In the list of 200 innovations in 2024 that have changed lifestyles published by the magazine Timevoted, 4 names appeared in the category of green energy initiatives, focusing on products and designs that can create reserve power sources, are safe and environmentally friendly.
The battery lasts 25 years
Made from 95% recycled materials, the Torus Nova Spin product manufactured by Torus Company (USA) is called a “mechanical battery”, about the size of a common household dishwasher. Torus claims the battery life can last 25 years, which is 3 times longer than conventional chemical batteries.
The Torus Nova Spin “mechanical battery” is about the size of a household dishwasher
The operating principle is that when powered from the grid or solar cells, the rotor inside the large battery rotates continuously, converting the received energy into kinetic energy and from there it can be converted into electricity to broadcast to other devices in case of a power outage. This system costs $85,000 and is ordered by a number of real estate companies.
Safe solution for electric vehicle batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries have now become the standard for powering electric vehicles and electronic devices. However, according to General Director (CEO) of South 8 Technologies (USA) Tom Stepien, this type of battery has three problems: flammability, ineffective operation in cold weather and high cost.
From there, South 8 affirmed to solve all three of the above problems with LiGas, a type of liquefied gas electrolyte that, when put into batteries, will provide a more stable and longer-lasting charge than conventional liquid. often. According to a US military test, while a lithium-ion battery can take 5-10 minutes to completely extinguish if a lithium-ion battery catches fire, a LiGas battery only burns for 6 seconds, thereby reducing the risk of fire.
LiGas battery solutions are said to offer improvements over lithium-ion batteries
PHOTO: SOUTH 8 TECHNOLOGIES
LiGas batteries operate at minus 51 degrees Celsius and cost about $100 per kW/hour, compared to minus 35 degrees Celsius and a cost of $150 for conventional batteries. LiGas also allows for increased battery charging in just a few minutes. South 8 currently has a contract to manufacture LiGas batteries with the US Department of Defense and is negotiating with major auto companies.
Developing geothermal energy
Another initiative on the green energy list is the FervoFlex system of Fervo Energy Company (USA). The system drills horizontally into hot rock beneath the earth’s surface and injects water to create hot water and steam. The resulting geothermal energy can be stored and used by customers in the future, turning FervoFlex from a drilled well into an underground battery. Fiber optic cabling in each well provides the company with real-time information on flow, temperature and performance.
Such analytics helped Fervo reduce drilling time by 70% and reduce costs per well from $9.4 million to $4.8 million. A pilot project in cooperation with Google Company has been put into operation in 2023, providing power to a data center in the state of Nevada, USA.
The FervoFlex well system is located in Nevada, USA
A larger project is being planned in Utah that will be operational by 2026 with the goal of providing energy to 400,000 households. Jack Norbeck, co-founder and CTO of Fervo Energy, predicts that by 2050, geothermal energy “will become the backbone of a decarbonized energy system.”
Harness the power of gravity
Solar energy and wind energy are effective renewable energies, but sometimes they depend on weather factors. In order to take advantage of the earth’s natural element: gravity, energy storage company Energy Vault (Switzerland) has launched the EVx gravity-based energy storage system. This system operates with a combination design of large cylinders. When using energy to lift cylinders high, this energy will be stored in the cylinders and can be stored. When needed, the cylinders will be lowered and they will emit energy for use.
The EVx gravity-based energy storage system was built in Jiangsu province, China
Basically, this system can be considered an “energy storage vault” or a large backup battery. According to Energy Vault CEO Rob Piconi, the company’s system leverages gravity as a natural battery that can provide short-, medium- or long-term energy storage. “It is resistant to extreme weather conditions and high temperatures, and because the energy is generated inside the structure, there is no risk of a chemical fire,” he said.
In May, the company connected its first commercial project to the power grid in China and announced a partnership with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects to design system-integrated skyscrapers. This is capable of providing a solution so that buildings can, in case of need, act as a backup generator.
