Renewable energy is not a new concept. It has been around for years. People that live off the grid have established the fact that it is possible to survive by producing their own power supply. The technology of today has made huge strides towards bringing the cost down. That has always been one of the main roadblocks that confronted anybody that wanted to go green.
There are technological advances being made that will change the future of energy production and distribution. The world has entered an advanced technological age across ever industry, which is creating a society that leaves smaller footprints upon the world.
- Batteries-You all use batteries throughout your everyday lives. Electronics need them to work. Cars need them to start. Renewable energy needs them to store the energy that has been created. One of the biggest setbacks that people have had to deal with is cost. As mentioned above, the cost for the equipment that you need has come down drastically, making it possible for average people to afford. Storage solutions are now in the works that will increase the amount of energy that can be stored in the batteries, which will in turn offer longer power supply to your house, without the system having to work.
- Perovskite Solar Panels-Solar energy has been an option for many years, but not like these. They are made from perovskite compounds lined in between transport layers and electrodes. It was first introduced in 2009, and by 2012 it had passed 10% efficiency. There have been concerns over moisture getting into the panels and shorting them out, but over the years changes have been made, and tests have been intense. These panels will have a significant impact on the power industries around the world. A basic electricity compare site can show you prices of energy that is supplied to you and can offer access to information on how much the company will pay you back for excess amounts of power generated.
- Offshore Power Generators-You have heard of offshore drilling platforms, and some of you have even worked on one. There are power applications in the making that will produce power on a platform in the middle of the ocean. Using tidal movements to turn huge turbines, they will create power that can be used throughout the world. Underwater pipes would carry the energy to the destination power grids. Water will not be the only way that these platforms produce energy, though. The wind will also be harnessed to work along with the water, increasing the amount of power that each platform can push out.
- Eavor-Loop-Geothermal power production has been left to areas of volcanic activity because of the extreme amounts of heat. The Eavor-loop is formed by vertical wells in the ground, and on the surface. Horizontal wellbores then create a closed circuit of pipes that are buried underground. Geothermal energy works by fluid being pushed through the pipes and collecting the heat from the ground. It is then pushed up to the generators that turn it into heat, which is then transported to the locations that need it.
- Air-Gen System-This recent innovation is made from a generator that has a thin film, made of protein nanowires, connected to a pair of electrodes. It absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, which then allows energy to pass between the two electrodes. This process makes usable energy literally out of thin air. The biggest benefit of this technology is that it does not rely on resources controlled by mother nature. She is very inconsistent, and unreliable, so going around that problem is a huge step forward to the renewable energy industry.
There are other projects throughout the world that is focusing on making the people of the Earth more focused on the ‘Green’ movement. These top five options will begin to play a huge part in the shift towards power being created through renewable resources, which are virtually inexhaustible. Which is exactly how the United States Energy Information Administration defines renewable energy.
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