Running head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Alternative Energies: A Review of Literature

Gabriel Akonom
University of Texas at El Paso

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract
As the power demands of humans grow more and more fierce, humanity finds itself asking many
questions on what the future holds in the generation of electricity. The question on whether we
will continue to use the fossil fuels we use now or change to something different is the most
prominent question to examine. Many people have turned to the idea of Alternative Energies,
also known as Renewable Resources as a solution to this problem, however, others deny there is
a problem at all. There are some that believe that pumping money into Alternative Energies such
as Wind, Solar, and Wave Technologies (among others) is foolish and serves only to pad the
pockets of politicians. Still others believe that there has to be some, more immediate solution to
this growing problem. There is an entire industry developing around the idea of Alternative
Energy, or Green Energy, and there is much to gain and lose in the development. In any light,
the world simply cannot seem to keep from discussing the problems and possible solutions to the
energy crisis. This report will discuss the solutions, the arguments, and the supporters in the
great debate surrounding Alternative Energies.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Alternative Energies: A Review of Literature

The discussion about Alternative Energy in America really became a public concern in 1977,
with an address by President Jimmy Carter. Carter warned of an impending doom that would
befall the world if we did not act fast to replace oil as our main energy-producing agent. Carter
announced to the nation, World oil production can probably keep going up for another 6 or 8
years. But sometime in the 1980s, it cant go up any more. Demand will overtake production.
We have no choice about that, If we fail to act soon, we will face an economic, social, and
political crisis that will threaten our free institutions.(Eddlem, n.d.). Even before this speech by
Jimmy Carter, professionals already identified that the oil supply would eventually run out. In
fact, fear campaigns formed around the idea of running out of oil have been around since the
1920s. In 1924, after a massive campaign against the continued rate of oil consumption,
President Calvin Coolidge convened a Federal Oil Conservation Board. America has been
keenly aware of this problem for almost 100 years and today the debate has started to spin in a
new direction. In addition to the argument that fossil fuels will dry up, the new environmentalist
argument has risen. This new idea, that the burning of fossil fuels is killing our planet at an
alarming rate, has been associated with Global Warming, the Polar Ice Caps melting, and the
terrible hurricanes we have seen in the last decade. For these reasons, Alternative energies have
emerged as the sought-after solution to the energy crisis. While Solar, Wind, and Wave
Technologies are effective at delivering electricity, these solutions have many drawbacks. It may
take several more years, and billions more dollars in Government grants to get these solutions off
the ground. This solution of Alternative Energies may not be the most effective solution but
there are others. The debate of Alternative Energy (whether we actually need, what it would

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

cost, how we should implement it, etc.) is an intricate one, and can be reviewed more in depth by
answering these four questions:
1. What are the current alternative energy solutions and what are the arguments for and
against them?
2. What are some facts about the current energy solutions and what are the facts supporting
them or degrading them?
3. Who is supporting the current alternative energy solutions and who is against them?
4. What is the best solution for meeting our growing needs, Alternative energy or something
else?
What are the current alternative energy solutions and what are the arguments for and
against them?
There are many different solutions that claim to answer the question about what we are to
do about our energy future, but only a few that hold the main spotlight for widespread solutions.
Solar Power, Wind Power, and Wave Power are the three main alternative energies that the
world is mostly focusing on. Solar Power is a promising solution that uses the light from the sun
and transforms it into electricity. Solar Power has been around in small venues since the 1950s
but only recently gained national traction. If harnessed correctly, Solar Power has enormous
potential. Scientists surmised that a single days worth of sunlight, if properly harnessed and
converted, could supply the entire energy needs of the United States for two years, and that the
daily dose of solar energy outpaced that of the worlds entire fossil fuel energy by a ratio of
1,000 to one. (Gale Group, 2011). Unfortunately, Solar Power tends to be very expensive and
the technology to harness it correctly does not yet exist, yielding transfer percentages of between

