Alternative Energy
T he world is running out of fossil fuels for sure although changes in economy shall see periodic gluts and price falls over the next few decades. As the price of petroleum crude and coal increases, alternative sources of energy will be used in greater proportions. Besides wind energy, solar energy has been considered often as a source, but the hard facts are that laws of thermodynamics and heat transfer make electricity produced from solar energy very expensive. However, solar panel costs have been coming down and a combined hybrid solar + wind system has become economical in many areas. If one considers all the costs involved perhaps trees are the most economical solar collectors. An electric steam power palnt can be visualised where water is first preheated to moderate temperatures with solar collectors and then to high temperature steam in wood fired boilers. In order to prevent depletion of forests this would have to be done in a sustainable manner so that trees that are cu
