Renewable energy today

When it comes to renewable energy, this avidly sustainable realm is certainly progressing at a rampant pace. If solid figures are anything to go by, around 16 percent of total global energy consumption is derived from strictly renewable sources. In this regard, power generation is seen to be the benchmark of energy utilization in some quarters. Well, renewable sources actually score higher in the electricity sector, with 19 percent of overall world output. As a matter of fact, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2010-2011, the total power capacity of renewable sources (at 381 GW) has overtaken global nuclear power (at 375 GW) in 2011 itself.

Wind power has been the real driving force behind these incredible figures, with increase of over thirty-fold times in last decade (with currently 198 GW capacity, out of 381 GW). Though, among the bulk of practical installations, solar power is seen to have the greatest potentiality in the future, with energy watchdogs already touting its share surpassing that of conventional sources in 30 – 50 years.

The demand

From the statistical viewpoint, we can clearly comprehend the significance (and impact) of renewable sources in the near future. This brings us to the important point of future demand for world wide energy. Again reverting back to numbers, wind power has shown its greatest growth (of all time) in the year 2009. But as we mentioned, it is the ever ‘green’ solar energy that is showing some exuberantly promising proposals. Receiving boost of over 60 percent for the past five years, grid-connected PV has actually increased the fastest of all renewable technologies. With these massive strides of non-emission technology, we can logically conclude that renewable sources will the next big field in the energy production sector. As a matter of fact, analysts have already estimated that by 2050, renewable sources will account for around a gargantuan 77 percent of world’s power output.

The move to harvest unconventional

Now, as the chimes of sustainability are ringing at all corners, it is not only the ‘major’ renewable sources like wind, solar and biogas that accounts for a practical system. Beyond the scope of mass commercialization, there are some innovative albeit quirky conceptions that have the potentiality to cater consumers at a more micro-scale. Suited for individual needs (like charging mobile gadgets), as opposed to societal needs (like producing electricity for whole grids), let us check out some of them.

What’s next?

1. Shoe power

The Designer: Tom Krupenkin and Ashley Taylor

The product

We might be blissfully unaware of the fact, but there is a credible amount of energy dissipated (in the form of heat) through our feet, while we walk. In this regard, two engineering researchers by the name of Tom Krupenkin and Ashley Taylor have ingeniously contrived an in-shoe system, which has the ability to collect the energy produced by our mechanical strides. The wearable system entails the conversion of mechanical heat energy to electricity by a micro fluid device. The power generation (up to 20 watts of electricity) is achieved by the chemical reaction of these micro droplets over an advanced nanostructure substrate. The complimentary battery pack is carefully embedded inside the system, to be shielded from external components like dirt and water. Finally, coming to the transmission of this harnessed power, mobile devices can be juiced up by a connecting wire. Moreover, the designers are also thinking of an inductive coupling mechanism that can be embedded within the interior of user’s clothing.

2. Bouncing breast energy

The Designer: Adrienne So

The product

Bizarre? Absolutely yes, but one cannot deny the tinge of practicality imbibed in this bold idea. According to the designer, women with big cup size can also conscientiously help in generating sustainable ‘human’ energy. The notion is pretty simple; the natural from of mechanical kinetic energy is produced by the bouncing of breasts. This preposterous source can then be harnessed by a specially made nano wire fabric, which in turn can be incorporated within an elastic brassiere. Now, beyond the ludicrous essence, mathematical solutions suggest that around 80 milli-watt of power can be produced by around 1 sq m of the elastic fabric. As for user convenience, the mechanism can also be made cost effective by integrating it into T-shirts and other forms of clothing.

3. Energy Generating Soccer Ball

The Designer: Harvard engineering students

The product

Statistically, there is around 190 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted each year by developing nations around the world. In such an adverse situation, four engineering students from Harvard have ingeniously contrived the Soccket: an energy generating football. Taking advantage of the huge appeal of the ‘beautiful game’ in African countries, the designers have developed the ball using an inductive coil mechanism. Harnessing the kinetic energy (produced from the movement of the ball) by the magnet through a coil, the resulting power is stored in an integrated battery system. According to the designers, fifteen minutes of playing can generate enough electricity to illuminate a small LED for three hours. And as a beneficial ‘by-product’ of the endeavor, one also gets some hearty and enjoyable exercise.

4. Revolution Door

The Designer: Fluxxlab studio

The product

Ever had those reminiscing reveries of having fun through those revolving doors in your childhood? Well, ‘green’ technology has rather notched it up a level with New York City based Fluxxlab studio’s Revolution Door. Analogous to the mechanism of a rotating turbine, the device can actually be divided into three significant components: the central system that replaces the door, a secondary unit that can harness the kinetic energy and an output system like a battery for storing the harnessed energy. Theoretically, everything looks about fine, but practically the question still remains: will enough power be generated by just the rotating technique? Well, the answer can only be offered by the future.

5. Pee powered fuel cell

The Designer: Youtricity

The product

Already touted as the world’s very first Direct Urea Powered Fuel Cell, the fascinating project is still in its development stage. The company has envisaged this innovative conception as a water treatment/urea containment measure, which also doubles up as a power generator. Coming to the interesting mechanism, the device will consume urea, while the infusion provides the basis for a chemical reaction (between a fuel and an oxidant). Thus the output of the chemical energy gets converted into resultant electricity. Obviously, the contraption has its own shortcoming in having a battery system without storage capability for the aforementioned chemical energy. But, according to the designers, the predicament can be remedied by the overall urea consumption of the device.

Do we really need them?

As consumers when we look to the future, we can comprehend a much better energy distribution system with sustainability ingrained at its core. But that does not hide the adverse scenarios we are facing in the present. With the malefic nature of high pollution levels and acute energy shortages (in some parts of the world), one can only look forth to credible solutions. In this regard, such unconventional energy sources may score high on the eccentric quotient, but logically some of them are surely applicable in our lives. So, in simpler terms, anything that diversifies our renewable technology has the potentiality to be needed by the common man.