There are a lot of energy resources which are going largely untapped. If we could develop the necessary technologies to take advantage of these resources, we could begin to move away from fossil fuels and indeed, the existing electrical grid by using these alternative sources of energy.

One of these alternatives is wind power. The development of wind turbines continues to progress, with each new generation being more cost efficient; “wind farms” have begun to be used in many countries and these have been placed better than in the past, when they were often a threat to migratory birds.

One of the better known alternative energy sources is of course solar energy. The energy given off by the sun can be stored in fuel cells to generate electricity; and the sun’s heat can also be use to heat water for use in our homes. Solar energy, like wind power, does not create any pollution whatsoever.

Many governments and private investors are looking too ocean waves as being a potentially great source of energy. There is one generator which has been in use in France for sometime now with great success. In Ireland and the U.K., there are experimental generators in use as well.

Hydroelectric power is not exactly a new idea; however, it is an effective means of generating clean electrical power. Of course, not every location can benefit from electrical power since this requires having a large dam. There have been small, local dams built in many places, but of course these can not generate the amount of power that a large river and dam can.

Geothermal energy has a lot of potential. This is an energy source which lies largely untapped right under our feet – the heat of the Earth’s core turns water into steam, which can drive turbines to produce electrical power. More research and development must be done on geothermal power, but there is great promise here.

Waste gas energy is a novel idea which turns the usual energy/waste paradigm on its head. Methane gas, usually seen as a waste product can be used to charge fuel cells and even replace gasoline in generators.

Ethanol, a gasoline substitute made from vegetable matter including corn, sugarcane and even wood chips is somewhat controversial – many doubt that it can really become a serious replacement for petroleum based fuels since it requires a large amount of raw materials which would otherwise generally be a food source; however, ethanol extraction is in a continual state of improvement and may become more viable in the future.

Biodiesel is made from plant oils. Biodiesel has been made from sunflower, rapeseed and soybean oils. Biodiesel is not generally produced on an industrial scale, but some corporations are starting to take interest. This fuel creates far fewer pollutants than do petroleum based fuels.

Atomic energy is generated through nuclear fission. It is a very cost effective means of generating electric power, but there are concerns over the radioactive waste which is it s byproduct, since it takes centuries for this material to become harmless.