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

12-15%. Compared to the cost, that benefit is often not worth the large investment, which slows
widespread adoption. Still, the industry continues to grow on the back of Government stimulus
bills and growing need. According to Clean Edge Inc., the solar photovoltaics industry
(modules, system components, and installation) was worth $29.6 billion in 2008, but was
forecast to grow to $80.6 billion in 10 years (2018). (Gale Group, 2011).

http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/solar-infographic-lg.jpg

Wind Power is another up-and-coming technology in the world this day in age. Wind
power generally consists of turbines with blades that are forced to spin as the wind blows
through them, therefore creating electricity. This technology is very promising, but again is too
expensive without government subsidies and is limited for use only in areas with constant wind.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

One of the challenges to meeting 20% of the nations electricity demand with wind energy is
moving the electricity from the often remote areas where it is produced to the nations urban load
centers.(U.S. Department of Energy, 2009)
Another Alternative Energy, Wave Power, promises to harness the ebb and flow of the
ocean and its currents to produce electricity. Contrary to Wind and Solar Power, which
generally are limited to one type of collection method, Wave Power has a multitude of different
techniques to produce electricity. Marine energy devices are generally classified first by their
resource type and next by their method of energy capture. [The devices] are subdivided into
several categories including, point absorbers, attenuators, and two kinds of terminators;
overtopping and oscillating water column.(Musial, 2008) All of these types of devices can be
used in conjunction in the ocean to provide a constant source of power. The problems with
Wave Power, however, are similar to the other energies with some added ones. The equipment
needed requires more maintenance due to the extreme ocean environments. Also, all of the
devices need to be able to withstand oceanic storms, both of these issues result in higher costs.
The good news for the future however, is that Wave Power is comparatively in its infancy, so
developments are expected to occur.
What are some facts about the current energy solutions and what are the facts supporting
them or degrading them
Solar, Wind and Wave Power Technologies all provide vast benefit over the traditional
Fossil Fuels we use today. There are also, unfortunately, some drawbacks to each type of
technology. Solar Power (also known as Photovoltaic or PV Power) was first experimented with
in 1839 by a French physicist named Edmond Becquerel. That first cell transformed about 1%

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

of the sunlight it captured into electricity. Since then, scientists have been working hard to try
and increase the efficiency rating of the Solar Cells, eventually getting up to around 15%
conversion. In 2008, PV Panels accounted for 1% of the electrical generation in the United
States. The biggest drawback to the widespread adoption of Solar Panels is the consistently high
costs in comparison to traditional methods. It was not until the 1990s that Solar Panels were
even considered as a viable energy production method in the business world. During those
years, the cost of Solar Panels plummeted by 50%. As technological advances continue, the
speculation is that the cost will be further reduced. In addition to technological advances, the
Government has stepped in to help increase the demand and drive down the cost of Solar Power
Technologies. The Clinton administration took a role in the attempt to convert to efficient
energy with the issuance of Executive Order 13123 along with the Million Solar Roofs Initiative,
which aimed at adding solar power systems to one million buildings throughout the United States
by 2010. The Million Solar Roofs Initiative offered a 15 percent tax credit with a $1,000 cap for
solar thermal panels and a $2,000 cap for photovoltaic (PV) panels.(Gale Group, 2011). So
with the help of the Government, Solar Power has a chance to become a much more widespread
energy solution, as long as research continues to reduce cost and increase efficiency.
Wind Technology has a similar story as PV Panels and Solar Power, as in the cost keeps
it from really being adopted. Since the 1980s Wind Power has grown increasingly more viable,
and has been more and more integrated into our energy production methods. In 1992, the U.S.
Department of Energy got involved by outlining a program that would increase the use of Wind
Power across the United States. States that had major units installed included Nebraska, New
York, Vermont, Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Alaska. By 2003 wind power was the fastest

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

growing segment in the energy generation industry, with annual 20 percent increases predicted
through 2008.(Gale Group, 2011). In 2008, Wind Power celebrated a record number of units
installed. According to initial estimates, the new wind projects completed in 2008 account for
about 40% of all new U.S. power- producing capacity added last year.(U.S. Department of
Energy, 2009). Even with the efforts by the U. S. Government, the problems remain. The cost
of Wind Energy is still high and the places to put big wind farms only exist in certain regions,
which causes the problem of cheap distribution to the rest of the country.
Wave Energy is one of the other emerging alternative energies the world is currently
employing. There are many projects in place that vow to increase the amount of Wave Power
available in the future. The industry has established, as a target for 2050, an installed capacity
of 188 GW and 460 GW for ocean energy (wave and tidal) (Prez-Collazo, Greaves, &
Iglesias, 2015). Wave Power uses devices often called Wave Energy Converters (WECs) to
transform the energy found in the oceanic waves into electrical energy. As stated before, there
are many different types of these devices, categorized by how they collect the energy. Wave
Power is relatively infantile in comparison to the other types of Alternative Energies, but
promises high yields as long as the technology continues to develop and the issues can be
worked through. If [solving these issues is] successful, wave energy not only can cover the
electricity demand for decades to come but also support development of ecosystems in the sea
bed and even support purification of sea water into clean, drinkable water.(Ilyas, Kashif, Saqib,
& Asad, 2014). In the current position, the wave energy industry is passing the so-called valley
of death in technology development and beginning to acquire the necessary experience to reduce
its energy costs; (Prez-Collazo et al., 2015) Wave Power is not without its drawbacks though.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Due to the extreme ocean environments, the materials that are needed to build the equipment
need to be able to withstand heavy corrosion and extreme ocean storms.

This proves not only

to challenge the checkbook of investors but challenges the Engineers as well. However, since
the variations in forces and power involved are huge the system must provide electricity at
average ocean climate and also survive extreme storms. So the major challenge is to provide a
system which is economical and also strong enough to survive the extreme ocean climates.
(Ilyas et al., 2014) Also, these systems require maintenance that can be quite expensive.
Maintenance being expensive, time-consuming and risky should be minimized to preferably
annual inspections or even less than that.(Ilyas et al., 2014)
Who is supporting the current alternative energy solutions and who is against them.
Alternative Energies offer many benefits to the electrical industry by solving many
different problems, and are also known to be better for the environment. So why would anyone
have any problems with these technologies? There are several parties who have consistently
worked towards halting progress in Alternative Energies. The mounting concern about energy
security has been a big part of the progress towards lifting the Alternative Energy technologies
off of the ground. The idea that the United States is bound to political action in the countries that
we import oil from is a large concern. The United States sometimes finds itself in the precarious
situation of having to influence politics in the areas from which we obtain coal, oil and natural
gas. Currently, oil and natural gas account for about 63% of the energy consumed (EIA,
2007c). The US obtains less than half (40%) of its oil from domestic fields (EIA, 2008a), while
the rest is imported from foreign sources, for a large part the Middle East (EIA, 2008b). This
makes the US vulnerable to events and conflicts in the countries it imports from and ties its

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

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foreign policy in terms of forcing interest in specific parts of the world because of energy
consumption patterns. (Bang, 2010) As stated, there has been progress in the Government,
however it has been slow. The status quo is difficult to change in the US Government and not all
parties agree on how to change it.
Policy- makers agree on the goal of increasing energy independence. They do not,
however, agree on the means by which to achieve this goal. Only after a decade of
deliberations did politicians manage to pass the Energy Policy Act in 2005, and the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 only passed after compromises had
watered it down. (Bang, 2010)
This Act works towards energy independence in the US by providing a framework for the US to
start transitioning to renewable Alternative Energies. Unfortunately for the fossil fuel industry
however, this could lead to a drastic decrease in local purchasing and an overall smaller bottom
line as 86% of the USs energy is produced from fossil fuels. (Bang, 2010)
In addition to people concerned about energy security, environmentalists are itching for
renewable resources to become more widespread. They believe that the burning of fossil fuels
contributes to the destruction of our planet. Greenpeace is an organization that fights
vehemently for this idea. From the Greenpeace website: Faced with the choice of deadly, dirty,
dangerous energy like coal, oil and nuclear power, or safe, clean and renewable power, what
would you decide? Renewable energy, smartly used, can and will meet our demands. No oil
spills, no climate change, no radiation danger, no nuclear waste simply energy we can trust.
We can achieve a world with 100% renewable energy. (Climate Change | Greenpeace
International, n.d.). According to a survey done in 2014 by Gabriel Akonom, of 100 people

