The Future of Renewable Energy: Exciting Developments to Watch in 2024

As we continue on our journey towards a more sustainable future, it's clear that renewable energy is at the forefront of innovation. Companies are working tirelessly to develop new ways to produce energy, and 2024 promises to be an exciting year for advancements in this field.

One of the most promising technologies being developed is the waveline magnet, which has been in development for over 10 years. This prototype uses wave energy for desalination, producing hydrogen fuel, and generating electricity. The unique design features four basic components: the spine provides the structure, while the platform connects to the surface of the water, levers connect the platform to the spine, and pumps gather up sea water and pressurize it. This pressurized water is what's used to harness wave power for various purposes. According to Alex Zakos, co-CEO of the company behind this technology, the first commercial waveline magnet will likely be a smaller sized unit focused on desalination.

Wave energy has long been an engineering challenge due to the oceans' punishing waves and corrosive saltwater. However, with the variety of approaches and innovative companies hard at work on finding solutions, we'll be keeping an eye on this technology closely. Another tough nut to crack has been fusion power, which critics say is always "at least a decade away." However, significant milestones have been achieved in recent years, bringing the potential of a partially fusion-powered future closer to reality.

In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved its first net energy gain, meaning the team produced a fusion reaction that generated more energy than the amount required to trigger it. This feat was repeated in July 2023, producing an even higher energy yield while generating a net gain. While generating a viable energy source is still a challenge, the progress made so far is encouraging.

Fusion reactors will have to produce roughly 10 times the amount of energy that goes into them and must do it regularly. With several huge fusion projects in various stages of development around the world, including ones in France, the Joint European Taurus in the UK, and numerous facilities in China, there's a lot to look out for in this space.

In addition to these technological advancements, solar power is also evolving in new and exciting ways. More companies are seeking to position themselves as environmentally friendly or sustainable options, leading to innovative applications of solar energy. For example, the Aptera, a car designed top-to-bottom with solar in mind, features an aerodynamic shape that maximizes efficiency and makes the most of onboard solar panels.

While some solar cars like the Sono Seon have struggled to raise funds, interest in the idea remains strong. Solar power is also finding its way into windows, thanks to the dawn of transparent solar technology pushed forward by companies like Solar Window and Ubiquitous Energy. Moreover, solar power has been incorporated into the fight against forest fires with Dryad Networks, a company that makes a network of electronic noses that can sense burning forest materials and send signals to first responders for earlier detection.

As we move forward in our quest for a sustainable future, it's clear that renewable energy will play a vital role. With innovative technologies like the waveline magnet, fusion power, and solar energy being developed, there's hope for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. We'll continue to monitor these developments and explore the exciting possibilities they hold.

