Top Renewable Energy Technologies to Watch in 2024
Speaker 1: 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 we’re watching. In 2024, Speaker 1: we start with our Waveline Magnet, which can harness wave energy to desalinate water, produce hydrogen fuel, and generate electricity. This prototype has been in development for over a decade, resulting in four unique designs. [00:00:30] The basic components. A spine runs through the middle, forming the structure. The platform is what connects the wavy magnet to the surface lever. Once the platform is connected to the spine, a pump collects and pressurizes seawater. This pressurized water is then used to harness wave power for a variety of purposes. The wavy magnet can be built big, small or anything in between, depending on wave conditions and the project goals. Alex Zs, CO CEO of the company, said the first [00:01:00] Commercial wave magnets will likely be small units focused on desalinating seawater. Wave energy has long been an engineering challenge due to the ocean’s violent waves and corrosive waters. Speaker 1: But we’ll keep watching, with a variety of approaches and innovative companies working hard to find solutions. Another conundrum is nuclear fusion power. Critics have always said fusion power was at least a decade away, but key milestones are being reached one after the other, each bringing the possibility of a future that is partially powered by nuclear fusion power. [00:01:30] We are getting closer to reality. In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved the first net energy gain, meaning that the team created a fusion reaction and produced more energy than was needed to start the reaction. The feat was repeated in July 2023. Producing an even higher energy yield while still producing a net gain is a major achievement. For a fusion reactor to be a practical energy source, it would need to produce about 10 times more energy than it currently does. [00:02:00] The amount of energy put into it is also huge, something that has to be done periodically with several huge fusion projects in various stages of development around the world. These include ITER and Taurus, a joint European project in France and the UK, as well as numerous fusion facilities in China. Speaker 1: There is a lot to look forward to in this space. I would like to close by highlighting some new uses for the ever-popular renewable solar power. Solar power is evolving as more companies seek to position themselves in the market as a greener or more sustainable option. [00:02:30] And how it will be harnessed. Last year, I had the chance to ride the Aptera. This car has been designed from start to finish with solar in mind. Its aerodynamic shape is designed to maximize efficiency and make the most of the solar panels it has on board. Some solar cars, like the Sono C, have struggled to raise funding, but interest in the idea of solar cars seems to remain. With the dawn of transparent solar, promoted by companies like Solar Window and Ubiquitous Energy, solar power is also finding its way into windows. [00:03:00] We’ve also seen solar power integrated into the fight against loggers. Dryad Networks is a company that makes a network of electronic noses that sense burning material in forests and send a signal to emergency workers for early detection. What green technology did we miss? Let us know in the comments. Check out more articles on renewable energy here. As always, thanks for watching. I’m your host, Jesse Orle. See you next time with the family.
