Alternative Energy Sources - Dunagan Library

A slight abridgement of Alternative Energy: Resources From Coal to Wind, by Gary L. Parsons in C&RL News pp. 18-22, January 2005.

This page touches on almost all possible alternative energy sources; it is aimed at a general and K-12 audience. It provides a good checklist of alterative energy sources, which any researcher will find helpful. However, college level researchers in this area will need to use the library's journal databases to find appropriate research materials.

The Basics: Coal and Coalgas; Diesel; Heavy Oil; The Internal Combustion Engine
World Coal Institute discusses coal's role in future energy use United Mine Workers of America: What Coal Miners Do includes illustrations of various types of mines and how coal is extracted Coal Gasification: Clean Coal--How to Make Rock into Biofuel An article by Tyghe Trimble in the June 2007 edition of Popular Mechanics. The Germans ran their war machine on it with the technology of the 1940s. How Diesel Engines Work Diesel oil is slightly less refined than gasoline. It is always oily and not liquidy like gasoline. First used for heavy equipment, industrial use and railroads, technological advancements have made it viable for automobiles. What is Heavy Oil? Heavy oil is a form of petroleum which has a more solid (rather than liquid) form. It looks a little like silly putty with coffee grounds in it. American Indians used to caulk their canoes with it. How Car Engines Work from the How Stuff Works site

The Basics: Coal and Coalgas; Diesel; Heavy Oil; The Internal Combustion Engine

World Coal Institute: discusses coal's role in future energy use
United Mine Workers of America: What Coal Miners Do: includes illustrations of various types of mines and how coal is extracted
Coal Gasification: Clean Coal--How to Make Rock into Biofuel: An article by Tyghe Trimble in the June 2007 edition of Popular Mechanics. The Germans ran their war machine on it with the technology of the 1940s.
How Diesel Engines Work: Diesel oil is slightly less refined than gasoline. It is always oily and not liquidy like gasoline. First used for heavy equipment, industrial use and railroads, technological advancements have made it viable for automobiles.
What is Heavy Oil?: Heavy oil is a form of petroleum which has a more solid (rather than liquid) form. It looks a little like silly putty with coffee grounds in it. American Indians used to caulk their canoes with it.
How Car Engines Work: from the How Stuff Works site

The Basics: Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil
The Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition Natural gas is a clean-burning alternative fossil fuel; natural gas is already in wide use in fleet cars. buses, and other vehicles that do not stray too far from the fuel source. Natural Gas Supply Association an education Web site from this organization How Nuclear Power Works good, basic explanations and diagrams; many find it a viable and economically competitive alternative to coal and oil for large-scale power generation How Oil Drilling Works provides information on the basics of the oil business from exploration to extraction

The Basics: Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil

The Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition: Natural gas is a clean-burning alternative fossil fuel; natural gas is already in wide use in fleet cars. buses, and other vehicles that do not stray too far from the fuel source.
Natural Gas Supply Association: an education Web site from this organization
How Nuclear Power Works: good, basic explanations and diagrams; many find it a viable and economically competitive alternative to coal and oil for large-scale power generation
How Oil Drilling Works: provides information on the basics of the oil business from exploration to extraction

Energy Transition Technology: Alcohol, Biofuels, Compressed Air
Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the "Fuel of the Future" this essay by Bill Kovarik of Radford University covers the hisotry, pros and cons of alcohol as a fuel source. Oregon Dept of Energy's Biomass Energy Page it is possible to make fuel out of plants and plant waste--biomass U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program Biofuels claim to be the best renewalbe source for liquid fuels that we have right now. Fuels used now are ethanol, methanol (alcohol), and biodiesel. The World's First Air Powered Car an article in a 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics demonstrating how MDI (Moteur Development International) a French company came up with a CAT (compressed air technology) vehicle and how an Indian company was planning to produce a working version. How Air Powered Cars Will Work part of the How Stuff Works site. How Electric Cars Work part of the How Stuff Works site. See also Hybrid Cars Library on the same site. The Pneumatic Options Research Library: The Air Car a site which shows examples of many cars running on air . . . in the 1800s!