So, what did we miss in our coverage of Green Tech? Let us know down in the comments! And don't forget to check out more of our renewable energy stories right here, as always. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time with the fam!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfrom wave riding power Harvesters to artificial Suns lots of companies are working toward developing new ways to produce energy more sustainably here's some of the most exciting renewable energy Tech we're keeping an eye on in 2024 we kick things off with the waveline magnet which can use wave energy for desalination producing hydrogen fuel and generating electricity this prototype has been in development for over 10 years and the result is a unique design with four basic components the spine runs down the middle and provides the structure the platform is what connects the waveline magnet to the surface of the water levers connect the platform to the spine and pumps gather up sea water and pressurize it this pressurized water is what's used to harness wave power for various purposes waveline magnets can be built large small or anything in between depending on the wave conditions and goals of the project the company's co-ceo Alex zakos told us that the first commercial waveline magnet will likely be a smaller sized unit focused on desalination wave energy has long been an engineering challenge due to the oceans punishing waves and corrosive saltwater but the variety of approaches and Innovative companies hard at work on finding Solutions means we'll be keeping an eye on it another tough nut to crack has been fusion power while critics say it always seems to be at least a decade away significant Milestones keep getting past and each one brings the potential of a partially Fusion powered future closer to reality in December of 2022 the national ignition facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved its first net energy gain meaning the team produced a fusion reaction that generated more energy than the amount required to trigger the reaction in the first place this feat was repeated in July of 2023 producing an even higher energy yield while generating a net gain is a big achievement to become a viable energy source Fusion reactors will have to produce roughly 10 times times the amount of energy that goes into them and they'll have to do it regularly with several huge Fusion projects in various stages of development all around the world including eer in France The Joint European Taurus in the UK and numerous Fusion facilities in China there's a lot to look out for in this space finally we're going to wrap it up with some novel applications of a staple renewable solar with more companies seeking to position themselves in the market as environmentally friendly or sustainable options solar is evolving in where and how it can be put to use I got to ride in the aptera last year a car that was designed top to bottom with solar in mind the aerodynamic shape is designed to maximize efficiency and make the most of the onboard solar panels and while some solar cars like the Sono seon struggled to raise funds interest in the idea of solar cars seems to remain solar power is also finding its way into windows with the dawn of transparent solar pushed forward by companies like solar window and ubiquitous energy we also saw solar power incorporated into the fight against Forest Fighters with dryad networks a company that makes a network of electronic noses that can sense burning Forest materials and send signals to First Responders for earlier detection what Green Tech did we miss let us know down in the comments and check out more of our renewable energy stories right here as always thanks so much for watching I'm your host Jesse orl see you next time with the famfrom wave riding power Harvesters to artificial Suns lots of companies are working toward developing new ways to produce energy more sustainably here's some of the most exciting renewable energy Tech we're keeping an eye on in 2024 we kick things off with the waveline magnet which can use wave energy for desalination producing hydrogen fuel and generating electricity this prototype has been in development for over 10 years and the result is a unique design with four basic components the spine runs down the middle and provides the structure the platform is what connects the waveline magnet to the surface of the water levers connect the platform to the spine and pumps gather up sea water and pressurize it this pressurized water is what's used to harness wave power for various purposes waveline magnets can be built large small or anything in between depending on the wave conditions and goals of the project the company's co-ceo Alex zakos told us that the first commercial waveline magnet will likely be a smaller sized unit focused on desalination wave energy has long been an engineering challenge due to the oceans punishing waves and corrosive saltwater but the variety of approaches and Innovative companies hard at work on finding Solutions means we'll be keeping an eye on it another tough nut to crack has been fusion power while critics say it always seems to be at least a decade away significant Milestones keep getting past and each one brings the potential of a partially Fusion powered future closer to reality in December of 2022 the national ignition facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved its first net energy gain meaning the team produced a fusion reaction that generated more energy than the amount required to trigger the reaction in the first place this feat was repeated in July of 2023 producing an even higher energy yield while generating a net gain is a big achievement to become a viable energy source Fusion reactors will have to produce roughly 10 times times the amount of energy that goes into them and they'll have to do it regularly with several huge Fusion projects in various stages of development all around the world including eer in France The Joint European Taurus in the UK and numerous Fusion facilities in China there's a lot to look out for in this space finally we're going to wrap it up with some novel applications of a staple renewable solar with more companies seeking to position themselves in the market as environmentally friendly or sustainable options solar is evolving in where and how it can be put to use I got to ride in the aptera last year a car that was designed top to bottom with solar in mind the aerodynamic shape is designed to maximize efficiency and make the most of the onboard solar panels and while some solar cars like the Sono seon struggled to raise funds interest in the idea of solar cars seems to remain solar power is also finding its way into windows with the dawn of transparent solar pushed forward by companies like solar window and ubiquitous energy we also saw solar power incorporated into the fight against Forest Fighters with dryad networks a company that makes a network of electronic noses that can sense burning Forest materials and send signals to First Responders for earlier detection what Green Tech did we miss let us know down in the comments and check out more of our renewable energy stories right here as always thanks so much for watching I'm your host Jesse orl see you next time with the fam\n"