The Rise And Rise Of BIOFUELS (Part 2):
With climate change at the top of almost everyone's concerns, the need for alternative 'greener' energy sources grows greater by the day. Bt's not just those at the fringes of the debate who are sitting up and taking notice. Governments worldwide are setting every stricter policies in fields such as emissions and recycling, prompting energy companies of all sizes to revise their targets and develop alternative 'carbon neutral' energy sources such as biofuels. Big business has also followed suit, with global entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Vinod Khosla, and Navtej Kohli (CEO of Granox Enterprises) investing in new biofuel ventures.
The twin drivers of Government legislation and corporate investment have created a vibrant biofuels global industry. Although global management consultants Accenture believe that only those companies flexible enough to adopt these changes will continue to succeed in the long-term, the biofuels sector is still an unknown quantity and as such a high risk field. A field which demands expert knowledge, and the sensitivity to handle the inevitable environmentral concerns raised at all levels with regard to this new soiurce of energy.
Operating in the bio-fuels sector is placing a bet on the unknown. High performers will improve the odds by understanding the risks and focusing on how to access the rewards.
Whilst the debates as to the merits (or otherwise) of various alternatives rages, another underused source of alternative energy is geothermal energy.
What Is Geothermal Energy And Why Is It So Important To Our Future?
* Although geothermal energy is regarded as a relatively new form of alternative energy, the reality is quite the opposite, since the origin of geothermal energy can be traced back 1,000 years and is an early phenomenon which was exploited by some of the most primitive human civilizations.
* The first traces of geothermal energy were discovered when Native Americans used geothermal water found in hot springs to cook and for use as medicine (around 10,000 years ago). Roman civilization also exploited geothermal energy to heat their houses, as well as to cure various ailments pertaining to the skin and eyes. The geothermal waters found in geysers or hot springs were also used as natural bathing places by most of the ancient civilizations. Even today, France is using this form of alternative energy to heat their houses.
* The term Geothermal is a blend of two Greek words, ‘geo’ i.e. earth and ‘therme’ i.e. heat, which together means “earth heat”.
* Geothermal energy can be derived from the reserves of water located in the Earth’s layer of magma, a super hot substance that springs directly form the earth’s core.
* This super-hot magma (which reaches temperatures of around 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit) heats the water reserves to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, generating a natural source of hot water. These so-called geothermal reservoirs can either be drilled, or erupt naturally through fissures in the
earth surface. Such natural formations are also known as geysers or hot springs.
* Though, the actual power of geothermal energy is yet to be discovered, researchers believe that there is a lot this energy, stored in the earth’s crust can do. With this, they are constantly striving to discover new ways of utilizing this perpetual source of energy.