Energy Transition Technology: Alcohol, Biofuels, Compressed Air

Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the "Fuel of the Future": this essay by Bill Kovarik of Radford University covers the hisotry, pros and cons of alcohol as a fuel source.
Oregon Dept of Energy's Biomass Energy Page: it is possible to make fuel out of plants and plant waste--biomass
U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program: Biofuels claim to be the best renewalbe source for liquid fuels that we have right now. Fuels used now are ethanol, methanol (alcohol), and biodiesel.
The World's First Air Powered Car: an article in a 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics demonstrating how MDI (Moteur Development International) a French company came up with a CAT (compressed air technology) vehicle and how an Indian company was planning to produce a working version.
How Air Powered Cars Will Work: part of the How Stuff Works site.
How Electric Cars Work: part of the How Stuff Works site. See also Hybrid Cars Library on the same site.
The Pneumatic Options Research Library: The Air Car: a site which shows examples of many cars running on air . . . in the 1800s!

Energy Transition Technology: Hemp & Switchgrass, Hydromen, Fuel Cells, Steam, Stirling
Hemp Hemp is an interesting plant that can be used for food, clothing, paper, and fuel. It is grown everywhere in the world--except the U.S. This site explains hemp's potential as a fuel. One Molecule Could Cure our Addiction to Oil A Wired article from 2007 focusing on transforming cellulose to oil (cellulosic ethanol); focusing on plants other than corn--primarily switchgrass U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy This site links to discussions of many alternative energies, for example, hydrogen which is neither mined nor drilled but is created; it is usually used as a natural gas, and storage is a problem for the liquid form. Other sources covered include biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, natural gas and propane. Car Engines and Fuels includes steam-powered cars, microwave powered cars, and so on. Steam Automobile Club of America sponsors discussion groups on theory of steam powered cars for the future, and so on. Stirling Engine Home Page The Stirling is one of a series of devices that is a heat engine that operates on any fuel. This futuristic technology (invented in 1816) is in use but is not widespread.

Energy Transition Technology: Hemp & Switchgrass, Hydromen, Fuel Cells, Steam, Stirling

Hemp: Hemp is an interesting plant that can be used for food, clothing, paper, and fuel. It is grown everywhere in the world--except the U.S. This site explains hemp's potential as a fuel.
One Molecule Could Cure our Addiction to Oil: A Wired article from 2007 focusing on transforming cellulose to oil (cellulosic ethanol); focusing on plants other than corn--primarily switchgrass
U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: This site links to discussions of many alternative energies, for example, hydrogen which is neither mined nor drilled but is created; it is usually used as a natural gas, and storage is a problem for the liquid form. Other sources covered include biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, natural gas and propane.
Car Engines and Fuels: includes steam-powered cars, microwave powered cars, and so on.
Steam Automobile Club of America: sponsors discussion groups on theory of steam powered cars for the future, and so on.
Stirling Engine Home Page: The Stirling is one of a series of devices that is a heat engine that operates on any fuel. This futuristic technology (invented in 1816) is in use but is not widespread.

Energy Transition Technology: Solar, Tidal and Hydroelectric Power, Wind
The Florida Solar Energy Center one of the oldest "new" technologies; not that useful yet in transportation or industrial use, solar energy has found a niche in the home. Solar is a key factor in cutting utility bills. Andy Darvill's Science Site--Tidal Power a high school science teacher built this web site, this section of his site gives good details on tidal power's workings, advantages and disadvantages Hydroelectric Power--How It Works tidal power creates power in a fashion similar to regular hydroelectric power; in theory tidal power could use much the same technology and equipment as hydroelectric power plants National Wind Technology Center-Wind Resource Information While not useful for transportation, wind generators can help relieve stress on the power grid and other forms of stationary power generation. This is a good page with moving graphics that show how wind technology works. Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States .gov

