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There is a selection of alternative green energy systems available. Each are deemed renewable and can produce electricity. However, they are not all equal in their impact on the environment. Some are considered more sustainable than others. Commentators have divided the various options into two types. Solar energy, wind energy and hydro energy form one group while so called ‘earthly sources’ like biofuels and geothermal energy, constitute the second group.

The alternative green energy that uses windmill technology is called wind power. The force of the wind against the blades of a mill is powerful enough to turn electricity turbines. Windmills do have the disadvantage of being unsightly when they are sited with enough density across open terrain. People living close to them have also complained of their noise. Despite these drawbacks, wind power is still classified as a very efficient green energy.

Energy from the sun that is harnessed as an alternative green energy is called solar power. Sunlight can be captured by photovoltaic technology within solar panels and converted to electrical current. Solar energy can also be trapped to heat water to high enough temperatures to give off hydrogen gas for electric turbines. At lower temperatures, solar heated water can be fed into radiators to heat homes and into pipes to provide hot water supply. The potential capacity of natural solar energy is huge. It has been suggested that solar energy could be used to power every single home globally. Critics of the technology cite the cost of producing solar panels as prohibitive.

One alternative green energy solution that has enjoyed widespread implementation is hydroelectric power. Many countries such as the US and Egypt have substantial hydro power plants that are capable of supplying electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Indeed for some countries, hydroelectric power is the principal if not sole method for supplying electricity to the national grid. As this alternative green energy relies on water to drive the turbines, the resources needed are quite easily and cheaply available. The problems associated with this energy solution are with the dam infrastructure needed to run them. In order to create dams, lands have been flooded and rivers are caused to stop flowing. This has led to some criticism of hydroelectric power.

Deep below the earth’s surface molten rock known as plasma. This plasma heats all rock close to it to tremendously high temperatures. The alternative green energy solution that taps into this heat source is geothermal power. By drilling bore holes up to 3 miles deep, it is possible to send water down to make contact with these sizzling temperatures. Water is forced back up through a second bore hole. As soon as it makes contact with the air it is vaporized into steam jets that drive generating turbines.

The use of geothermal power to operate power plants is very expensive to set up mainly due to the high costs of drilling. Opponents to geothermal technology further argue that the drilling processes involved could potentially cause earthquakes.

Oil rich plants like rapeseed can be processed into diesel for powering engines. Likewise, plants with a high sugar content such as sugar cane can be distilled into ethanol to run cars. The alternative green energy that makes use of such fuels is called biofuel. Although biofuels are completely renewable they have come under heavy criticism because of the amount of agricultural land that is needed to grow them. Critics further argue that biofuels still produce levels of carbon emissions associated with global warming. However, supporters of biofuels claim that biofuels are carbon neutral because growing crops generate carbon and at the same time, consume carbon dioxide.