Important Innovations

  Rise of Solar Power                                   Source:  Stock Image of Solar Panels A Greener World According to the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol, solar is the "new king of the world's electricity markets".  In its annual World Energy Outlook, the IEA forecast that solar power will overtake coal as the largest means of energy production in 2025. Solar vs Coal The question is how did the world reach this green turn of events?  The answer is that in many countries, solar power is now cheaper than coal and gas.  Also, a number of nations have set strong targets to cut emissions and reduce fossil fuel use.  And, solar projects have become less expensive to manufacture and install. Fast Forward The IEA projects that over the next ten years, renewable energy will equal 80% of new power generation.  However, there is one big need to support the switch to renewable energy:  an investment of at least $460 billion in energy grids

Squad Mobility's Solar Cars to Debut in Europe Source:  Squad Mobility Green, Sustainable Driving Amsterdam-based Squad Mobility has invented a solar powered, 2 seat mini electric car.  Called the Squad Solar City Car, it's getting ready to go on the market in Europe.  The vehicle comes in two versions.  A L6e model can go up to 28 mph.  And, the L7 model can accelerate up to 50 mph.  These electric vehicles are not designed for highway driving.  They're designed for driving city streets and country roads. Roof Top Solar Panels The solar panels are mounted on the roof so charging can be done inexpensively or even for free with sunshine only.  The company is taking pre-orders.  The price is $6,330.  First deliveries will start in late 2021.  The vehicle size is 21.5 square feet.  4 of the EVs can fit into a parking spot designed for a SUV.  The vehicle has seat belts, a roll cage for additional safety, air conditioning and removeable doors.  The company says i

BP Pilot Project in Australia Source:  stock image of hydrogen Producing Hydrogen From Wind and Solar Power British Petroleum has won approval from the government of Australia to produce hydrogen energy from wind and solar power.  The renewable energy sources of wind and solar power will be used to split water and convert it into hydrogen and ammonia.  Australia is contributing more than $1 million to the $4.4 million BP feasibility study. Australia:  Global Hydrogen Capital Australia has ambitions to be a major producer of hydrogen by 2030.  If the feasibility study yields promising results, BP will build a pilot plant in western Australia to produce 20,000 tons of hydrogen.  Later, it will build a commercial scale facility capable of producting 1 million tons for both domestic and international markets. Renewable Energy's Holy Grail The production of green, renewable hydrogen using wind and solar power drastically cuts carbon emissions.  Energy e

New Device Generates Electricity from Moisture in the Air Source:  UMASS Amherst Potential Green Energy Gamechanger Scientists at UMASS Amherst have invented a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from the moisture in the air.  They call it the "Air-Gen" for air powered generator.  The device doesn't need sunlight or wind and creates clean energy 24/7.  It's a renewable process that works off the moisture in the air, both outdoors and indoors.  The inventors say it is low-cost, renewable and nonpolluting. Big Energy Possibilities The system now can power small electronic devices.  The team wants to take it to the commercial level to power electronics wearables and smartwatches.  They foresee the day when this system could eliminate the need to plug in your smartphone for energy.  Their system eliminates the need for batteries. How It Works The UMASS system connects electrodes to unique protein nanowires.  It results in low cost elect

New, Transformative Device to Generate Power from Night Sky Source:   UCLA Renewable and Complements Solar Power This new, inexpensive thermoelectric device may be transformative in energy generation.  It harvests the coldness of space during the night to generate electricity - enough right now to power a LED light at nighttime, but the inventors say it's very scalable.  The device is a significant new innovation from engineers at UCLA and Stanford University.  The gadget works at night when solar systems don't.  The inventors say it's a new approach to power generation when power at night is needed.  It complements solar power that doesn't work at night, giving a 24/7 approach to green, renewable energy. Phenomenon Like Frost Formation The device takes advantage of radiative cooling, the process by which frost forms on grass during above freezing temperatures at night.  The sky facing surface of the technology passes heat to the atmosphere as thermal radiat

