Game-Changing Innovations: The Latest in Sustainable Technologies, Renewable Energy, and the Battle Against Climate Change (June–October 2024)

Longoae Domingos Tembwa on 21 October 2024

Over the past few months, significant advancements in sustainable technologies have emerged, as industries and governments intensify their efforts to combat climate change. Innovations in renewable energy generation, storage, carbon capture, and the circular economy are moving at a rapid pace, signalling hope in the fight against global warming. Let’s explore some of the most notable developments from June to October 2024, and their potential to reshape global responses to the climate emergency…

Solar Energy: Greater Efficiency and New Solutions

Solar energy continues to lead the renewable energy charge with groundbreaking innovations. In September, European researchers announced a new world record for solar efficiency: 33.7% in tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells. This leap integrates perovskite layers with silicon to capture more sunlight, resulting in higher energy output. These advanced cells could significantly lower solar energy costs, accelerating the transition to renewable power sources globally.

Moreover, solar energy storage is evolving rapidly. In Spain, a project utilising molten salts for thermal energy storage is in development. These salts can store excess solar energy produced during daylight hours, before releasing it at night. Such technology promises to overcome one of the major challenges facing solar power—its reliance on sunlight—and could make solar a 24/7 energy source, enhancing its reliability for large-scale deployment.

Gemasolar Power Plant, Spain, which uses molten salts for thermal energy storage.
Image Credit: Stocksy

Wind Energy: Offshore Expansion and Innovative Designs

As for wind energy, the sector is making significant strides, particularly in offshore projects. In July, Norway inaugurated the world’s largest floating wind farm, which generates 2 gigawatts of power, enough to supply over 1 million homes. Floating wind turbines are a significant development since they can be deployed in deeper waters where winds are stronger and more consistent. This advancement opens new possibilities for wind energy in countries with deep coastal waters, such as Japan and the United States, which are currently limited by conventional offshore wind technology.

Onshore wind technology is also evolving. Spain is testing a bladeless wind turbine design that uses oscillating rods to generate electricity. This turbine operates without the visual and noise pollution associated with traditional turbines, potentially expanding wind energy in urban or densely populated areas where conventional turbines face resistance.

Wind turbines in Spain trialling bladeless designs.
Image Credit: Energy Magazine

Battery Technology: Pioneering Long-Term Energy Storage

Energy storage remains a key challenge for renewable energy, but several promising breakthroughs have emerged. For instance, Iron-air batteries, showcased in August 2024 by U.S. company Form Energy, are generating excitement due to their ability to store energy for days rather than hours. This breakthrough makes iron-air batteries a game-changer for renewable energy systems, enabling more stable energy grids even during periods of low sunlight or wind.

Form Energy’s iron-air batteries.
The basic principle of operation is reversible rusting.
While discharging, the battery breathes in oxygen from the air and converts iron metal to rust.
While charging, the application of an electrical current converts the rust back to iron and the battery breathes out oxygen.
Image Credit: Form Energy

At the same time, solid-state batteries are nearing commercial viability, particularly for electric vehicles. In September, Toyota revealed its prototype solid-state battery, which offers faster charging, longer range, and improved safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. This technology is expected to be integrated into Toyota’s next-generation EVs by 2025 and could significantly boost the adoption of EVs, which are crucial for reducing emissions in the transport sector.

Green Hydrogen: A Clean Energy Frontier

Green hydrogen is rapidly gaining momentum as a clean fuel for industries that are difficult to electrify, such as shipping, aviation, and heavy manufacturing. In July, the European Union launched the Hydrogen Valley initiative, which aims to establish over 100 hydrogen hubs by 2030. These hubs will become centres for hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, thus accelerating the adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source across Europe.

In Australia, the construction of the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility began in August. Set in Western Australia, the facility aims to produce 10 gigawatts of hydrogen annually by 2030, providing clean energy for both domestic use and export. The rise of green hydrogen projects similar to this is expected to drive down costs, providing a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials: Reducing Waste

Advancements in the circular economy are driving significant progress in reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. In September, a consortium of leading electronics manufacturers launched the “Right to Repair” initiative, which aims to extend the life of consumer electronics and reduce electronic waste. This initiative is particularly important for addressing the environmental impact of e-waste, which contributes millions of tons of global waste each year.

