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The majority of electricity research focuses on alternative electricity generation. Energy and electricity production has shifted from burning fossil fuels to using alternative sources that are better for the environment. The traditional methods of electricity generation involve burning coal, petroleum and natural gas. But slowly the world is shifting to investigating and producing electricity from alternative sources. Electricity generation from biomass, solar energy, hydropower and wind power have been successfully developed and more research is being conducted to make them cost effective.

The three main reasons to using alternative electricity generation come down to supply and demand and effects on the environment. Fossil fuels do not magically regenerate and will one day run out. This finite resource will also become more expensive as the supply dwindles but the demand remains the same. The majority of all alternative electricity generation focuses on using renewable energy that will not run out one day. Finally all renewable electricity sources are ‘green’ energy and do not pollute the environment.

One brand new field of research on renewable energy is to transform slow moving water currents into energy. This method takes the vibrations in the water and transforms it into energy. By using 0.1% of the power of the ocean’s currents, electricity needs of over 15 billion individuals would be meet. This option will not solve the problem but it is a feasible option. The University of Michigan is undertaking this current research.

The development of solar cells is reaching new heights as MIT has produced a solar cell that is 50% more effective then current solar cells. They have also reduced the cost of the solar cell as the silicon found in the cell makes prices increase. Their new cell uses 1% refined silicon making it much more affordable as well as providing more power per area or solar cell.

It is quite possible that waste will be turned into an alternative electricity source, as a new waste to energy project will take care of much of the waste disposed. Garbage is a problem to the environment and this is a great renewable options. Municipal trash is burned to produce steam and electricity. This has been know to produce electricity for over 100 years yet it has not been a popular source of electricity. This is a fantastic way to get rid of landfills and produce electricity at the same time.

Although it may appear that burning garbage is an inexpensive way to generate alternative electricity, it is uncertain how viable this option really is. Given the current state of technology, the hazards of creating toxic fumes or adding to carbon emissions are greater than the potential benefit of reducing the amount of garbage put into city landfills.

Others areas of alternative energy production look at producing electricity from cyanobacteria and pH differentials found between trees and soil. The best types of alternative energy generation still come from renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar energy. As technology advances these types of electricity generation will become even more affordable for the common consumer.

Is wind electricity the solution for everyone to be electricity self sufficient? Some parts of the world have sufficient consistent wind to make sufficient electricity to serve everyones needs.