Summary
It seems these terms are being used widely throughout the media so what are the difference between them. Well this depends on who the author is and what sector they are looking to appeal to.
Analysis
It seemed to me that around 5-10 years when Global Warming started becoming more widely recognized the term Alternate Energy was being used. This in my opinion was being used because we where looking for a substitute or alternate source of energy. We all know that we need to find a better cleaner source of energy so oil, coal and even natural gas usage needs to be reduced. So hence the term Alternate Energy was being widely used. This applied and still does to some extent that they were referring to newer technologies such as solar and wind to mention just a few. These technologies are better energy sources than the fossil fuels but are definitely better defined as Renewable Energies.
Renewable Energy sources are quite different and while they are an alternate energy should be viewed as Renewable. To be viewed as a renewable energy source the technologies must be using fuels or resources that are bountiful and renewable or naturally replenished. These resources should be plentiful and have an unlimited supply. The sun and wind meet these requirements and to some extent without going into great discussion or debate really might the only truly renewable energy source.
The largest renewable energy source used throughout the world today is hydroelectric and from my view could be debatable in the sense of it being renewable, alternate or even sustainable. This debate could go on forever and its not one that I would like to enter so I try to keep it simply with saying for an Renewable Energy it must be naturally replenished. This is the key.
Sustainable energy could be widely debated about being a renewable energy but in my eyes ethanol being made from corn is not naturally replenished fuel. Having to plant, harvest, and process does not meet my standard of being naturally replenished.
The article does raise some great concerns about the usage of water and other natural components that are being mined in order to manufacture the solar panels more specifically. I guess what ever direction we move in we will be needing more or new ingrendients and this will change over time as any of the new technologies become more dominant. While I am not claiming to be an expert on classifying these energy sources in my eyes and in simple terms I think this analogy works. We have been using this for our course work through the G-CREW Technical Academy and this seems to be accepted by our students and relatively easy to understand.
What is Global Warming ? I remember this issue coming out many years ago while doing my course work in my junior year of college back in 1988. I was in my undergraduate studies in engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and instead of taking the traditional Chemistry 101 required in all engineering majors decided to take a course for nonchemical engineers called "Chemistry and Society". It was a great course not filled with studying the periodic table and etc, but actually studying areas where chemistry affects our everyday lives. I really enjoyed this class and wrote a research paper on "The Green House Effect" which was the name of this issue back in 1988. Green House Effect - Global Warming, Alternate - Renewable - Sustainable, they might have different names but generally all mean the same thing. We need to start making changes.
