10 Breakthroughs in Clean Energy
The following is a list of 10 major breakthroughs in the field of clean energy.
1. Solar Power Innovations
An innovation being developed in solar power is Perovskite solar cells. These have higher efficiency and lower production costs than traditional silicon cells. They are also lightweight and flexible, allowing for applications like solar-powered windows.
2. Wind Energy Innovations
Wind energy is constantly being improved and has recently seen significant growth due to increased efficiency that makes turbines capable of generating more power, even in areas with lower wind speeds. Offshore wind farms are also becoming more viable, providing an opportunity to harvest strong and consistent winds at sea.
3. Hydropower Innovations
New technologies in hydropower like small modular hydropower systems and pumped storage systems are reducing the environmental impact of a very common and reliable source of clean energy. Artificial intelligence integrations are also optimizing operations, allowing for improved performance and reduced costs for hydropower dams.
4. Geothermal Innovations
New geothermal systems that involve drilling deeper wells and using technology to enhance the permeability of rocks are being developed. These technologies provide access to deeper and hotter resources that expand the geographic range where geothermal energy can be harvested.
5. Bioenergy Innovations
Bioenergy is an excellent source of clean energy, however, it commonly uses food crops. There are innovations being made that make non-food crops and waste materials more viable for bioenergy, addressing these food availability challenges. There are also innovations being made related to algae-based biofuels.
6. Hydrogen Fuel Innovations
Green hydrogen is a very important innovation that has the potential to make hydrogen fuel a viable option. Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy sources to split water into hydrogen and oxygen while having no emissions. New hydrogen storage and transportation technologies are also being developed.
7. Energy Storage Innovations
Advanced battery technologies like solid-state batteries that offer higher energy density and longer lifespans than traditional batteries are being developed. Large-scale storage solutions like flow batteries and compressed air energy storage are also being developed.
8. Nuclear Energy Innovations
Small modular reactors that have enhanced safety features and require less capital investment are being developed to provide more flexible and scalable solutions. There have also been advances in research that seeks to replicate the sun’s energy production.
9. Smart Grid Innovations
Smart grid technologies that allow for digital communication to monitor and manage electricity flows are being developed. These improve efficiency and reliability while allowing consumers to adjust energy use.
10. Carbon Capture and Storage Innovations
Carbon capture technologies are constantly being researched due to their potential to prevent carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. Recently, governments have been investing significant amounts to research that has made advancements to make carbon capture more cost-effective and efficient.
Borrum Energy Solutions has also made innovations, we design microgeneration wind turbines and towers that provide an opportunity for rural dwellings to reduce diesel/propane costs while lowering carbon emissions and dependence on the electrical grid.