SAAFER remains unbiased in its preferences of funding for alternative energy research. The various alternatives to foreign fossil fuel based energy found on this page are just some of the more promising solutions to our energy crisis. Realistically, with such an unbalanced amount of our daily energy coming from oil based sources, we will need and array of practical solutions to begin balancing our energy sources. 

    As the discovery of new oil fields decreases and global energy consumption increases, the following alternatives will be essenstial in providing us with the self-sustainability needed for our country’s energy consumption.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with some of these inspiring solutions.

Photovoltaic (Solar Power)
Wind Energy
Geothermal Energy
Biomass
Biodiesel
Ethanol

Photovoltaics (commonly known as Solar Power)
This remarkable technology converts electromagnetic radiation from sunlight into electricity.  The US Department of Energy (DOE) confirms photovoltaic energy has very little impact on our environment.  Since sunlight is readily available, price stability is less vulnerable to international energy politics, volatile markets, and transmission failures.  This technology was first introduced by NASA in the 1950’s to power its’ satellites.  Today, many everyday products use solar electric power for information transfer.  Some of these products are ATM’s, cellular phones, pagers, global positioning systems, and direct TV.  As an industry, Photovoltaics, shares a common goal of meeting 10% of US peak electric generation capacity be 2030 (the equivalent of some 180 million barrels of oil in that year).

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Wind Energy
Most wind energy used today is based on a 3 blade design.  Very simply stated, the wind turns the blades, which spins a shaft, which connects to a generator that produces electricity.  Wind Power Plants operate in 32 states, but make up less than 1% of the US electrical generation.  However, due to the falling costs and the ability of landowners to sell electricity back to the power grid in may states, that 1% is expected to rise tremendously in the upcoming years (Tickell, Biodiesel America).  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates the US could potentially meet its’ entire electrical demand with wind power.  Additionally, the NREL proposes that 20% of the nation’s electricity could be produced using merely 0.06% of the land in the lower 48 states. Currently, Denmark produces 20% of its’ electrical requirement utilizing this technology.

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Geothermal Energy
This technology simply uses the heat generated from the Earth.  Geothermal energy is cheap, clean, and efficient.  Since the source can be found in the US, further research and development in harvesting this almost unlimited energy source would greatly reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  According to the DOE, less than 1% of the US electricity consumption currently utilizes this technology.   The most common types of geothermal energy are derived from steam and hot water.  The Geysers steam plants in northern California are the largest single producer of geothermal electricity in the world (Tickell, Biodiesel America).

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Biomass
Biomass refers to living, or recently living, biological material that can be used for energy and fuel.  Biomass is considered a renewable source and is commonly made from forestry, agricultural, biodegradable industrial waste, as well as municipality waste products.  Since “wastes” frequently come from something that was once “living,” biorefineries are able to convert sawdust, wood chips, sunflowers, stalks, hemp, oils, animal manure, and dozens of other items into usable energy.  Biomass is used to create biofuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas.

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Biodiesel
The Department of Energy (DOE) claims that biodiesel is the fastest growing alternative fuel in our country.  Biodiesel promises hope due to the similarity to traditional diesel currently used by our transportation industry (1 in 3 gallons of consumed fuel are diesel).  Due to these similarities, engines require very little, if any, modifications to be compatible with biodiesel. Biodiesel can be derived from any vegetable oil.  Therefore, it can be grown in many areas and renewable from year to year.  Biodiesel presents a near total reduction of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxides, according to the National Biodiesel Board.  As with many emerging technologies, biodiesel still requires more research before it is widely accepted.  The fuel tends to react poorly to extremely cold climates and moves to a more solidified substance (Tickell, Biodiesel America).

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Ethanol
Ethanol is an alternative to gasoline.  It can be combined with gasoline in any concentration up to pure ethanol (E100).  Increasingly, ethanol is used as an additive to gasoline to raise the octane rating.  More cities are beginning to mandate at least a 10% ethanol-gasoline where auto emissions are considered dangerous.  Ethanol is an alcohol derived from the fermentation of sugars.  Common sources are starches such as corn, potatoes, and grains.  Therefore, ethanol is also a renewable fuel source.  Opponents of ethanol often cite its’ energy balance as questionable; a tremendous amount of fossil fuel energy is needed to produce a usable ethanol product.  This phase of the fermentation process is a prime example of future research needing SAAFER funding.  Additionally, some opponents worry the cost of corn will be raised as demand increases.  This could have a lasting effect on American agriculture since corn is a common grain for feedstock. 

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