Replacing fossil fuels

Undoubtedly, energy plays an indispensable role in our daily lives. One can easily understand the concepts of chemical energy in fuels, thermal energy in the form of heat, kinetic energy in the movement of wind and water, and magnetic and electrical energies in various forms.

Energy exists in different forms, and it is often necessary to transform it into another form, for example from mechanical energy to electrical energy. This process requires some kind of conversion mechanism.

Currently, the majority of energy being consumed is derived directly or indirectly from fossil fuels. The exploitation of significant oil reserves has led to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The accumulation of these gases has worsened global warming. The use of internal combustion engines in cars further exacerbates this problem. Most products from combustion processes can cause pollution in urban areas, which in turn pose health hazards.

Apart from environmental problems, there is a growing concern about the limited amount of fossil fuel reserves on earth. This has increased pressure to develop new technologies that can reduce or even eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. The top priority is therefore to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply whilst addressing social and environmental concerns.

There is a strong incentive to develop alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind and tidal waves. However, the generation and use of renewable energy sources often vary. For example, for heating, cooling and lighting, the energy requirement usually varies depending on the time of day, the weather and the season. Such characteristics result in fluctuations, not only in the demand and supply but also in energy prices. Reliable strategies are therefore required to resolve the time dependency of the production and costs of renewable energy sources.