Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have collaborated with Tocardo Turbines to develop a groundbreaking design for tidal turbine blades. This innovative design uses less material, resulting in reduced weight, volume, and production costs [14fd024e]. The project aimed to provide cost-effective turbine blades to QED Naval, with the goal of reducing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of tidal energy to be comparable to offshore wind energy [14fd024e]. The new blades, manufactured at the Rosyth facility in Scotland, are lighter, smaller, and more cost-effective due to their monolithic structure, eliminating the need for adhesive joints [14fd024e]. The researchers successfully tested their construction method on a smaller model blade and plan to apply it to larger blades in the future [14fd024e]. This advancement has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of tidal energy generation [14fd024e].
Reactive Technologies, based in London and Finland, is using its unique method of measuring inertia to help transition to cleaner energy. Inertia, the energy stored in fast-rotating turbines, is crucial for grid operators to balance supply and demand and avoid power cuts. However, renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar farms do not naturally provide inertia. Reactive Technologies has developed a system called GridMetrix that precisely measures inertia, allowing grid operators to make better-informed decisions. The company has signed a six-year deal with the UK's electricity system operator and is targeting deals with other grid operators worldwide. It also provides electricity system data and forecasts to energy traders and renewable energy developers. Backed by investors like Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions, Reactive Technologies is poised for growth in the expanding market of decarbonization and grid expansion. [6ed5fe95]
Global Oceanic Designs, Inc. has developed a revolutionary wave generating device that harnesses the perpetual motion of waves using a new concept of Magnetism, resulting in larger waves with less energy. The SeaDog Wave Energy Converter uses buoyancy force to generate compression and lift, complementing the wave generating device. The combination of these systems allows for the generation of emission-free electricity by converting onshore wave energy into clean power. The energy conversion process involves waves making contact with the SeaDog Energy Recovery System, which pressurizes the water and creates static head. The pressurized water is then routed through hydraulic pipelines and into a hydroelectric turbine, which activates an electrical generator. The onshore wave generation and energy recovery systems offer advantages over conventional marine renewables, including trebling available kinetic energy, controllability and consistency, and modular deployment near high-demand populations. Global Oceanic's systems are designed to be fail-safe and durable, with redundancy and modularity to ensure uninterrupted wave energy harvesting. The future of emission-free wave power looks promising with these innovations, offering a roadmap for regional energy resilience and clean power access. [c0490750] [14fd024e]
Scientists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou have developed an engine that converts energy from water evaporation into electricity. The device, inspired by the classic drinking bird toy, can produce energy outputs exceeding 100 volts and can operate for several days using only 100 milliliters of water as fuel [d4e1c86b]. The researchers reconstructed the drinking bird toy and placed two triboelectric nanogenerator modules on both sides of the engine to collect mechanical energy. The prototype was tested with small electronics, including liquid crystal displays, temperature sensors, and calculators. The researchers plan to design a new drinking bird to improve the efficiency of water evaporation to electrical energy conversion [d4e1c86b].
A new report from LUT University in Finland states that wave energy will play a key role in the UK's transition to a 100% renewable energy system by 2050 [dd7ec15c]. The report suggests that the UK should seek to harness 27 GW of wave energy capacity to reach the lowest cost, net zero energy system. This comes after CorPower Ocean announced a major industry breakthrough with its first commercial-scale device, which has successfully verified storm survivability and efficient power generation. The Marine Energy Council is calling for a consistent route to market for wave energy with clear targets of at least 300 MW deployed by 2035. The report also highlights the need for a broad combination of renewables, including wind, solar, wave, tidal, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, along with storage, sector coupling, and flexibility to achieve 100% renewable energy [dd7ec15c].