New Hydrogel Invention from Singapore to Harvest Fresh Water from Ocean Air Source:  Stock Ocean Image Huge Water Resource Scientists from the National University of Singapore have invented a system to pull fresh water out of ocean air.  They've developed a hydrogel using a zinc based material that is able to absorb more than four time its weight in water.  Huge amounts of water evaporate every day from the ocean, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.  The team in Singapore has found an innovative way to harvest the water in the humid surface air above the water surface. Secret Ingredient - Sunlight The system has been successfully tested.  The team put the gel in devices floating on the ocean surface where it collected water vapor created during evaporation.  By placing the gel in a glass container in sunlight, fresh water was created and harvested.  The salt content in the water was negligible. Renewable, Reusable Energy Rather than relying on electricity, the new hydroge

3D Printed Wood - Alternative to Forrest Based Products Green Packaging, Green Furniture, Green Paper Products This new 3D printing technology from Sweden could revolutionize the manufacturing of green, forest based products.  It's breakthrough, 3D printing technology that uses wood ink to create a substance that mimics the cellular architecture of wood.  For a great news blog on this new technology, go to Important Innovations Collection: 3D Printed Alternative to Forrest Based Products : 3D Printing Wood Source:  Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden Revolutionizing the Manufacture of Green Products A breakthroug...

SK's New Commitment to Renewables Source: South Korea Coal-Generating Power Plant Accelerating with Renewable Energy South Korea is accelerating its shift to cleaner, greener energy.  It has set long term renewable energy targets. The government of South Korea wants to reach a goal of 35% renewable sources of energy by 2040.  That is about four times the amount of renewables they are using right now. South Korea Energy Mix South Korea is currently utilizing 8% of renewable energy sources as part of its energy mix.  They are highly reliant on coal generating plants and nuclear power for their electricity.  They hope to have renewable energy sources up to 20% by 2030 and increase that significantly by 2040.  The great news here is how many nations are setting schedules and agendas to make more renewable sources a significant part of the energy mix.

New Innovation to Forward Constant Use of Green Energy Source:  Vattenfall Salt-Based Storage Tech for Wind and Solar Power The main disadvantage of wind and solar power is their intermittent stop and start nature.  SaltX of Sweden has a new technology solution.  It's a salt based power storage system that Vattenfall, the Swedish power producer, is putting to an industrial level test.  If this works, it could make wind and solar energy more constantly available for our use.  The test is based in Berlin and goes through the summer.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Making Green Energy More Constantly Useable : Renewable Energy Innovation from Sweden New Salt-Based Storage Technology System For Green Energy Vattenfall is a Swedish power produc...

Massive Solar Thermal Power Project Megalim Starts Up in Israel Source:  Israel's Megalim Solar Project  Renewable Energy: Multi Billion Dollar Solar Valley The Megalim Solar Project in Israel is now in commercial operation. It's being called Israel's Multi-Billion Dollar Solar Valley. This is the largest renewable energy project in Israel and one of the largest and most complex in the world. It's a huge, concentrated solar thermal power plant delivering renewable energy in the Negev Desert. It's provides a daily clean energy supply to Israel's National Grid. It reminds you of Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's promise 60 years ago "to make the desert bloom again". Commitment to Renewable Energy Israel is committed to reaching a goal of 10% of its electricity generation from renewables by 2020. The Megalim is a big part of that goal and it's one of the largest solar plants of its kind in the world. It is a joint ve

New Wave, Ocean Energy Device Source:  Dielectric Elastomer Generator - University of Edinburg European Engineers Invent Successful Wave Device to Generate Electricity for Homes It's a simple, inexpensive wave device that generates clean, green electricity potentially for thousands of homes at first.  The brilliant device was invented and successfully tested by a group of European university engineers from Scotland and Italy.  It's called a Dielectric Elastomer Generator and is a vertical cylinder tied to ships that converts ocean wave energy to electricity.  For a great news blog on this latest innovation in renewable energy, go to Important Innovations Collection: New Wave Energy Power : Ocean Power to Generate Electricity Source:  Stock Image New, International Engineered Device An international team of engineers from...

Wind Power For Houses Source:  Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbines New, Small, Noiseless Wind Turbines The renewable energy technology has been developed by a team of Argentines.  It's called Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbine and it delivers electricity from the kinetic energy of the wind into the home. Semtive Nemoi just opened a US headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA and they are rolling out their wind technology across the US.  The system has been cited as one of the top inventions of 2018.  For a new blog from my journalist colleague Ed Kane, go to Important Innovations Collection: Wind Powered Homes : New Renewable Energy Source for Residences Source: Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbine New Wind Power System It's the Semtive Nemoi W...