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

asked if we need to replace our current energies with alternative ones, 56% said yes, and 52%
supported the idea of using legislation to do it. On the other hand, in that same survey, the
respondents were asked if they believe that humans are responsible for Global Warming. The
majority, 42% expressed that they were unsure, only 26% firmly agreed, and 29% of people
firmly disagreed. It is unclear as to which parties are responsible for the slow-moving progress
of the Alternative Energy movement. Some speculate that it is politicians who receive large
contributions from the fossil fuel industries. Others speculate that businesses cannot reconcile
switching to Alternative Energies quite yet as an effective business model, and that is why it is
being delayed. Perhaps only history will be able to tell.
What is the best solution for meeting our growing needs, Alternative energy or something
else?
The current Alternative Energies, by themselves offer good options for reducing our
dependence on fossil fuels but no one solution is best. The ideal solution would be a way that
can incorporate all of these technologies, as well as adjust for future potentially beneficial
technologies. In this arena, the Smart Grid answers the call. The Smart Grid is a distribution
system that incorporates electrical generation and distribution with online, internet-connected
capability. Whilst there is no universal definition of what makes an electricity distribution grid
smart, Xenias et al. (2014) define the main features of a smart grid as an energy network that
can: manage embedded suppliers, communicate between the producers and users of electricity,
utilize ICT to respond to and manage demand, and ensure safe and secure electricity
distribution (Hall & Foxon, 2014) This allows for utilities and operators to have much more
finite control over the power distribution throughout the country. In addition, by connection the

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

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power grid to the computer, many fine-tuning adjustments that were previously made by hand,
can now be accurately and quickly automated. Using a system like this, the variable output
nature of the common Alternative Energies can be compensated and balanced allowing for more
useful integration. Batteries and capacitor banks can be used via automated computer processes
to stabilize the power being distributed and power can be automatically re-directed from lowdemand areas to high-demand areas. Traditional power systems face challenges integrating
distributed energy resources (DERs) including solar, wind and combined heat and power (CHP).
The difficulties in monitoring and controlling distributed electricity generated from these sources
and their intermittent nature can destabilize the grid. (Jackson, 2014) A system such as the
Smart Grid would be able to effectively use all renewable resource Alternative Energies and
would be able to adjust to future technologies.
Conclusion/Synthesis
Alternative Energies such as Solar, Wind and Wave Power offer long-term and
independent replacements to the current energy-producing methods used in the United States.
Solar power, harnessing power from the sun, if done correctly provides vast amounts of
electricity, but to get to that point the industry will have to work hard to improve the technology.
Wind Power, transforming the wind to electrical power through the use of turbines, is a widely
deployable solution that is very promising, but there are many problems to solve with this
technology as well, such as transmitting the energy long distances from the remote windy sites to
the population centers. Finally, Wave Power can harness the power of the oceanic waves and
currents to produce electricity, but the distribution distance is limited to near-ocean communities,
and the equipment built in the oceans will need to be corrosion and storm resistant which drives

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

up costs. These solutions are actively being supported and pushed by not only the US
Government but also organizations like Greenpeace who support an environmentalist approach
to Alternative Energy. The technologies involved in Alternative Energy, while all good in their
own right, cannot be used alone in hopes to change the Energy footprint in the United States.
The current distribution systems in place cannot adjust for Alternative Energies. A system that
will connect these technologies, such as the Smart Grid must be employed to manage and
distribute the electricity produced by these alternative methods. Only then can these energies be
effectively used to replace fossil fuels permanently as the main energy-producing source

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

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