4. Flow Batteries: Companies are busy at work creating a home version of the energy storage system currently used in an industrial capacity. Flow battery technology in effect reverses fuel cells, using plentiful zinc bromide. They can store unused wind and solar energy for use later when it is needed.
5. Thorium: Thorium is a naturally occurring element, slightly radioactive, that is far more common in the ground than uranium. The first nuclear reactor fueled by thorium will be built in about five years, with more to come. Thorium has a lot of practical advantages over the more commonly used uranium, and it can churn out the same amount of emission-free electricity to power the United States. Thorium is safer, produces less waste, and is abundant in the United States. It is also less likely to cause accidents, and can’t be used by terrorists for dirty bombs.
6. Space Power: Solaren,
PowerSat,
Space Energy and others working on orbital power are getting a lift from state laws requiring more use of renewable sources. Space power is electricity generated by an orbiting solar cell plant and transmitted as microwaves to Earth where it is converted to electricity. Below is an interesting example of a homemade device that harnesses similar technology.
7. Spray on Solar Cells: Anticipated to be in full production by 2015. University and private labs in the United States, Australia, Switzerland and Canada are developing cost-effective plastic coatings for weather proofing. When painted on building rooftops and exteriors, they’ll absorb sunlight and produce electricity just as bulky solar panels do now. The developers claim cell coatings could generate power even on cloudy days, making this solar catcher up to three times more efficient than today’s solar modules.
8. Plastic into Oil: This invention derived from one man's desire to reduce the trash problem in Japan. A standard conversion unit can fit on a desk top, and operates as simply as putting trash in a garbage disposal. The converter heats up the plastic into its liquid boiling state which becomes gas. It then passes through a tube into a smaller container filled with tap water which cools the gas, forming oil. From there, the oil can be processed into gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.
9. Magnetic Generator: The idea of "free energy" has spawned inventions that range from the ridiculous to the plausible. It would be the ultimate revolution if anyone could harness such an energy source . . . especially right in their own home. There has been a revival of free energy ideas, and the magnetic generator is a promising invention. It uses Energy By Motion to harness the electromagnetic field itself, which is outlined in the video below:
