Whether it’s on television, on blogs or in the newspapers, the narrative around renewable energy always surfaces the same two talking points: solar energy and wind energy. Maybe you’ve heard about biomass or tidal power, but that’s probably the extent of it. As far as green energy goes, most people Get Electric Today from one of these four or five alternative sources. Little did you know though, that’s far from all that’s out there. And tides certainly aren’t the strangest thing we can collect energy from.
Vegetable oil isn’t reserved for pots and pans exclusively. In the past, vegetable oil has proven itself as a viable energy source for vehicles like tractors and ambulances. It’s nontoxic, biodegradable and easy for people to get a hold of. Scientists continue to look for scalable solutions that could make vegetable oil an earnest resource for cars and trains across the globe.
Without even heading out of the kitchen, you’ll find another unconventional energy source: chocolate. Recently, the first sustainable race car was built by a team of scientists in the UK. The car completely and totally environmentally friendly, and it takes a mixture of animal fats and chocolate as fuel. Not to mention, it tops out at 135 miles per hour (not too shabby for a car with a sweet tooth).
Another group of European scientists is now looking toward the morgue for inspiration. Reportedly, dead bodies have confirmed as having high potential as an alternative energy source. While macabre, it could be a useful option for people looking to donate their bodies to science. Just imagine the energy potential of death by chocolate.