As good and cheap as solar and wind power are for generating clean electricity, the intermittency of their power generation creates a problem. You generate too much energy when you don’t need it, and don’t have enough energy when you do need it. That’s why energy storage
Our homes have an important part to play in meeting the 2030 carbon reduction targets set out by many countries. Alternatives like Earthships, modular homes and passive houses can really reduce the carbon footprint of our dwellings, but they aren’t affordable for most people yet. What if we could
100 times stronger than steel1 yet 4 times lighter.2 Conductive and biocompatible. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are fascinating materials that could channel a kaleidoscope of futuristic technologies. They’re often hailed as a key conduit for a speedy transition to a zero-carbon energy future. However, while these graphene-based tiny tubes
The solar power potential of the Sahara desert is absolutely massive. A solar panel in Algeria could generate 3x more electricity than the same solar panel in Germany.1 A 10,000 square kilometer solar farm in the middle of the desert would be enough to power the entire world,
Costs for solar panel systems have been dropping at a blistering pace in the last few years and are being widely used as a clean alternative to fossil fuels. Solar panels work great for homes and RVs, and some car companies are trying to get it to work there, too,
3D printing has become popular with manufacturers since it provides flexible design, rapid prototyping, cost-effectiveness, waste reduction, and a way to increase sustainability in manufacturing. We’re used to seeing 3D-printed toys, shoes, tools, and now even homes, which I’ve explored in a previous video. But what if we
We all take freshwater for granted, but we shouldn’t. Based on the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), by 2025 two thirds of the global population may experience water scarcity.1 And that’s because of global warming-driven droughts.2 Supply cuts are looming in the Southwestern US3and water is fueling
There’s been lot of hype about graphene since 2004, when it was first discovered and hailed as one of the most important breakthroughs in materials since the plastics revolution a century ago. But since its introduction, graphene still hasn’t hit any truly mainstream products that we can see
Energy storage is the holy grail of decarbonization. If we want to get rid of fossil fuels for good, we need to be able store a large amount of surplus renewables over time. The current technologies available, like lithium-ion batteries, may not have enough capacity to meet our power storage
Shipping currently accounts for almost 3% of global carbon emissions. In order to hit global net-zero targets by 2050 solutions like biofuels, green and blue hydrogen, as well as ammonia have been held up as alternatives to fossil fuels to be used in ships. But what if we could go
Among renewables, solar energy has been growing rapidly and driving the world towards a low-carbon future. We’ve been seeing a wave of innovations in the field, like perovskite solar cells, solar tiles and roofs, and organic panels. But what if we could harvest solar energy from the windows and
Even though the cost of solar and wind is dropping, renewables might not be sufficient to meet our clean energy demand in the future. However, nuclear power can play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector.1 And I’m not talking about nuclear fission. Rather, quite