in total goes to petrochemistry, then according to the most modest forecasts, in fifteen years, 17 million barrels will go to petrochemistry, and maybe even more, in a more accelerated mode.
Think aviation, shipping, petrochemicals, echoes Royal Dutch Shell Plc CEO Ben van Beurden. - A lot of processes require high temperature and extremely high temperature for heating. And, of course, hydrocarbons will take their place.
When will the wind blow?
The consumer needs cheap energy - this is the main factor hindering the development of alternative energy. To make renewable energy sources (RES) attractive, either a high oil price or financial support from the state or development institutions is needed.
When the price of oil reaches $100 per barrel, this sets the stage for the development of new technologies, including renewable energy, says Patrick Pouyanne, president of Total.
So far, the cost of building RES in Russia is quite high, and the installed capacity utilization factor is not as high as we would like (and not only in Russia: according to the US Energy Agency, the average capacity factor of solar stations is about 26%). This means that the cost of a kilowatt-hour for the consumer is also high. Again, construction is the last stage, it is necessary to develop our own production of solar panels and other elements. But it should be recognized that solar energy in Russia is no longer a start-up, but a fully formed industry. And its development depends on the priorities of the state.
There is a phenomenon, network parity - a point when the cost of kW/h of electricity generated in alternative energy is equal to the cost of kW/h of electricity generated in traditional energy. The dispute is - when will this happen? - says Anatoly Chubais, Chairman of the Board of Management Company RUSNANO LLC. - It has already happened in a number of countries, in Russia it will happen a little later, but it is inevitable, if only because the potential upgrade of wind and solar is much larger than the potential upgrade even in combined cycle technologies in thermal generation or hydro generation. We will definitely come to a point where alternative energy will become cheaper.
Experts predict that this will happen by 2050. According to Chubais, an absolutely efficient system of support for alternative energy has been created in Russia now, and there are no obstacles to its development. The next challenge to be solved is to find ways to store electricity industrially. And this is not a task for the long term, but for the next ten years.
However, not all experts share the optimism about the prospects for renewable energy - at least they are rather reserved in assessing the amount of renewable technologies needed by the world energy sector.
I think that humanity will encourage the use of renewable energy in some form of government subsidies. Recently, this segment has shown a significant reduction in cost and the possibility of faster implementation, - said the chairman of the committee for the award of the Global Energy Prize, Nobel laureate Rodney Allam. - Renewable energy sources will be represented by low intensity systems requiring huge areas; for them, "solar farms" in the deserts and offshore wind farms will be built. This segment of the energy sector should account for a certain percentage of the total market volume. I think 20 percent is a reasonable limit.
The future belongs to nuclear energy
According to the authors of the report, a decrease in the share of hydrocarbons is the only possible scenario for successful development civilization, the only question is when this tipping point will come. Global Energy experts believe that this could happen after 2050. Now the share of "green" energy in the world is no more than 30%. At the same time, experts include nuclear power plants, which generate about 11% of the world's electricity, to "green" energy. After all, nuclear power plants are characterized by low carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
We are on the threshold of the fourth industrial order, on the threshold of another revolution. This is the time of horizontal connections, digital informatics, artificial intelligence, the time of selling and buying. life cycles, not a specific object. Nuclear energy, like no other, corresponds to the role of a moderator of this process, - believes CEO"Rosatom" Alexey Likhachev.
One of the main problems of nuclear energy is not technological, but psychological: Chernobyl, Fukushima, nuclear weapons tests - in general, there is reason for concern and mistrust.
An important condition for the development of nuclear energy is social acceptance. In order for nuclear energy to emerge in a country, society must accept it, says Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Whatever scenarios for the development of the energy sector are built, one thing remains unchanged in them: the consumption of electricity in the world will grow. The population of the Earth is increasing, the demands of mankind are growing: over the past hundred years, we have consumed more energy than in the entire previous history from the creation of the world. At the same time, more than a billion people on the planet still do not have access to electricity!