Thorium Based Nuclear Power - Greener Electricity Source:  Thorium Powered Nuclear Reactor Global Innovation Research Thorium based nuclear reactors.  Global scientists are working on this promising greener form of nuclear energy.  Thorium is a moderately radioactive chemical.  It can be used as "fuel salt" in molten salt reactors to produce electricity.  It can't be used to produce nuclear weapons and produces much less dangerous waste than current nuclear power plants. Advantages of Thorium and Who Is Working On It The Netherlands and China are investing in this technology.  It offers the advantages of traditional reactors.  It's reliable, efficient and low carbon emissions electricity.  And that is without the big problems of radioactive waste and nuclear proliferation.  It's a promising and greener form of renewable nuclear energy. CERN The European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) believes thorium could be a radically disruptive source of cle

Stanford University's Rooftop Renewable Energy Device Source:  Stanford University Provides Electricity and Cooling from Sun and Space Scientists from Stanford University have created a first.  A single device that collects heat from the sun and coldness from outer space.  It simultaneously collects space and solar energy, generates electricity and coolness and functions with great efficiency.  Their research results have been published in the journal Joule. Double Layer Panel Their invention is a double layered rooftop panel.  The top layer is composed of standard semiconductor materials that go into solar cells.  The bottom layer is revolutionary and the combination of the 2 layers is being hailed as a potential gamechanger.  The bottom layer is composed of novel materials that collects the space energy and does the cooling. Dual Functions:  Electricity and Cooling The device combines radiative cooling with solar absorption technology.  On the roof the device would

International Research Solar Energy Push Source:  Uppsala University - Water Oxidation thru Photosystem II Detailing Photosystem II Photosystem II is a protein complex that splits water into hydrogen ions and oxygen during photosynthesis.  New images of the process, shown here, have been released by scientists at Uppsala University in Sweden.  A team of international scientists are taking part in this research. Goal: Cheap, Efficient Solar Fuel Power The new images are expected to help scientists to better understand what is a very complicated mechanism - photosystem II.  That detailed understanding could open the opportunity to develop solar fuel devices that are cheap and efficient.  Bottom-line:  photosystem II activates calcium and magnesium metal ions, which are cheap and plentiful, into a powerful water oxidation system.  By understanding the process, chemists potentially could do the same and open up solar fuel possibilities. Renewable Energy Economy Right now, 8

Could Hot Springs Be the Future of Agriculture? Pagosa Springs Geodesic Greenhouses Powered by Geothermal Energy A Grand Experiment: Geothermal, Renewable, Sustainable Farming A small Colorado town Pagosa Springs is using its hot springs to grow food for the community year round.  It's a 5 year experiment by the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership, a non-profit, volunteer organization that's pushing innovation with great potential. Geothermal Energy 24/7/365 The group is turning the world's largest and deepest geothermal hot spring into a lot more than a tourist destination.  They're using the renewable energy source that's available 24/7/365 to grow food year round for the community. Geothermal Farming Geothermal energy is energy harnessed from the earth's heat.  Geothermal farming is something new,  different and very promising.  The reason is geothermal energy is abundant in the US and could provide a renewable energy source for farming.  The Color

Hotter Than the Core of the Sun Source:  Tokamak Energy   Tokamak Energy In the United Kingdom, a private nuclear fusion company has heated a plasma of hydrogen to 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.  The company is Tokamak Energy.  Their achievement is a world first.  They hope to be the first to produce electricity from nuclear fusion commercially by 2030. Next Test Tokamak's new nuclear fusion reactor will be put to the test again in 2019.  They're going to heat the plasma to 180 million degrees Fahrenheit.  That will put the reactor within the operating temperature needed for controlled nuclear fusion. Star in a Jar Nuclear fusion reactors are called Star in a Jar.  The reason is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium is the main nuclear reaction that keeps the stars and sun burning for billions of years.  There are a number of companies in the US, Europe and Canada working on fusion reactors to provide power to the grid. Nuclear fusion is renewable energy. There