Renewable energy innovation is a catalyst in the campaign against climate change and the journey to a sustainable environment. Renewable energy innovation gets reinvented everyday while we generate, stock, and utilize energy. This blog delves into top 5 renewable energy innovations worldwide and captures the simple innovations that individuals can incorporate into their daily lives.

What is Renewable Energy & Renewable Energy Innovation:

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has defined Renewable Energy as a type of energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

Renewable energy innovation is categorized as the creation and implementation of fresh technologies, methodologies, and plans that amplify the efficiency, strength, and sustainability of sources of renewable energy. These innovations target to win over existing restrictions, reduction in the costs, upgrade energy storage method, and connect renewable energy into existing grid more coherently.

Top 5 Renewable Energy Innovation:

Top 5 Renewable Energy Innovations are as follows:

The Mixed Energy Platform Uneole (France)

 These days, we live in a society, wherein, the world is full of environmental challenges & at the same time, we have continued advancement in technologies, supplementing renewable energy innovation. One such new technology, has opened door to combine solar & wind as a source of renewable energy.

This energy efficient technology has been brought by a French Start Up Company Called Uneole. The device is called the mixed energy platform, that can be integrated into smart buildings in cities, to generate clean renewable energy.

The Platform is a combination of Photovoltaic Solar Cells & Wind Turbine, that will operate on the rooftop or any other space having exposure to wind and sunlight.

Reportedly, Uneole, plans to build these wind turbines from recycled materials to reduce carbon footprint. Big buildings, having a flat rooftop and unobstructed space for winds and sun rays, will cater one installation of a blend of more than 1500 wind turbine & solar cells.

Aeromine System

US based Company Aeromine Technology has introduced a potential 3-meter-high rooftop wind generator to produce energy.

The design ensures to capture & amplify the airflow on the building and creates low pressure, drawing air up through the intake and internal generator. There are no visible moving parts. It is being presented as a device that works quietly, without impacting wildlife & something that requires least maintenance. Most importantly, the technology does not need any rare earth magnets or silicon.

Floating Solar Panels:

Floating Solar Panels, popularly known as, FPV-Floating Photo Voltaic Systems, are the promising systems, that can be classified as one efficient renewable energy innovation. This is basically solar power installation seated on water body like lake, river or ponds.

In terms of efficiency, land conservation, scalability, reduction in water evaporation, environmental benefits, this system is a boon for energy thirsty society. Moreover, these systems can be scaled to a higher magnitude, provided, the ease of connection to grid and maintenance is decided.

Floating & Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Floating and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are innovative approaches in wind energy generation, each addressing different challenges and opportunities in the quest for sustainable energy & renewable energy innovation.

Floating wind turbines are wind turbines mounted on floating structures that allow them to generate electricity in deep water environments where fixed-foundation turbines are not feasible. Floating turbines have advantage in exposure to stronger winds, scalability & reduced land use. A Prominent Projects are Hywind Scotland by Equinor and Windfloat Atlantic.

Vertical axis wind turbines have a main rotor shaft arranged vertically. Unlike traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), VAWTs can capture wind from any direction, making them suitable for turbulent and variable wind conditions. These are omnidirectional (do not need to be oriented towards wind), space efficient, reduced noise. One popular VAWT is a Darrieus wind turbine design, that generate power, by use of wind power. The generator and other heavy components can be placed near the ground, simplifying maintenance and reducing structural stress.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising technology as renewable energy innovation, offering a clean and efficient way to generate electricity. They work by converting hydrogen gas into electricity through an electrochemical process, with water and heat as the only byproducts.

Advantages are zero emissions, high efficiency, storage and versatility. These systems can be used both in industry, automotive vehicles and households.

Notable hydrogen fuel cell projects are Hydrogen Energy California, H2Future Austria, H2Scale USA.

A few other promising renewable energy innovation initiatives include Perovskite Solar Cells which are extremely efficient cum cheaper development in solar technology, Pumped Storage Hydro-Power Systems and Solid-State Batteries.

Inference:

Renewable energy innovation is redefining the energy scenario, promising sustainable substitutes to fossil fuels and guiding the path for a clean planet. From bigger magnitude projects like solar and wind farms to simple home solutions, these progresses display the potential of renewable energy to cater worldwide energy requirements.

By renewable energy innovation, humanity can support a sustainable future, decrease carbon footprint, and fight climate change. The future of energy is powered by renewable energy innovation and must be clean.