According to scientists, by 2050 another 2.5 billion more people will live on Earth, the decentralization of energy and the construction of small capacities will give access to this resource to a much larger number of people and improve their quality of life. This means that the demand for electricity will increase again. This is where nuclear power comes in: highly productive, with low emissions of air pollutants and unlimited fuel supplies. At the same time, we are talking not only about fossil uranium, but also about spent nuclear fuel in storage: fuel assemblies have exhausted their resource by no more than four percent, and this is a huge resource for recycling. Not to mention the fact that reprocessing fuel from spent nuclear fuel makes it possible to solve the problem of irreversible disposal of weapons-grade plutonium and close the production cycle by using up the entire resource of nuclear fuel.
A special way of Siberia
According to an agreement between the United States and Russia, each of the countries must dispose of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium, and the start of this work was scheduled for 2018. But so far, only Russia has the technology to produce the so-called MOX fuel: the world's first plant for its production is located in Zheleznogorsk (former Krasnoyarsk-26), at the facilities of the Mining and Chemical Combine, which is part of Rosatom.
It is important to standardize industrial safety requirements in different jurisdictions and countries in order to create a safe nuclear power industry, says Pekka Lundmark, president of the energy corporation Fortum Corporation. - I believe that nuclear energy will play a key role, but not as a single technology, but in combination with solar energy, hydropower and environmentally friendly biofuels. However, in order for nuclear power to remain competitive and continue to play an important role in the future, it also needs modernization.
At the same time, Siberia may well become a trendsetter in nuclear energy. Experts are inclined to think that this particular energy sector will be the leader in the region.
The Siberian region has all the possibilities for the development of nuclear energy, providing a full nuclear cycle from the extraction and processing of uranium raw materials and the manufacture of fuel assemblies to the disposal of irradiated nuclear fuel, which can ensure and optimize the operation of modern nuclear power plants, - says Igor Lobovsky. - In the long term, it is possible to solve the energy problems of the Siberian region at the expense of nuclear energy sources, in particular, through the construction of modern nuclear power plants with VVER-1300 type reactors. Yes, in accordance with the agreement between Russia and the United States to stop the production of weapons-grade plutonium, all nuclear reactors at the Siberian NPP were shut down in 2008, but Seversk retained a developed infrastructure and human resources, and this will significantly speed up and reduce the cost of building a new nuclear power plant, which is currently postponed until 2020.
However, efficiency, capacity factor, prime cost, availability, manufacturability are far from all the requirements that are imposed on the energy of the future. And this is also a challenge.
I would like the energy of the future to be invisible - in the sense that we should not see its negative consequences, it should be safe, - says Alexander Shokhin, President of the RSPP, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Global Energy Association. - Ecological negative impact, including in the same nuclear and even hydropower and thermal power should be minimal, and safety - maximum. I believe that the main criterion is not what, for example, what share will be in renewable energy sources, but precisely that all types of energy should be safe and efficient.
It's hard to argue.
In recent years, alternative energy has become the subject of intense interest and fierce debate. Threatened by climate change and the fact that average global temperatures continue to rise every year, the drive to find forms of energy that will reduce dependence on fossil fuels, coal and other pollutants environment processes, has naturally grown.
While most of the concepts are not new, it is only in the last few decades that this question has finally become relevant. Thanks to improvements in technology and manufacturing, the cost of most forms of alternative energy has come down while efficiency has gone up. What is alternative energy, in simple and understandable terms, and what is the likelihood that it will become the main one?
Obviously, there remains some controversy as to what "alternative energy" means and what the phrase can apply to. On the one hand, this term can be attributed to forms of energy that do not lead to an increase in the carbon footprint of humanity. Therefore, it can include nuclear facilities, hydroelectric power plants, and even natural gas and "clean coal".
On the other hand, the term is also used to refer to what is currently considered non-traditional methods energy - solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and other recent additions. This kind of classification excludes energy extraction methods such as hydroelectric power plants, which have been around for more than a hundred years and are quite common in some regions of the world.
Another factor is that alternative energy sources must be "clean", not producing harmful pollutants. As already noted, this most often means carbon dioxide, but it can also refer to other emissions - carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and others. By these parameters, nuclear energy is not considered an alternative source of energy because it produces radioactive waste that is highly toxic and must be stored appropriately.
In all cases, however, the term is used to refer to the types of energy that will replace fossil fuels and coal as the dominant form of energy production in the next decade.
Types of alternative energy sources
Strictly speaking, there are many types of alternative energy. Again, this is where the definitions hit a dead end, because in the past “alternative energy” was used to refer to methods that were not considered essential or reasonable. But if you take the definition in a broad sense, it will include some or all of these points:
Hydropower. This is the energy generated by hydroelectric dams when falling and flowing water (in rivers, canals, waterfalls) passes through a device that turns turbines and generates electricity.
Nuclear power. The energy that is produced in the process of delayed fission reactions. Uranium rods or other radioactive elements heat up water, turning it into steam, and the steam turns turbines, generating electricity.
Energy that is obtained directly from the Sun; (usually consisting of a silicon substrate, lined up in large arrays) convert the sun's rays directly into electrical energy. In some cases, the heat produced by sunlight is also used to generate electricity, this is known as solar thermal energy.
Wind energy. Energy generated by air flow; giant wind turbines spin under the influence of the wind and generate electricity.
geothermal energy. This energy is generated by heat and steam produced by geological activity in earth's crust. In most cases, pipes are placed in the ground above geologically active zones, passing steam through turbines, thus generating electricity.
Tidal energy. Tidal currents along coastlines can also be used to generate electricity. The daily change in tides causes water to flow through the turbines back and forth. Electricity is generated and transferred to onshore power plants.
Biomass. This applies to fuels that are obtained from plants and biological sources - ethanol, glucose, algae, fungi, bacteria. They could replace gasoline as a fuel source.
Hydrogen. Energy derived from processes involving hydrogen gas. These include catalytic converters, in which water molecules are broken apart and recombined during electrolysis; hydrogen fuel cells, in which the gas is used to power an internal combustion engine or to turn a heated turbine; or nuclear fusion, in which hydrogen atoms fuse under controlled conditions, releasing incredible amounts of energy.
Alternative and renewable energy sources
In many cases, alternative energy sources are also renewable. However, the terms are not completely interchangeable as many forms of alternative energy sources rely on a limited resource. For example, nuclear power relies on uranium or other heavy elements that must first be mined.
At the same time, wind, solar, tidal, geothermal and hydroelectric power rely on sources that are completely renewable. The rays of the sun are the most abundant source of energy of all and, although limited by weather and time of day, are industrially inexhaustible. The wind isn't going away either, thanks to changes in pressure in our atmosphere and the rotation of the Earth.
Development
Currently, alternative energy is still experiencing its youth. But this picture is rapidly changing under the influence of processes of political pressure, worldwide environmental disasters (droughts, famines, floods) and improvements in renewable energy technologies.
For example, as of 2015, the world's energy needs were still predominantly supplied by coal (41.3%) and natural gas (21.7%). Hydroelectric power plants and nuclear energy accounted for 16.3% and 10.6%, respectively, while "renewable energy sources" (solar, wind, biomass, etc.) - only 5.7%.
This has changed a lot since 2013, when global consumption of oil, coal and natural gas was 31.1%, 28.9% and 21.4% respectively. Nuclear and hydroelectric power accounted for 4.8% and 2.45%, while renewable sources accounted for just 1.2%.
In addition, there has been an increase in the number of international agreements to curb the use of fossil fuels and the development of alternative energy sources. For example, the Renewable Energy Directive, signed by the European Union in 2009, which set targets for the use of renewable energy for all member states by 2020.
At its core, this agreement implies that the EU will meet at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewable energy by 2020 and at least 10% of transport fuel. In November 2016, the European Commission revised these targets and set a 27% minimum renewable energy consumption by 2030.
Some countries have become leaders in the development of alternative energy. For example, in Denmark, wind energy provides up to 140% of the country's electricity needs; surpluses are shipped to neighboring countries, Germany and Sweden.
Iceland, due to its location in the North Atlantic and its active volcanoes, achieved 100% renewable energy dependence as early as 2012 through a combination of hydropower and geothermal energy. In 2016, Germany adopted a policy to phase out dependence on oil and nuclear power.
The long-term prospects for alternative energy are extremely positive. According to a 2014 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), photovoltaic solar power and solar thermal power will account for 27% of global demand by 2050, making it the largest source of energy. Perhaps, thanks to advances in synthesis, fossil fuel sources will be hopelessly obsolete by 2050.
