Unless you never tune in to the news, you know that there is plenty of news about the energy crisis that is taking place throughout the world. Whether it is true or false, there's certainly an increase in energy prices, not only fuel at the pumps, but electricity for the houses. As the amount of nonrenewable energy gets lower and lower, many are looking for new sources of energy that's sustainable. Although alternative energy can be beneficial, it can be tough to produce and they have some advantages and disadvantages too.

The advantage of having sustainable energy is that it can be sustainable and it can never be depleted. It usually does not generate any waste nor does it have a serious effect on the environment. The regional areas of some countries are showing economic benefits by using renewable power as a different source of energy. These sustainable energy projects are being done in smaller areas away from major cities. Nonetheless, it is much more challenging to produce considerable amounts of energy using alternative sources than traditional fossil fuels. Additionally, the reliability of the energy supply is a problem, because it is impacted by the weather.

There'll always be sunshine so it is a fantastic source of energy. While solar power is plentiful, it is limited right now where it cannot replace conventional electricity yet. Locations which are not good at creating solar energy are those where it rains a lot, or at places that are farther to the north, or high latitudes. Electricity that makes use of water for fuel has been used for several years but it has been proven costly. Using the tidal energy from the ocean is one more way to generate energy but it is limited to where it can be done. Power plants that utilize tidal energy, supposedly have bad effects on fish and migratory birds.

Attempts to replace gasoline have been wide ranging including the use of agricultural crops, fermented animal waste materials and other natural products to produce alcohol. Although they are good alternatives to fuel, they still generate greenhouse gases which pollutes the air. Another source of power that is quite friendly to the environment is wind energy. It does not generate any greenhouse gases but they require a lot of space for big windmills. The location of these wind turbines must have continual wind.

Essentially, there are a number of disadvantages to using renewable energy sources. Although there are disadvantages, they are nothing when compared with what fossil fuels are doing to our environment. With regards to the long range health of the planet, it should be plenty worth any trouble it might take to use alternative sources of energy. It certainly won't be long until we discover an energy source that is great for the environment and is cost-effective.