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As we strive to find alternative energy resources, many potential solutions are on the table. Biomass energy is one such solution or is it?

Biomass energy is unique in that it has existed in primitive forms since the early days of mankind. Burning wood in a cave is a form of biomass energy, which is simply the conversion of an organic material in a manner that produces heat. For example, a fire converts the organic wood into heat. Therein, however, lays the problem.

Global warming is a much debated issue with everyone having a strong opinion and no one seemingly willing to listen to the other side. Whatever your view on this subject, what is clear is we are producing an absolute ton of carbon-based gases in our modern civilization. This is a key issue since the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is a key factor in climate regulation on our planet.

To understand the problems of biomass as an energy form, one has to understand the biomass cycle that occurs on the planet. Simplified, the biomass cycle regulates the amount of carbon in our atmosphere. The biomass, primarily in the form of plants, uses carbon to grow and the biosphere effectively acts as a sponge for carbon. This sponge effect, however, has limits. As with a sponge in your kitchen, the biomass can only suck up so much carbon at one time. When there is too much carbon in the atmosphere or we shrink our 'sponge' with deforestation and such, we run the risk of overwhelming the atmosphere with carbon gases. If our atmosphere has excessive carbon, heat is trapped and all hell begins to break loose. From a practical standpoint, this means our relatively mild climate on Earth will start becoming more chaotic. After the most recent hurricane season, that definitely is not a good thing.

Taking the biomass cycle into consideration, the negatives of all biomass energy production are that they create more carbon gases. A caveman sitting next to a fire in a cave is using biomass energy to produce heat, but the black smoke is a very nasty carbon pollutant. In modern terms, biomass energy doesnt really resolve the amount of carbon we are putting into the atmosphere. Yet, there is an argument on the other side of the biomass coin.

Proponents of biomass argue it is a better energy source than fossil fuels. The basis of this argument is that plants [biomass] have taken in much smaller amounts of carbon gases over a shorter period of time than fossil fuels. Thus, burning them is a carbon neutral situation. The problem, of course, is that even if this concept is correct, we are not cutting down our carbon emissions. At this point in time, we need to be reducing carbon gasses, not maintaining our current output.

It is undisputable biomass has its problems. It is a better alternative than fossil fuels, but how much so?

Rick Chapo

Rick Chapo is with solarcompanies.com/' onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outbound/www._a_href=_http_//bizrock.earth4.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=AEHQSOL_solar_/a_companies.com/');">solarCompanies.com - a directory of solar power and solar energy companies. Visit SolarCompanies.com to read more solar electricity and biomass energy articles.

The popularity of the Hybrid car is on the rise these days. There are many advantages to buying a Hybrid car. The three most important benefits that one can derive by purchasing a Hybrid car is: there are tax benefits that you can take advantage of, your fuel costs are cut down by more than half and a Hybrid car is environmental friendly because it does not emit poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

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After making a strong case for Europe to adopt the cap-and-trade strategy back in 1997, the United States took two important steps in the other direction since then.One such development is the recent proliferation of coal-fired power plants built all over the Mid West. Within the next ten years we can expect to see dozens of coal-plants at the 1,500 MW range spewing out about a million tons of sulphur a year into the atmosphere.

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Throughout generations from the dawn of mankind the sun has been given a status of a father. A father so generous that he doesn't hold back anything when it comes to giving his children anything and everything he's got. A father, who has guided and shown the path to future and helped in the time of need; Today we ask our father again for help and he continues to share himself with us if that makes it easier for us to live in this earth.

The [tag-tec]solar energy[/tag-tec] is the primary reason for life on earth and the primary reason for our survival. The solar energy we obtain from the sun helps our body produce vitamin D which is a very vital substance. Plants use this solar energy for photosynthesis to manufacture food. Now day’s new methods of harnessing this energy have come up. Hence it is of utmost importance for us to have all the solar energy information we can possibly gather to be in sync with this ever changing world. The solar energy information is often obtained in bits and pieces from newspapers, magazines ,etc. because to put that all under one roof is like trying to fit a 500 pound man into a can of tuna. But what’s important to know about this form of energy are its basic uses in everyday life. Hang on a bit more and you’ll find more uses for it than just for tanning.

The solar energy information that the sun generates a lot of heat is well known to everyone. This heat generally gets dissipated in the atmosphere but used wisely can be concentrated to produce enough heat to boil water and cook food. Flat plate collectors, parabolic dishes etc. are used for such purposes.

The solar energy information passed on from generations to generations has shown that even in those days this energy was put to use. The solar energy information which is also gaining support is of the energy from the sun being used to produce electricity. Arrays of photovoltaic cells are installed on top of roofs or on the ground to convert the incident solar energy into electricity. They are usually made of silicon but these days semiconductors are also being used. Different generators and invertors and batteries are used to store the electricity generated and wiring is done so as to connect it to the utility grids for consumption of the electricity.

The extra electricity is stored and during days of rain or fog when the incident solar energy isn’t producing enough electricity this extra electricity is used. Thus it cheapens the electricity and the efficiency and output remains same. Thus conventional sources can be put to rest when we have the technology which will make it possible to solely rely on the sun for electricity. Also heat generated by the sun can be used to heat houses in cold areas.

This energy is also pollution free so it won’t harm the atmosphere nor affect the geography and biology in any way. This solar energy information is essential for everyone to be aware of as we decide our own future. We wish for a pollution free comfortable future and knowing all the solar energy information around and thus becoming a concerned citizen is the only way to progress. Let us all lend a helping hand to make our earth a better place to live in for all of us where we have enough to share with everyone.

Chad Hartman is a solar power supporter and a staff writer for Go-Solar.org. To learn more about solar energy and how you can benefit from it, please visit our site at: http://Go-Solar.org

Energy Tags: solar energy information, photovoltaic cells

solar battery charger is one of these devices that became a necessity once we have all these electric devices that we use on a daily basis. iPod, laptop, mobile phone, PDA, GPS etc' just name it. The more we use these battery based gadgets, the more our lives in the 21st century depend on. These battery based portable electric devices need to be recharged pretty often which hook us to the grid outlet and reduce our mobility and portability. If we do not charge them they become useless. At this point the solar powered battery charger gives us back the freedom and releases us from being chained to outlet grid in order to charge our batteries.

They are not a matter of fashion, they are gaining popularity with very good reasons. Solar charger is simple to use on the go, where ever you are, all it takes is some sunlight. There are backpacks with solar cells on them, so they charge your batteries while you are on your daily activity without any need of your attention. There are portable flexible solar panels that you can place in your small bag and use them to charge your electrical devices' batteries when you need to without being attached to any electrical grid outlet. Most solar chargers are equipped with plug kits which match to variety of electric devices. The variety of solar chargers' sizes, shapes and uses continue to grow rapidly.