Alternative Renewable Electricity Generation

Renewable energy is the name given to energy that comes from the natural flows of energy on earth. Unlike coal, oil and gas, renewable energy will not run out. There are many types of renewable energy using resources such as water, crops, and waste. This page will focus on the two most-known types: wind and solar.

Wind Power

We live in the windiest part of the country and Kansas is the third windiest state. Electricity generation from wind is a logical investment. Wind is a renewable source, wind power is pollution free, and the electricity is produced on site, so there are no processing plants or transportation issues as there are with coal.

Currently in the US over half of the energy produced comes from coal fired power plants which places a heavy strain on the environment. Coal fired power plants are dirty and emit toxins that negatively affect the health of humans.

Today, less than 1% of the nation's energy is supplied by wind power. However, wind power is on the uprise. In September 2006, Kansas City Power and Light announced the opening of its new wind energy facility in Spearville, KS. The site has 67 turbines that are capable of generating enough electricity for 30,000 homes.

How wind energy is generated:

1. Wind causes blades to rotate
2. Shaft turns generator to produce electrical energy
3. A transformer turns electrical energy into high-voltage electricity
4. Electricity is transmitted via the power grid

Solar Power

There are two kinds of solar power available to homeowners:

• Solar heating
• Solar electricity or photovoltaic
  
  

Solar heating can be used to heat spaces in the home or water for domestic hot water use. There is active solar heating in which collectors gather the sun's radiant energy and convert it to heat for space or water heating. There is also passive solar heating in which a home is carefully designed and aligned to the sun in order to maximize its exposure to the sun and collect its energy without any mechanical assistance.

Solar hot water system on roof

Passive home design

Solar electric or photovoltaic systems actually convert the radiant energy from the sun into an electric form of energy that can be used to power appliances, lighting, and other equipment in the home. Photovoltaic panels, some designed to look like roofing materials, are mounted on or near the house to collect the solar energy. The electricity produced is usually run through converters so that it can be used by the AC equipment in the home. Some systems add batteries to store the solar electric energy to be used when the sun is not shining.

Installing solar roof shingles

Photovoltaic arrays on a roof

Much more information on solar energy can be found on the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy solar website.