Energy Transition Technology: Solar, Tidal and Hydroelectric Power, Wind

The Florida Solar Energy Center: one of the oldest "new" technologies; not that useful yet in transportation or industrial use, solar energy has found a niche in the home. Solar is a key factor in cutting utility bills.
Andy Darvill's Science Site--Tidal Power: a high school science teacher built this web site, this section of his site gives good details on tidal power's workings, advantages and disadvantages
Hydroelectric Power--How It Works: tidal power creates power in a fashion similar to regular hydroelectric power; in theory tidal power could use much the same technology and equipment as hydroelectric power plants
National Wind Technology Center-Wind Resource Information: While not useful for transportation, wind generators can help relieve stress on the power grid and other forms of stationary power generation. This is a good page with moving graphics that show how wind technology works.
Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States: .gov

Energy Transition Technology: Future & / or Futuristic
Cold Fusion Cold fusion (the popular name for LENR-CANR: Low Energy Nuclear Reaction-Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reaction) has a lot of presence on the web, mostly of aficianados; this is a reasonable "how to" site. Free Energy. Zero Point. Cold Fusion The Living Web site, it has a decent overview of all things related to free energy. Free energy refers to a whole family of devices, mostly magnetic in nature, that provide fuelless propulsion. The muse of this movement is 19th-century inventor Nikola Tesla. These devices could significantly change society--whenever they get them beyond the laboratory stage.

Energy Transition Technology: Future & / or Futuristic

Cold Fusion: Cold fusion (the popular name for LENR-CANR: Low Energy Nuclear Reaction-Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reaction) has a lot of presence on the web, mostly of aficianados; this is a reasonable "how to" site.
Free Energy. Zero Point. Cold Fusion: The Living Web site, it has a decent overview of all things related to free energy. Free energy refers to a whole family of devices, mostly magnetic in nature, that provide fuelless propulsion. The muse of this movement is 19th-century inventor Nikola Tesla. These devices could significantly change society--whenever they get them beyond the laboratory stage.

Magazines and Newsletters; Organizations; Miscellaneous
Extraordinary Technology From the Tesla Tech Group; a somewhat ornamented page; but most articles are on energy development with a pro-free energy bias. Generally quite readable, articles frequently discuss and use hard science, including formulae and mathematics. Free Energy News a pro-free energy newsletter The Alternative Energy Institute Most organizations in this area are trade groups. These groups provide basic, solid information on their product--bearing in mind their aim is to advocate their product. The Alternative Energy Institute presents essays on the pros and cons of all kinds of energy sources from the basics to the future. Renewable Energy Resources Research Guide A resource page giving the facts and news items on a variety of alternative energy sources. The Source for Renewable Energy provides access to more than 8,000 businesses engaged in the alternative energy field right now. By Design gives basic descriptions of several of the fossil fuels Department of Energy (DOE) DOE provides some good useful information on its web page Institute for Ecolonomics founded by Dennis Weaver, long a leader in the environmental movement; the Institute is oriented towards being an educational force in this field.
Page Updated: 7 January 2010 Page Created 25 January 2005

Magazines and Newsletters; Organizations; Miscellaneous

Extraordinary Technology: From the Tesla Tech Group; a somewhat ornamented page; but most articles are on energy development with a pro-free energy bias. Generally quite readable, articles frequently discuss and use hard science, including formulae and mathematics.
Free Energy News: a pro-free energy newsletter
The Alternative Energy Institute: Most organizations in this area are trade groups. These groups provide basic, solid information on their product--bearing in mind their aim is to advocate their product. The Alternative Energy Institute presents essays on the pros and cons of all kinds of energy sources from the basics to the future.
Renewable Energy Resources Research Guide: A resource page giving the facts and news items on a variety of alternative energy sources.
The Source for Renewable Energy: provides access to more than 8,000 businesses engaged in the alternative energy field right now.
By Design: gives basic descriptions of several of the fossil fuels
Department of Energy (DOE): DOE provides some good useful information on its web page
Institute for Ecolonomics: founded by Dennis Weaver, long a leader in the environmental movement; the Institute is oriented towards being an educational force in this field.

Page Updated: 7 January 2010 Page Created 25 January 2005

Alternative Energy WWW Sources