From Guest Blogger Jake Fisher: 5 Biggest Breakthroughs in Alternative Energy

Alternative energy is big. It’s an important field of study and it’s a great way to help us lower our carbon footprint. Why, exactly, is this important? Currently, we are starting to run out of a lot of our natural resources. On top of that, humans are having a harsh impact on the planet. However, with some of the biggest breakthroughs in alternative energy, we may be able to ensure that energy sources in the future are renewable sources of power.

Paintable Solar Cells

Though it is a slightly older breakthrough, it is still extremely significant. In 2009, there was a group of researchers working at the New Jersey Institute of Technology who developed extremely thin solar cells. In fact, they were so thin that they could literally be painted on a plastic sheet. This has already made for significant developments in the way solar panels are created, and will continue to be a huge development for the field.

Store Energy Inside of Molecules

For many, it’s not too surprising that one of the biggest breakthroughs comes from MIT. One of the professors here, as well as his team, created a molecule that they called azobenzene. The molecule is made from carbon nanotubes, and was created to store and lock in thermal solar energy. The great thing about this is that it doesn’t degrade the energy or the molecules, it is cheap to create, and it converts and stores the energy, all in one.

Windows Could Become More Powerful

Recently, Professor Vladimir Bulovic made a breakthrough in solar energy. We have tried to use the glass that is all over the world to conduct solar energy, without much luck. However, Professor Bulovic found a way to incorporate a very thin layer of transparent PV cells into the windows used all around us. These PV cells are organic, and could result in up to 12% efficiency.

Transmit Power Over Long Distances With HVDC

The Swiss company ABB has developed the HVDC breaker. This takes the traditional DC current and juices it up a little. The breaker is said to be able to send power across very long distances without breakdowns or catastrophic failures. This is extremely significant in the field of renewable energy. In the past, wind farms and solar power have been slightly limited by the distance the currents are able to travel. However, with this innovation, that could no longer be a problem.

Smart Grid Equals Better Efficiency

Many energy companies, such as Commerce Energy are looking toward green energy sources. Because of this, there is a need for a smarter grid. As the need grows, the Department of Energy has started working on the Smart Grid, as well as Smart Meters. The smart grid is a less-centralized grid that allows for better user integration. This is a great development for those using green energy and those giving back into the grid.

There are constantly new innovations to green technology. These innovations are going to make the technology cheaper and more common around the world.