Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

[SubGod22]

Scientists develop energy harvester device capable of generating power from seawater: 'Allows continuous self-charging' (msn.com)

South Korean scientists may have figured out a way to meet our ever growing energy needs with an abundant resource, as detailed by Interesting Engineering and EurekAlert.

The experts from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials are tapping seawater, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports covers 70% of Earth, to produce electricity through the movement of sodium ions, per the summaries.

"The newly developed technology is an eco-friendly energy harvesting technology that allows continuous self-charging and can be used without external energy," lead researcher Seungmin Hyun said.

The innovation was developed with help from KIMM nanotechnology and chemical engineering experts. It can power small devices such as watches, calculators, and sensors, per the reports.

It works by using microscopic carbon atom nanotubes and graphene oxide films "with different content of oxygen functional groups as the cathode and anode, respectively, and is constructed using seawater as the electrolyte," as described by EurekAlert. The carbon atom tubes are highly conductive, IE adds in its report.

The inner workings sound like common battery chemistry, with two electrodes and an electrolyte wherein ions travel back and forth during operation. Sodium ions travel between the nanotubes and film — through the seawater electrolyte — during cycles, as noted in the reports.

[SubGod22]

Props to Google for this one. Hope we see more of these pop up in general.

Google inks deal with nuclear company as data center power demand surges (msn.com)

Google said Monday that it will purchase power from small modular reactor developer Kairos Power, as tech companies increasingly turn to nuclear power as a way to fulfill the growing energy demands from data centers.

The tech giant said it will purchase power from a fleet of SMRs made by Kairos Power. Google said purchasing from multiple SMRs sends an "important demand signal to the market," while at the same time making a long-term investment to accelerate commercialization.

"We believe that nuclear energy has a critical role to play in supporting our clean growth and helping to deliver on the progress of AI," Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google, said on a call with reporters. "The grid needs these kinds of clean, reliable sources of energy that can support the build out of these technologies. … We feel like nuclear can play an important role in helping to meet our demand, and helping meet our demand cleanly, in a way that's more around the clock."

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

There are only three SMRs that are operating in the world, and none in the U.S. The hope is that SMRs are a more cost-effective way to scale up nuclear power. In the past, large, commercial-scale nuclear reactor projects have run over budget and behind schedule, and many hope SMRs won't suffer that same fate. But it is uncharted territory to some extent.

[SubGod22]

Silent Residential Wind Turbine Challenges Solar Panels in Global Renewable Energy Market (msn.com)

In the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy, a groundbreaking innovation has emerged from the Netherlands, challenging the dominance of solar panels. The LIAM F1 UWT, a silent residential wind turbine, is making waves in the global market for clean energy solutions.

The LIAM F1 UWT represents a significant leap forward in urban wind energy technology. Designed specifically for residential use, this compact turbine offers a unique solution to the challenges of harnessing wind power in densely populated areas. Unlike traditional wind turbines, which often face opposition due to noise pollution, the LIAM F1 UWT operates silently, making it ideal for urban settings.

Key features of the LIAM F1 UWT include :

・Compact size : 1.5 meters in diameter

・Lightweight design : under 100 kg

・Noise-free operation

・Inspired by Archimedes' spiral

・Ability to capture low and irregular winds

This innovative design allows the turbine to adapt to changing wind directions, maximizing its energy efficiency even in challenging urban environments. The LIAM F1 UWT's ability to harness light breezes that circulate between buildings makes it a versatile option for homeowners and businesses alike.

Interesting possibilities. Smaller and silent are definitely a plus.

[SubGod22]

Tokyo scientists develop game-changing technology that can turn common air pollutant into fuel: 'A viable option for society' (msn.com)

Experts in the carbon-capture field have developed innovative methods of corralling heat-trapping gases — using everything from giant vacuums to filters.

Now, a team from Tokyo Metropolitan University says it has a powerful way to use the caught carbon dioxide — by turning it into cleaner fuel. The process was described in a lab report published by EurekAlert.

"Using state-of-the-art catalysts and chemical processes, work is underway to try and convert the captured product into something more useful for society," the lab summary explained.

The advanced technique uses an electrochemical cell with two electrodes and an electrolyte, which are parts typically needed for a battery, as well. However, the Tokyo tech is a bit different.

In the summary, the team calls the setup a bicarbonate electrolyzer. While it sounds like something the Ghostbusters might use to trap specters, this invention can effectively transform scary air pollution into formate fuel.

Formate is often used as a road de-icer and is nontoxic. It can also be used in fuel cells to make electricity, similar to hydrogen, as noted by the publication SCI.

[SubGod22]

Cool and efficient way to generate clean water thanks to the nerds over at MIT

MIT’s new battery-free solar desalination system dances with Sun’s rhythm (msn.com)

Researchers have created a novel desalination system that runs with the rhythms of the sun.

