Alternative Sources of Energy
- Marcelo Serafim
- Apr 11, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 13, 2023
As the world's population continues to grow, the demand for energy is increasing. Unfortunately, traditional energy sources such as coal and oil (fossil fuel) are non-renewable and contribute to climate change. This has led to an urgent need to explore alternative sources of energy that are renewable and sustainable.

One promising alternative source of energy is solar power. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can then be used to power homes and businesses. Another promising source of energy is wind power. Wind turbines harness the power of wind to generate electricity, and they are becoming increasingly common in many countries around the world.
In addition to solar and wind power, there are other alternative sources of energy that are gaining traction.

One of these is hydro power, which harnesses the energy of falling
water to generate electricity. Geothermal power is another alternative source of energy that is gaining popularity. This involves harnessing the natural heat of the earth to generate electricity.
While there are many benefits to alternative sources of energy, there are also some challenges to overcome.
One of these is the cost of transitioning to these new sources of energy. Another challenge is the need for infrastructure to support alternative energy sources, such as transmission lines for wind and solar farms.

Questions:
What is the main reason for exploring alternative sources of energy?
What are two examples of alternative sources of energy?
What is hydro power?
What is geothermal power?
What are some challenges to transitioning to alternative sources of energy?
Why fossil fuels are bad for the environment?
Vocabulary:
non-renewable - not able to be replaced once used up
contribute - to add to or help bring about
urgent - needing immediate attention
harness - to control and use the natural force or power of something
traction - gaining popularity or acceptance
fossil fuel - carbon based sources of energy
CO2 - Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature, and as the source of available carbon in the carbon cycle, atmospheric CO₂ is the primary carbon source for life on Earth

Phrasal Verb:
"Phase out" - to gradually discontinue something.
Example sentence: Many countries are planning to phase out the use of fossil fuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
English Idiom/Expression:
"Cutting corners" - to do something in a quick or careless manner, often sacrificing quality in the process.
Example sentence: The company's decision to cut corners in the manufacturing process led to several product defects.
Grammar Tip:
When using a phrasal verb, it is important to remember that the verb and particle must agree in tense. For example, "phase out" is a present tense phrasal verb, so it should be used with a present tense verb (e.g. "Many countries are planning to phase out..."). Similarly, "phased out" is a past tense phrasal verb, so it should be used with a past tense verb (e.g. "The government has phased out...").



Comments