AS WE head into 2014, let us take a look back
into what 2013 had to offer the clean energy industry.
There were many breakthroughs last year from
salt batteries to changes in the laws. Technology is quickly taking us closer
to our goal of a zero-carbon future. Here are my four top innovations of last
year:
1.
Vehicles
that power buildings: We have all read or
heard about the electric car owner who drives to work, plugs his car in and by
the end of the work day his battery is fully charged to take on whatever after
work activity he has. Nissan has taken it one step further by pioneering a new
system that allows the flow of electricity to go both ways. This innovative
technology is called vehicle-to-building. Basically what it does is reverse the
flow of energy during peak hours in which the building draws energy from the
vehicle’s battery. When the energy consumption slows, the energy then flows
back to the vehicle. The U.S. military is also trying out this technology with
their vehicle-to-grid pilot program. Because of the capability to store energy
in the car’s battery, the car can be a source or power during power outages.
Imagine turning your car on instead of running a generator. As more renewable
energy is added to the grid, battery storage is a necessity and this innovation
is helping bridge that gap.
2.
Battery
power: As I mentioned in
the previous paragraph, being able to store the energy created for a time when
it is most needed is the key to renewable energy. Batteries of the past are
bulky, costly, have low storage and are not very safe. The renewable energy
industry has been working hard to make batteries more efficient and more
affordable. Last year saw the use of nano-technology that yielded a higher
level of conductivity in a smaller, lighter, lithium-sulfur battery. Tests are
still undergoing if the battery is safe enough to be used. The year 2013 also
saw a solar plant in Arizona come online, but this was no ordinary plant. For
the first time in the United States, this plant has a battery that will keep
generating power even after sunset. The battery uses a thermal energy storage
system made of molten salt and can produce energy up six hours after the sun
sets. This breakthrough is a huge step for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology
that is dependent on the sun.
3.
Solar
cells: In March last year,
Alta Devices set a new record of 30.8 percent conversion efficiency. Conversion
efficiency is the measurement of the amount of light that hits the solar cell
and is changed into electricity. The industry standard is usually 18.7 to 24
percent. To achieve this record, the solar cell was made with a smaller thinner
surface area. These cells are perfect for mobile phones, tablets, watches and
more.
4.
Wind
turbines: Last year was a big
step in wind energy. A Norwegian-based oil and gas company started work on
floating wind turbines that is taking advantage of the offshore wind. The
traditional wind farm requires a lot of construction and cannot be put in water
over 195 feet. The floating wind farm simply needs a few cables to moor with
and can be placed in water up to 2,295 feet.
GE has also done some innovations with its
line of wind turbines. They have turbines that calculate wind availability and
the demand for power. When used with a grid-scaled energy storing battery, it
will smooth out power fluctuations to the grid and will have power available
during peak hours.
Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.
For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.