Alternative energy refers to a wide range of energy generation processes that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment. Are alternative and renewable energy the same thing? While they certainly contain a great deal of overlap, there are differences. Alternative energy is energy that is generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment. Thus, alternative energy is an “alternative” to the use of fossil fuels or nuclear power. Renewable energy, however, refers to a specific type of energy that is collected from some renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. They are “renewable” in the sense that they are constantly replenishing within a relatively short time frame without human intervention.
Both alternative energy and renewable energy are parts of the new “bioeconomy”, as energy companies continue to become familiar more with them. As the world’s population grows, it is important that the fuels and chemicals we use are both environmentally-friendly (since we all value breathing) and quickly renewable (since we want a continuous cycle that does not run out or run low).
Alternative energy processes and projects have a long history, but the recent focus on renewability has increased their importance. Many countries and localities are now providing incentives to the production of renewable alternative energy in an effort to jump-start the industry. The US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and California’s LCFS (Low Carbon Fuel Standard) are just the best known of many others that provide economic assistance to the emerging renewable energy industry.
With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas, including anaerobic digestion, fermentation, biomass, conversion technologies for things like tires and railroad ties, organic synthesis, fuel additives, ethanol gas, biodiesel fuel including algae biofuels, solid-state and industrial fermentation, green energy grants, ag-biotech, agricultural waste, alcohol fuels, alternative proteins and animal-free products, sustainable foods, beverage fermentation, biocatalysis, biodiesel conversion, biogas production, biomass power, carbon intensity, co2 utilization, combined heat & power, Fischer-Tropsch technology, food waste, hydrothermal carbonization, industrial enzymes, landfill management, microbial fermentation, organic synthesis, plastic pyrolysis, plastic recycling, plastic waste, pyrolysis oil, reactor design, renewable identification number, the Renewable Fuel Standard (rfs2), solid recovered fuels, torrefaction and torrefied biomass, waste to energy, and waste-to-hydrogen. This is a multidisciplinary group of green energy consultants that is a virtual “one-stop-shop” for any client need and handles projects of all types and sizes.
Look at our experts and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full-service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. See a video about LEC here. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.