At the same time, sustainable materials are seeing a push forward. In August, a new biodegradable plastic alternative made from seaweed and shrimp shells was introduced to the market. This material, which decomposes in a few weeks, could be a major step toward addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. If widely adopted, it could significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic waste in oceans and landfills.

A new biodegradable plastic alternative using shrimp shells.
Image Credit: HuffPost UK

Conclusion: Progress with Challenges Ahead

The recent months have witnessed significant advancements in sustainable technologies, from improved solar and wind systems to breakthroughs in battery storage and green hydrogen. These developments provide hope for tackling climate change, but scaling these technologies and ensuring global adoption will be critical. Investment, policy alignment, and international cooperation will be key in determining their long-term impact on global emissions.

As the world continues to innovate and push the boundaries of renewable energy and sustainability, recent breakthroughs suggest that the path to a low-carbon future is increasingly within reach. The next decade will be crucial in determining how these innovations can help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and transform global energy systems for good.

Carbon capture: an answer to net zero pledges or continued fossil fuel usage?

Katy Whelan on 18 October 2024

On the 4th of October, Prime Minister Kier Sarmer announced that £22bn was going towards climate funding, specifically into carbon capture and storage. With the UK closing its last coal power station, making it the first G7 nation to phase out coal completely, the UK is looking to win another race on the energy front. But what is carbon capture? Is it the golden opportunity Kier Starmers Labour Party is making it out to be, or is it simply a scapegoat for oil and gas companies?

In its simplest form, carbon capture and storage is when you take the CO2 emissions directly from a power station or factory and transport them to a unit via pipes or ships to a location where they are typically stored by being injected into porous rocks deep underground. 

The UK government has cited that carbon capture is necessary for Britain to reach its climate targets set by the secretary of state, Ed Milliband. This is because carbon capture will greatly help reduce the CO2 emissions escaping into the atmosphere in heavy industrial operations like cement and glass making. This isn’t even to mention the 2,000 skilled jobs it would create and the foreseeable private investments spoken about by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In addition, Starmer mentioned that on a large scale, it could create 50,000 jobs in the future.

So, in the government’s eyes, carbon capture is ideal for the UK as it provides more skill-based jobs while helping reach its COP pledges. Furthermore, the UK is at a prime spot geologically to provide storage for carbon as the UK’s continental shelf holds ⅓ of all the exploitable carbon storage space in Europe. Including access to the North, North Atlantic and Irish seas, as well as the English Channel. Insinuating that the UK’s economy could thrive if carbon capture and storage is introduced not just in the UK but globally, as it could become a hub for storage. 

While this sounds promising, there are some large concerns over using carbon capture and storage on a large scale. The general public and climate scientists worry that oil and gas companies recently urged governments to introduce carbon capture. It’s believed that carbon capture will still allow companies to keep using fossil fuels as it doesn’t equate to green or renewable energies. This implies that these large corporations can continue to exploit fossil fuels, depleting the already finite resources and further damaging the planet. Therefore making it harder to reach our net-zero targets. 

Studies into carbon capture have shown that it is not 100% effective at removing all the carbon. While the technology boasts the claim to remove 90% or more, scientists have found that it only removes around 70%. Moreover, climate scientists instead believe that the UK should be introducing cleaner, green, renewable energy sources like solar and wind instead of allowing the continued use of carbon via the vastly more expensive practice of carbon capture.

Overall, carbon capture and storage seems like a good idea on the surface for British people as it will advance the economy, create new jobs and seemingly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Simply looking deeper into the technology shows us that it won’t help the future of our planet, allowing elevated fossil fuel exploitation. Therefore, contributing to our rising sea levels and global temperature by allowing big companies to offset their carbon production without any real sustainable practice taking place.         

The Magic of Mushrooms

Pearl McLean Jennings on 1 May 2023

The fruiting body of mushrooms are conventionally used for food, but they make up only a small part of the fungi. What goes on underneath the soil and the by-products of fungal growth is what is peaking scientific interest for the development of sustainable products.