The MIT team’s solar-powered device adjusts desalination speed to match sunlight variations, increasing output as sunshine intensifies and reducing it during cloudy moments.

According to the team, the design efficiently maximizes solar energy use to produce large amounts of clean water throughout the day. Moreover, unlike other solar-powered desalination systems, the MIT design operates without additional batteries or external power sources, like grid electricity.

The system is expected to provide significant cost savings compared to conventional desalination technologies. The main savings stem from reduced energy costs, which are a major operational expense in traditional methods, particularly reverse osmosis (RO), which relies on grid power.

“Compared to RO, electrodialysis membranes usually last about three times as long,” Amos Winter, the Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research Center at MIT, told Interesting Engineering (IE), in an email interview.

[SubGod22]

Global warming is NOT surging, scientists say (msn.com)

From the UK's hottest day to the hottest year on record globally, there's no doubt some worrying temperature records have been broken in recent years.

Many people think the rate of global warming has dramatically accelerated or 'surged' over the past 15 years – and is a cause of more extreme weather.

But a new study says there is not any statistical evidence for this so-called 'surge' or 'leap'.

Researchers looked at long-term global surface temperatures since records began back in 1850 and found no evidence of a surge since the 1970s.

While the academics agree that human-caused global warming is happening, they say it is not statistically 'surging' as some claim.

At least they're pushing back on the whole global warming is increasing at a rapid rate bullshit.

[JVShocker]

Not that it's related to this topic, but this is the earliest date in 20+ years in my home that we've turned the heat on in the house.

And I hate winter. I now have 7 months of cold weather to look forward to.

[SubGod22]

I still have a few windows open

[SubGod22]

US approves new facility design concept to turn nuclear waste into reactor fuel (msn.com)

The Department of Energy (DOE) in the United States has approved the conceptual design for Oklo’s Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility.

The facility whose conceptual design has been approved will be located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

It will help turn used material recovered from DOE’s former Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II reactor) into usable fuel for its advanced nuclear power plant. The EBR-II was shut down in late 1994 after 30 years of successful operation.

The conceptual safety design report was first submitted earlier this year to DOE’s Idaho Operations Office, which is responsible for the nuclear safety and regulatory authority for the project.

The approval of the design concept is an important step in demonstrating advanced fuel recycling technologies, a press release by the DOE states.

The future is nuclear

[WuDrWu]

Not that it's related to this topic, but this is the earliest date in 20+ years in my home that we've turned the heat on in the house.

And I hate winter. I now have 7 months of cold weather to look forward to.

Seriously? The heat has come on?

[SubGod22]

Startup looks to seawater as solution for critical mineral shortage: 'Enough to supply all of the US' (msn.com)

A startup based in New Jersey is working on large-scale production of magnesium, a mineral identified by the United States government as essential in energy transition, according to TechCrunch.

In 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey listed 50 minerals that are important to the U.S. economy and national security that have potential to be in low supply. The following year, the U.S. Department of Energy identified 18 critical minerals that are vital to the country's transition to clean energy, including lithium, silicon, and magnesium.

Magnesium can be used in a variety of electronics, such as cell phones and laptops. The mineral is also used in improving electric vehicles, helping to increase mileage on a single charge, further eliminating the dependence on dirty energy for fuel. A recent report from Imperial College London also found that a type of magnesium can be used in cement mix to trap air pollution.

Magnesium is primarily produced from seawater, in addition to brines and other materials, making it naturally occurring and easily recyclable.

However, over 80% of the world's supply of magnesium is produced by China, according to the World Population Review. In other estimates, it is as high as 90%. This can force the price of import into the U.S. to be high, making electronics more expensive. China also uses a method that produces large amounts of pollution.

There's really a lot of potential ways to harness the oceans to better benefit us all.

[JVShocker]

Seriously? The heat has come on?

Y. We have all wood floors throughout the house. So it cools off quickly and stays cool in the summer. We usually turn the heat on right around Oct 31. Not this year - almost 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

[WuDrWu]

Y. We have all wood floors throughout the house. So it cools off quickly and stays cool in the summer. We usually turn the heat on right around Oct 31. Not this year - almost 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

I guess I'm just the opposite. The AC is on the first time it's above 65. Haven't even considered the heat yet. It needs to be low 60s inside during the day to consider for me. And at night? The colder, the better. Open the windows and get under the covers.

[JVShocker]

I guess I'm just the opposite. The AC is on the first time it's above 65. Haven't even considered the heat yet. It needs to be low 60s inside during the day to consider for me. And at night? The colder, the better. Open the windows and get under the covers.

I'm, like, old, okay. Gimme a break.

Gimme a break.

Break me off a piece of that fancy feast! Nailed it!

[JVShocker]

So, since I'm like, old, I look at what were referred to (in another thread) as affordable rental apartments in Wichita between $700-1000. And I'm like, that's 3 or 4x what we pay on the house now. Thank Heaven for 7-11 and the refinance option on a home mortgage. Best decision we ever made.