Renewable Power in the Upcoming days

An environmentally sustainable infrastructure needs transportation, industry, and utility innovations.

FREMONT, CA: The need for plentiful, sustainable energy that doesn't disrupt the delicate balance of the Earth's atmosphere may be the most important issue facing this generation. The resolutions we make and the technologies we develop over the next few decades will have intense implications for geopolitics, wildlife, food production, and nearly every sphere of human endeavor.

Building a renewable energy future calls for leaps forward in both technology and policy leadership. State governments, major corporations, and nations worldwide have pledged to address the worsening climate crisis by transitioning to 100% renewable energy over the next few decades. Turning those statements of intention into reality means undertaking unprecedented efforts and collaboration between disciplines ranging from environmental science to economics.

There are extremely promising opportunities for green initiatives that could deliver a better future. Still, making a lasting difference will require new technology and experts who can help governments and organizations transition to more sustainable practices.

These leaders will be necessary to source renewables efficiently, create environmentally friendly policies, and educate consumers and policymakers. To magnify their impact, they must make decisions informed by the most advanced research in clean energy technology, economics, and finance.

Recent Breakthroughs in Renewable Power

An environmentally sustainable infrastructure needs innovations in transportation, industry, and utilities. Luckily, researchers in the private and public sectors are laying the groundwork for an energy transformation that could make future renewable energy more broadly accessible and efficient.

Some of the most hopeful areas that have seen major developments in recent years include:

Driving Electric Vehicles Forward

The technical abilities of electric cars are taking great strides, and the reputation of these vehicles is also growing among consumers. At Tesla's September 22, 2020, Battery Day event, Elon Musk declared the company's plans for new batteries that can be manufactured at a lower cost while offering greater range and increased power output.

Cost-Effective Storage For Renewable Power

One of the biggest hurdles in embracing 100% renewable energy has been the need to adjust supply based on demand. As a result, utility providers need efficient, cost-effective ways of storing solar and wind power so that electricity is available regardless of weather conditions. Most electricity storage currently occurs in pumped-storage hydropower plants, but these facilities need multiple reservoirs at different elevations.

Pumped thermal electricity storage is an affordable solution to get around hydropower's geographic limitations and the batteries' high costs. This approach, currently being tested, employs a pump to convert electricity into heat so it can be stored in a material like gravel, water, or molten salts and maintained in an insulated tank. Then, a heat engine transforms the heat into electricity necessary to meet demand.

Unlocking the Potential of Microgrids

Microgrids are another research concern that could prove invaluable to the future of power. These systems can function autonomously from a traditional electrical grid, delivering electricity to homes and businesses during an outage. In addition, Microgrids can make renewable energy transmission more efficient by using this approach with power sources like solar, wind, or biomass.