2014's Most Promising Alternative Energy Trends

2014'S MOST PROMISING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TRENDS HARNESSING THE SUN SOLAR CHARGED TECHNOLOGY WHO'S DEVELOPING IT? APPLE RUMOR HAS IT The iPhone 6 will have a "sapphire" glass with a solar-charging screen. The tech giant currently has 7 patents out for solar power tech that will recharge it's products on-the-go. An "electronic device display module" will be used to create two-sided displays for the lid of MacBooks SPRAYPAINTED SOLAR CELLS WHO'S STUDYING IT? E The University of Sheffield's Department of Physics and Astronomy WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? Scientists have developed a way to apply a photovoltaic active layer onto solar cells via spray coating. Its similar to how paint is sprayed onto cars. APPLICATIONS Reducing the cost and energy required to make solar cells Applying this "solar paint" directly to surfaces like buildings and car roofs. Jn the meantime,however... SOLAR PANEL CARS WHO'S DEVELOPING IT? Ford Ford Motor Company THE CONCEPT The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is an energy-powered vehicle that bypasses electric charging stations by relying on solar panels. CO2 CO2 Special "concentrators" on the car's canopy act as a magnifying glass and direct rays of light to the solar panels. The C-MAX is estimated to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions of a typical vehicle owner by 4 metric tons. If all light-duty vehicles were to adopt the C-MAX technology, emissions could be reduced by approximately 1 billion metric tons. Though a prototype has been developed, the concept is too new to estimate when-or if-mass production will ever be on the table. KEEPING IT NATURAL SUGAR BATTERIES WHO'S STUDYING IT? wvgina Tech Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT GLUCOSE Researchers have found a way to create fuel cells that use a sugar solution instead of hydrogen. SUGAR The only byproducts of the sugar fuel cell are electricity and water Sugar is one of the most commonly found energy storage compounds in nature. 596 The new sugar battery has a storage dens ity of 596 amp-hours per kilowatt- That's roughly 10 times the density of Lithiumion batteries found in mobile phones! amp-hours/kilowatt The technology could be ready to be commercially produced in only three years. THE BODY ELECTRIC POWER OF THE HEART WHO'S DEVELOPING IT? I University of ILlinois at Urbana-Champaign HOW IT WORKS A metal piezoelectric "patch" would be implanted in the body. where it would harvest energy from the regular movements of the body such as the heartbeat. FACTS 8. The patch is made of flexible nanoribbons that generate a VOLTS It can generate up to 8 volts of electricity with each beat. charge as they bend with the movement of the heart. APPLICATIONS The ability to keep a medical implant charged indefinitely. without the need for battery replacement through expensive and risky surgeries. Such technology could be the beginning of learning how to use the human body as a sustainable source of energy. That covers the interior body. But what about our exterior movements? POWER OF A SINGLE STEP WHO'S STUDYING IT? ivegen Pavegen systems HOW IT WORKS Specifically designed tiles use a mechanical system to convert the kinetic energy of a footstep into electricity which can be used immediately or stored for later use. Each footstep can The energy can transmit data up to 200 meters. generate up to 7 watts. The tiles are also mostly The tile's top surface is 100% recycled rubber made of recycled material The slab base is 80% recycled materials. APPLICATIONS In New York City, Riverdale Country School is the first school in the US to install the tiles, which are used to Advertising Displays Wireless power an LED display that shows the amount of energy collected and power a phone-charging station for the students. Data capture communication Indoor & Charging outdoor lighting Wayfinding Lighting SALE RECYCLING WASTE LIQUID FUEL FROM METHANE WHO'S DEVELOPING IT? A team from Berkeley Lab's Life Science and Advanced Light Source Divisions. MELEY LA THE GOAL The engineering team hopes to develop a new enzyme that would convert methane to liquid transportation fuel. Methane is the main Methane can currently be converted to liquid hydrocarbons, but the process is energy-intensive and expensive. component of biogas from wastewater treatment plants and landfills. THE PROCESS IS IN IT'S EARLY STAGES Once they construct the new enzyme, they will have to engineer a new metabolic cycle and figure out how to produce liquid fuel from methane on a large scale. SMART TECH, CLEAN ENERGY WHO'S STUDYING IT? Everyone-and if you aren't, you should be! SMART TECH IS CLEAN TECH From our mobile technology to household appliances, technology are consistently being designed to improve power conservation and energy efficiency. THIS INCLUDES.. Meters that let you know when Smart sensors that shut off rates are lowest for unnecessary appliances during energy demand spikes energy-consuming activities like washing clothes. IT SAVES BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR WALLET! SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY Smart grid technology is able to overcome the arguments that renewable energy sources are unreliable. These electricity grids can help manage the control of power from the source to the application. SOURCES TollFreeForwarding. BUSINESS WITHOUT BORDERS http://www.pavegen.com/technology http://phys.org/news/201401aimsliquidfuelmethane.html http://www.shef.ac.uk/news/nr/solarphotovoltaicpvspraypaintinglidzey1.251912 http://efergy.com/blog/thefutureisbrighttopfivegreenenergytrendsfor2014andbeyond http://news.cnet.com/830117938_10557617607 1/sweetscientistsdevelopingsugarfilledbatteries/ http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/implantharvestsheartbeatpower00006195.asp?sessionide1 http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10waysalternativeenergyisabouttochangethewaytechgetspowered/ http://www.patentlyapple.com/patentlyapplel 2013/ 10/appleinventspowermanagementsystemwithsolarpaneloption.html https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fnalus/en/news/2014/01/02/letthesuninfordcmaKsolarenergiconceptgoesofthegri.html