The idea of using alternative energy sources has come a long way of development, but they have been seriously talked about as a replacement for traditional power plants relatively recently. Energy of the future is an ambiguous concept. This area is actively developing in different directions. Some of them are at the stage of laboratory testing, some are already being applied in practice.
solar energy
Among all energies, considerable hopes are pinned on solar energy. The first working technologies appeared in the 70s of the last century. Today, solar power plants are already being used in practice, although the share of energy they generate is not large. The main advantages of solar energy are the use of renewable resources and the simplicity of the principle of operation. The disadvantage is the considerable cost of equipment and dependence on climatic conditions.
The use is well suited for power supply to remote areas where there are difficulties with laying cables, rural areas. Small ones can even be used as an autonomous power plant for a particular house.
wind energy
Another direction that can become an alternative to traditional
energy. For the first time, interest in this source of energy arose in the 70s of the last century, in connection with the oil crisis. A decade has passed, and in rural areas of Europe, India, China, wind power generators have been launched.
The generation of electricity in such power plants is carried out due to the rotation of the blades connected to the generator. A large power plant, equipped with powerful turbines, is able to provide basic energy supply needs. Small turbines and windmills can be used as autonomous power generators. The disadvantages of wind energy are the same as those of solar energy - dependence on climatic conditions, high cost of equipment.
In fairness, it should be noted that very successful work is being done to overcome the climate dependence of alternative power plants. Power plants have already been developed that can store energy even in low light conditions.
The basis is the use of hot springs. The source steam is sent to the turbine, which, by its movement, drives the electric generators. Similar stations are already operating in 24 countries around the world. The first of them was opened back in 1904 in the city of Larderello in Italy. Since geothermal sources are the source of energy in such stations, they can only be used in the locations of the latter, which is a considerable limitation in order to consider this method as the energy of the future.
The energy of the oceans
The oceans cover a significant part of the surface of the globe, and the possibility of using this huge inexhaustible resource could be an excellent alternative to traditional hydrocarbon energy. The principle of operation of tidal power plants is as follows. The tide area is divided by the dam into two zones. During high and low tide, water moves through these zones, rotating turbines.
With all its advantages, tidal energy has limitations in its use. Building a power plant in the high tide zone will require significant capital investments. In order for a considerable investment to be able to pay off, the station must generate a large amount of energy, which means that the distance between the two pools must be at least five meters. This limitation immediately makes the widespread construction of power plants on the coast of the seas and oceans impossible, since according to the criterion of economic feasibility of building on earth, there are only about 40 places where the power plant will really be effective.
Once upon a time, the possibility of using hydrogen as an energy source was considered almost a panacea for the development of the industry. This attitude determined the advantages of hydrogen energy. The basis for obtaining energy is the reaction of hydrogen, during which heat and water are released, electricity is generated. The method is environmentally friendly. The source of energy is available and inexhaustible. Hydrogen energy is characterized by high efficiency.
The problem, as always, is the huge investments needed to implement such projects. Another important problem is the lack of technology to control the temperature generated during hydrogen reactions. Until such technologies are developed, there is no need to talk about the widespread use of hydrogen as an energy source.
What's in the future
The above industries are far from the only areas in which active development is underway. To date, they are the most studied and put into operation in practice, unlike, for example, complex technologies of thermonuclear fusion, cold nuclear fusion, etc. Some areas, on the contrary, have long been successfully used as autonomous sources, but developments there are no technologies that allow them to become an alternative to traditional energy. An example of such areas is vortex generators, which are declared pseudoscience with enviable regularity, despite considerable experience in practical use.
In any case, it is not necessary to say that now there are technologies that can completely displace hydrocarbons as the main source of energy. In the USA and European countries, there is a long (more than 20 years) practice of introducing energy technologies based on energy technologies, but there is no need to talk about the complete replacement of traditional technologies with "green" ones. Currently, alternative energy sectors are perfect solution for power supply of remote and hard-to-reach areas, countryside.
The biggest problem in the implementation of alternative methods is the huge investment in the construction of stations, the need to use high-tech, expensive equipment to capture the flow of energy and its conversion and accumulation.
It is currently impossible to integrate alternative power plants into the existing power grid. Methods have not yet been developed to coordinate the production and consumption of energy. Solar, wind, tidal and other similar power plants are unregulated, so they should account for no more than 15% of the total power grid capacity. In the total share of the world energy balance, non-traditional energy sources account for about 3%. These figures look very modest, but it is with such power plants that the future of energy is increasingly being associated.
