There are a lot of great sources of energy out there which are going underused as of yet. Whether from lack of research and development efforts or simply because the merits are not yet appreciated, these energy sources are sure to grow in popularity as people come to see the value of lessening our dependence on fossil fuels and the benefits of clean energy.

One such source is wind power. This is an old idea, but one which has developed to the point where it is a cost effective energy source. Some countries have begun building “wind farms” to harness this energy - out of the paths of migratory birds; which has been a problem in the past.

One of the best known alternative energy technologies is solar power. Energy from the sun can be stored in solar cells, where it can be used to heat water for homes or to generate electrical power. Like wind power, solar energy does not generate any pollutants.

Governments and investors are looking into the possibilities of ocean wave energy. Already successfully in use in France and in the experimental phase in Ireland and the U.K., this may prove to be a growing source of energy in the future.

Hydroelectric power is not a new technology of course, but is a very efficient and pollution free method of producing electric power. However, this is not a solution for every location since not every area can boast of a large river and dam to put this power to work. Small hydroelectric power plants have been springing up to serve regional needs however.

Geothermal energy is a promising alternative energy source; it is abundant, being right under the Earth’s surface. This energy is produces by water being converted to steam by the heat of the Earth’s molten core. This steam can drive electricity generating turbines. There needs to be more research done into how to best utilize this potentially great source of energy.

Waste gas energies, namely methane are an alternative energy source which changes the usual energy-pollution paradigm by actually creating energy from a waste gas. This gas can be harnessed by fuel cells and even in gasoline generators.

Ethanol, a substitute for gasoline, is produced from plant matter. While corn-based ethanol is what generally comes to mind, Ethanol can be made from almost any vegetable matter. While some doubt that it can be efficiently produced to become a replacement for gasoline on a large scale, the extraction technologies are constantly becoming more efficient and sophisticated.

Biodiesel is made from plant oils. Biodiesel has been made from sunflower, rapeseed and soybean oils. Biodiesel is not generally produced on an industrial scale, but some corporations are starting to take interest. This fuel creates far fewer pollutants than do petroleum based fuels.

Atomic energy is created through nuclear fission. This is an efficient and cost effective means of energy production; but there is some concern about the waste product, which is toxic and radio active and takes hundreds of years to become inert.