Energy Breakthroughs Are Reshaping Our World

We live in a period of disruptive change that is impacting the energy industry in ways that will produce an eco-friendly and sustainable future. Breakthroughs in renewable, storage and nuclear are reshaping energy infrastructure and the way electricity is produced, transmitted and consumed.

Government Policies Are Driving Change

Climate change has been the catalyst for governments to create policies that are steering the global transition to renewable energy. International climate agreements and legislation like America’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have created tax incentives and subsidies to promote the adoption of green energy technologies and are stimulating research and development in solar, wind, battery and other storage solutions as well as in modular, thorium and fusion reactor technologies. These government initiatives have come about in realization that the dependence on fossil fuel energy sources has produced the existential threat of climate change.

Collaboration among academic, public and private enterprise is driving technological innovation with significant research and investment being made in seeking new ways to light, heat and cool our homes and businesses around the world. 

Renewable Growth Outperforms All Other Energy Sources

Climate change has shifted the focus of energy producers from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives that include hydro, wind, solar and geothermal sources. The ultimate goal is a lower collective carbon footprint. Experts at BKV Energy, a Texas-based energy provider, are among those at the forefront in pursuing renewable, sustainable energy production and distribution.

Solar panels are becoming more efficient and cheaper to make. Perovskite is replacing silicon as the material being used for next-generation solar. Innovative designs are increasing the energy conversion efficiency of panels beyond the former upper limit of 30%. New photovoltaics can now produce electricity even in less sunny environments.

With innovations in wind turbine designs, the amount of energy harvested per tower and from both onshore and offshore wind farms is increasing while the cost per kilowatt/hour (kwh) produced continues to fall.

Energy Storage Solves Renewable Intermittency Challenges 

Intermittency has always been the bugbear for renewable energy production. The sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. Innovative battery and other storage technologies are answering the challenge. New battery and storage technologies are balancing grids where renewable energy sources play an increasing role. 

Modern battery systems using lithium-ion and flow batteries are proving their worth for both residential and industrial energy use. Pumped-storage solutions are enhancing the role of hydroelectricity in the renewable energy mix. This technology moves water between reservoirs at different elevations. When energy demand is low, water stored at a lower elevation is pumped uphill to a higher reservoir. During peak demand, that water gets released to power turbines and generators.

The Unrealized Potential of Geothermal Is Finally In Play 

Geothermal energy is a largely untapped renewable power source around the world today. Countries like Costa Rica and New Zealand are exploiting their hydrothermal energy harvested from underlying volcanic formations. These facilities produce nearly zero-emissions and use much less land per Megawatt/hour (Mwh) (around 0.4 to 3 hectares (1 to 8 acres)) compared to 4 hectares (10 acres) for solar, 7.7 hectares (19 acres) for coal-fired powerplants, and 8 to 16 hectares (20 to 40 acres) for wind.

Beyond exploiting volcanoes, geothermal energy can be harvested several ways including using natural heat from depths of between 30 and 600 metres (approximately 100 to 2,000 feet) to power heat pumps or passively heat structures like greenhouses. At depths of 600 to 2,500 metres (2,000 to 8,200 feet) the harvested heat can be used to produce energy for larger structures, and at depths beyond 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) can power steam turbines.

Nuclear Power Has Once More Become An Option

From the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear power became a pariah. Not so anymore. Growing data centre demand has Google investing in a mothballed nuclear powerplant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Bill Gates has put together an investment group to build a thorium-fuelled reactor in Wyoming.

Small modular reactor (SMR) designs are being built in Ontario and new SMRs are being deployed on ships where they can provide power to coastal areas recovering from hurricanes and other climate disasters. SMRs are being seen as alternative power sources for remote locations such as the Arctic or islands where they can provide electricity, heating, industrial steam, and seawater desalination.

Advances in academic and business circles, developing fusion reactors, are closer to the deployment of several commercial designs that hold promise to provide zero-emission power with no radioactive waste, the latter being the current challenge of fission reactor technologies.

Redesigning Grids Holds Promise

Integrating renewable energy into existing power grids requires the robust transformation of power distribution systems. Real-time data monitoring and automated controls are smart grid features that facilitate efficient energy distribution, reduce outages, and optimize energy consumption patterns.

Microgrids are seen as an effective way to manage local power requirements for areas operating in isolation. These smaller grid networks can effectively integrate solar, wind, water-based turbines (wave and current), biogas and passive and active geothermal and can be combined with power storage backup to meet local demands, feed large-scale manufacturing plants, operate all the machinery and equipment in a factory farm, or provide power for desalination. There is even a play for SMRs in microgrid designs.

Microgrids are more effective cogenerators of power than large power plants in serving remote locales. An interesting example of local energy generation can be found in the City of London where waste heat from the Tube, the London subway, is being used to heat nearby homes.

Embracing The Change And What Individuals Can Do

While all of the above plays a part in addressing the pursuit of a zero-emissions energy future, individuals can significantly impact the current energy transition. Smart meters can help homeowners manage energy demand more effectively. Energy-efficient appliances, rooftop solar, and utilizing public transportation are effective ways individuals can contribute to the overall goal. Community-driven initiatives such as local solar panel cooperatives can empower neighborhoods to embrace renewable energy solutions collectively and make the 21st century goal of zero emissions possible by mid-century.