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# School of Engineering and Computing ## Lecture 1: Introduction ### What are the alternatives for conventional energy? The alternatives to conventional energy, which typically refers to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are numerous. They include a variety of renewable energy source...

# School of Engineering and Computing ## Lecture 1: Introduction ### What are the alternatives for conventional energy? The alternatives to conventional energy, which typically refers to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are numerous. They include a variety of renewable energy sources and some non-renewable but cleaner options. * **Solar Energy:** Harnessing sunlight using solar panels to generate electricity or to produce heat. * **Wind Energy:** Utilizing wind turbines to convert wind power into electricity. * **Hydroelectric Power (Hydropower):** Generating power by using water flow to drive turbines. * **Tidal and Wave Energy:** Exploiting the movement of water due to tides and waves to generate power. * **Geothermal Energy:** Using the heat from the Earth's interior to produce electricity and heating. ### What are the alternatives for conventional energy? * **Biomass/Biofuels:** Converting organic materials like plant matter and animal waste into energy. * **Nuclear Energy:** Although non-renewable, it's often considered an alternative due to its low greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It involves using nuclear reactions to generate heat, which is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity. * **Hydrogen Fuel:** Using hydrogen as a fuel for heat, hydrogen vehicles, seasonal energy storage, and long-haul transport can be considered a clean alternative if the hydrogen is produced from renewable sources. * **Energy Storage Technologies:** These are not energy sources but are essential for managing the variable output from renewable energy sources. Examples include batteries, pumped hydro storage, and thermal storage systems.