In the event that there is a transition from the base to the distributed load of electricity, alternative energy will take its rightful place. Decentralization of energy production and energy supply will not only increase the competitiveness of alternative sources, but will allow them to take the main place in the system.
The idea of using the waves of the sea to generate energy is not exactly new: a patent application for a wave mill was filed as early as 1799. At the end of the 19th century, they learned how to convert the kinetic energy of waves into electricity - and only in 2008 the first wave power plant was launched in Portugal. Its capacity was small - only 2.25 MW - but the potential of wave energy was appreciated, and now similar projects are being created in a dozen countries, including Russia.
According to scientists, in the future, wave energy will be more profitable than wind energy (the specific power of waves is an order of magnitude higher than the specific power of wind), and the countries adjacent to the seas will be able to generate up to 5% of electricity through waves.
Virus Energy
Imagine, viruses - microscopic pests that carry diseases - can be a good source of energy. Scientists from the Lawrence National Laboratory (USA) managed to adapt them for such use. The bacteriophage virus they modified, called M13, creates an electric charge when touching a surface “infected” with it. In other words, to get electricity from it, it is enough to swipe your finger, for example, on the screen of a smartphone - that's business! True, the maximum charge that scientists managed to achieve from the M13 was a quarter of an AAA battery. However, this was only the first breakthrough in microenergy: scientists believe that its potential is much greater.
Biofuel from algae
Another equally inventive solution was the use of aquatic vegetation as fuel. The energy obtained in this way can hardly be compared in volume with the energy obtained from oil and gas production, but it will be able to solve the problem of pollution of water bodies, which is becoming more and more acute in a number of countries every year. Let's say Japan. The country's government annually allocates considerable sums for cleaning the shores from algae - their processing will at least recoup the money spent.
How does algae turn into fuel? First of all, the collected vegetation is placed in a tank. Then, with the help of special bacteria, the fermentation process starts in it. During fermentation, methane is released, which is eventually sent to an electric generator.
As you understand, the energy obtained from algae is not enough to try to provide it with residential buildings - however, it is many times greater than the energy of all other sources of biological fuel and is relatively easy to extract. This means that it will be used more and more often.
Energy potential of the oceans
Wave energy and algae are just some of the sources of energy available from the ocean. The rest are less popular - but no less promising:
Tidal energy. For its production, tidal power plants are used. Similar installations already exist in a dozen countries, including Russia. According to scientists, this source is slightly inferior to wave energy.
Current energy. Can you imagine how much energy, say, the Gulf Stream could generate? And don't try: a lot. So far, the United Kingdom and the United States are developing this direction. In the United States, by the way, a turbine with a capacity of 400 kW has already been developed.
The energy of the temperature gradient of sea water. Or simply energy derived from the difference between water temperature at the surface and at depth. Relatively new source, researched mainly by the USA. The potential has not yet been fully explored.
osmotic energy. Also called the energy of diffusion of liquids, it is obtained at the points of mixing of salt and fresh water. The only such power plant at the moment is built in Norway.
Do not forget about the so-called energy of the water flow. Nothing new: it is the hydroelectric power stations you know that are producing it.
The energy of the earth's interior
Oil and gas aren't the only things worth drilling into the ground: geothermal energy, or the energy of the earth's interior, may one day be able to compete with them. To obtain it, geothermal stations are used. Installed near volcanoes, such installations successfully supply energy to Iceland, Japan, Indonesia and a number of other countries. At the same time, they do not use magma itself: boiling water, like the one that breaks out to the surface in geysers, provides energy.
The energy potential of the subsoil is not as high as that of the above sources. But this type of energy is suitable for landlocked countries.
Fusion energy
No matter how much alternative energy uses natural processes occurring on the planet, the most powerful source of energy will be completely man-made. It will be ITER - the International Experimental Thermonuclear Reactor capable of recreating the processes occurring inside stars.
Initially, the launch of ITER was planned for 2016, but now the dates have been shifted to the beginning of the 30s. Moreover, it will be possible to connect the installation to the power grid by 2040 at best. However, the result is worth waiting for: the energy released during thermonuclear fusion should be enough for several countries.
