From wave-riding power devices to artificial suns, many companies are working to develop new ways to produce energy more sustainably. Here are some of the most exciting renewable energy technologies to watch in 2024.
The Waveline Magnet is a long yellow raft that can harness wave energy to desalinate water, produce hydrogen fuel and generate electricity. This prototype has been in development for over 10 years resulting in a unique design.
WaveLine magnets can be built large, small or anything in between, depending on wave conditions and the project’s goals, and the company’s co-CEO Alex Zakeos told CNET that the first commercial WaveLine magnets will likely be smaller units focused on desalination.
Check out the top 10 renewable energy technologies to watch in 2024
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Wave energy has long been a tough engineering challenge due to the ocean’s violent waves and corrosive salt water, but with a variety of approaches and innovative companies working hard to solve these problems, wave energy is sure to stay in our sights.
Another hurdle is fusion power. Critics always say that fusion power is at least a decade away, but each time a major milestone is reached, the possibility of a partially fusion-powered future comes closer to reality.
In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved its first net energy gain, meaning the team created a fusion reaction that produced more energy than was needed to trigger the reaction. The feat was repeated in July 2023, producing an even higher energy yield.
Inside the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 192 of the world’s most energetic lasers are focused on a target to create a nuclear fusion reaction like the one that occurs in the sun.
LLNL
While generating a net profit would be a great achievement, for a fusion reactor to be a practical energy source, it would need to regularly produce about 10 times the energy put into it.
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With several fusion projects in various stages of development around the world, such as ITER in France, the Joint European Torus in the UK, and numerous fusion facilities in China, there is a lot to look out for in this field.
Finally, here are some novel applications of solar, a staple of renewable energy. Solar is evolving in terms of where and how it can be used, as more companies seek to position themselves in the market as a greener, more sustainable option.
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Last year, I had the chance to ride the Aptera. Every inch of this car has been designed with solar power in mind. Its aerodynamic shape is designed to maximize efficiency and make the most of the solar panels on board. While some solar cars like the Sono Sion have struggled to raise funding, interest in the idea of solar cars seems to remain.
Aptera’s aerodynamic shape is designed to maximize efficiency and make the most of the solar panels on board.
Jesse Oral/CNET
Solar power is also coming to windows thanks to the advent of transparent solar panels promoted by companies like Solar Window and Ubiquitous Energy.
We also saw solar power being adopted in forest fire defence, with Dryad Networks manufacturing a network of “electronic noses” that can sense burning material in forests and send a signal to emergency responders for early detection.
To see the technologies presented here in action, check out the video that accompanies this article.
