From volcanoes to wave power and even algae, researchers are

looking far and wide for viable energy alternatives to power the
planet after oil, gas and coal reserves run out. We take a look
through some of the more interesting, promising and downright
unusual possible energy sources of the future. Gallery by
Matthew Ponsford

Methane hydrate -- methane molecules trapped in a cage of

frozen water -- could be the world's most abundant fuel source.
Japan became the first country to extract natural gas from
methane hydrate in March. But beware: this is a fossil fuel, and
extracting reserves could release massive quantities of
greenhouse gasses.

Wind power is on the rise. Carbon fiber kites equipped

with wind turbines claim to produce as much power as a
fixed turbine, but with a fraction of the material cost. The
secretive research department behind Google's driverless
cars and Google Glass technology, Google[X], bought kite
power company Makani in May.

Volcano-powered underground turbines sound like the perfect

power source... for a Hollywood super-villain. But two companies
from Oregon are planning to make it a reality experimenting
with the new technology in the land around the Newberry
Volcano in Oregon (pictured). Critics have called the process
"volcano fracking" -- which sound, well, risky.

Genetically engineered E. coli bacteria: apparently

not as evil as they sound. British scientists have
bioengineered these bacteria to produce a
hydrocarbon molecule that mimics petroleum. They
believe we could soon have banks of the germs
feeding on biomass to produce fuel cost-effectively

In space, it's never cloudy! Solar panels could drink in

the sun's energy without atmospheric interference
and beam it down to earth in laser beams or (more
likely) microwaves. The idea has been out there since
the seventies, but space fans will be encouraged to
hear that NASA is now showing an interest

Danish inventor Jens Dall Bentzen has created an innovative

biomass furnace that can successfully burn damp fuel to
generate up to 20 or 30% more energy. Critics claim biomass will
still contribute harmful CO2 to the atmosphere, but defenders say
growing crops specifically as biofuel could offset this. U.S.
company Patriot Bioenergy Corp thinks hemp could provide the
answer

Are waves an even better source of "free" energy than

wind? The Scots think so: the world's biggest wave
farm was approved there this year. Waves beat wind,
say proponents, because they are more predictable,
allowing surges of power to be more easily integrated
into the power grid.

Sure you can turn algae into biofuel and get energy that
way -- but what if algae could produce power without the
processing? Researchers from Stanford have managed to
"steal electrons" from algae cells. OK, it's not very efficient
yet -- in fact, the process currently uses up electricity -- but
it opens the door for more research into very green energy..

Polymers that curl up when they get wet could power mechanical
devices and generate electricity. Researchers at MIT generated a
small current by covering the water-responsive "polypyrrole"
polymer in an energy generating piezoelectric material and
placing it on a wet surface. The technology is fragile at the
moment, but marks the first successful attempt to generate water
from a water gradient.

A (not-so-)Large Hadron Collider to bring power to your

neighborhood? Yes, a miniaturized version of the particle
accelerator at CERN -- like this one in Daresbury, UK -- could
provide a clean alternative to fossil fuels. But how happy will
residents be about the nuclear reactor next door?

Hailed as the replacement for batteries, ultracapacitors could soon be

supplying us with huge amounts of energy that today goes to waste. As
battery powered devices -- from electric cars to handheld devices -- come
to dominate our lives, ultracapacitors could help us use that charge more
efficiently. The acid test will be whether ultracapacitors can find a way to
efficiently store the unpredictable surges of electricity that sometimes
come from solar and wind power plants.

Submitted by:
Jessie B. Villareal
Submitted to:
Mrs. Sunshine dela Rosa
Advanced Chemistry