There are many possible energy sources which are as yet underexploited. With more effort put into research and development, these sources could help us to break free of our dependence on fossil fuels and have clean, abundant energy.
One such source is wind power. This is an old idea, but one which has developed to the point where it is a cost effective energy source. Some countries have begun building “wind farms” to harness this energy - out of the paths of migratory birds; which has been a problem in the past.
One of the better known alternative energy sources is solar energy. Solar energy involves using solar cells which can store the energy received from the sun and transform this into electricity (or sometimes, the heat is used to heat water for homes). Solar energy, like wind power, creates no pollution.
Governments and investors are looking into the possibilities of ocean wave energy. Already successfully in use in France and in the experimental phase in Ireland and the U.K., this may prove to be a growing source of energy in the future.
Hydroelectric power is not a new technology of course, but is a very efficient and pollution free method of producing electric power. However, this is not a solution for every location since not every area can boast of a large river and dam to put this power to work. Small hydroelectric power plants have been springing up to serve regional needs however.
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 energies, namely methane are an alternative energy source which changes the usual energy-pollution paradigm by actually creating energy from a waste gas. This gas can be harnessed by fuel cells and even in gasoline generators.
Ethanol, a substitute for gasoline, is produced from plant matter. While corn-based ethanol is what generally comes to mind, Ethanol can be made from almost any vegetable matter. While some doubt that it can be efficiently produced to become a replacement for gasoline on a large scale, the extraction technologies are constantly becoming more efficient and sophisticated.
A cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum based fuels; biodiesel is made from plant oils such as rapeseed, sunflower and soybean oils. While not produced on a large commercial scale as of yet, many companies are looking onto the possibility of doing so.
Atomic energy is created through nuclear fission. This is an efficient and cost effective means of energy production; but there is some concern about the waste product, which is toxic and radio active and takes hundreds of years to become inert.