We sifted through hundreds of innovations that grabbed attention last year.
In this series of nine posts, we share the most interesting and impactful ideas.
How to revolutionize energy production and storage?
A great source of energy is ocean waves. Covering about 70% of the surface of our planet, oceans have a vast amount of hydrokinetic energy. The American company, Oscilla Power, has developed a new device called Triton wave energy converter. The device has a surface float linked to a submerged ring-shaped plate by three tight tendons. Unlike traditional wave energy converters that obtain energy from waves going up and down, Triton captures energy from all kinds of motions such as pitch, roll, and yaw. In addition, Triton is designed to survive extreme storm conditions. This new technology will likely increase energy production from ocean waves.
The purpose
To better capture hydrokinetic energy from oceans
The idea
Make a device that capture wave energy in all degrees of freedom
Using nuclear reactions to generate electricity is not a new idea. Unlike fossil-fuel based power plants, nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gases. Unlike solar and wind energy, nuclear power does not depend on weather. However, nuclear power plants are slow to build, cost a lot, and need large land. These factors limit the adoption. NuScale Power, an American company, has the first-ever small modular reactor (SMR) design that was certified by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The design is based on proven pressurized water-cooled reactor technology. This certification in Jan 2023 means that companies can use this design for 50-megawatt SMR and apply for a license from the commission. It is expected that the first module of NuScale VOYGR plant in Idaho will be operational by 2029. The NuScale Power Module is of a cylindrical shape, measuring only 15 feet in diameter and 76 feet in height. It can power tens of thousands of homes and seem ideal for rural towns with small population. It needs refueling every two years. With this new technology, it takes less time and space to build a nuclear power plant. In addition, the modular nature of the design may enable gradual expansion of power plants if needed.
The purpose
To make nuclear power cheap and accessible
The idea
Make mini nuclear reactors
Balancing the generation and the use of electricity is not easy. In peak hours, people use a lot of electricity. For example in New England, the ratio of annual peak-hour demand to average hourly demand was 1.78 in 2012. In downtime, the utilization level for generators is low. Green energy, such as solar and wind energy, can make it even worse because electricity generation is dependent on weather. There is a strong need for efficient energy storage so that unconsumed energy can be saved for later peak-hour use. Using lithium-ion batteries to store energy seems an obvious choice. However, such batteries, in addition to being costly, have a short discharge time and typically can provide power for only a few hours. The Nant de Drance power plant in Switzerland uses water to store energy. The plant is located 600 meters underground between two reservoirs. When there is excessive electricity in the grid, the plant pumps water from the lower reservoir up to the higher one so that the energy is saved as the gravitational potential energy of water. When there is insufficient electricity in the grid, the water from the higher reservoir goes down through the turbines of the plant to generate electricity. The plant can generate 900 MW of power, which is as much as the Goesgen nuclear power plant. The storage capacity is equivalent to that of 400,000 electric car batteries. The Nant de Drance power plant plays an important role in balancing the demand and supply of electricity in Europe.
The purpose
To store energy on a large scale
The idea
Convert the energy into the gravitational potential energy of water
Further Possibilities
1. Store energy based on water with gym equipment
Storing the mechanical energy generated during workouts, gyms might promote sustainability, engage users in energy conservation, and contribute to a cleaner and greener future.
2. Have boats powered by wave energy
It might reduce the need for energy by using the kinetic energy generated by ocean waves to propel and operate boats or watercraft.
3. Have nuclear powered spaceship
Nuclear power offers several advantages for space travel, including high energy density, long-duration power supply, and potential for faster interplanetary travel.
4. Use air compression to store energy
It would involve converting mechanical energy into compressed air, which can be stored and later converted back into usable energy when needed.
5. Have new wind turbines that capture wind energy in all degrees of freedom
These innovative wind turbines would have the potential to enhance the efficiency, adaptability, and overall effectiveness of wind energy generation.
Questions
1. How else might we store energy on a large scale?
2. How might we use AI to improve energy production or storage?
3. How might a home store energy?
