The Top 5 Green Technology Breakthroughs
By Pippa Sorley
Filed Under The Big Picture |
With predictions of our economic collapse, global warming and climactic disasters riddling global discussion, it can seem hard to maintain a positive attitude. The reverberating chant that bellowed through the halls of the Republican National Convention two weeks ago: “DRILL, BABY, DRILL!” certainly didn’t help, leaving many of us feeling hopeless.
Don’t despair yet! There’s good news when it comes to what is known as “green technology”. As we speak, alternative energy projects in a plethora of arenas are transforming research and development centers around the world. The Green Revolution has begun, and it will prove to not only boost our economy, but also holds the potential to save the planet from human destruction.
According to the market research firm CleanTech Group, renewable energy start-ups received $2 billion in venture capital funding in the second quarter of 2008 alone; a 58% increase from its previous year. Today clean technology accounts for 20% of all venture capital funding. This will provide us with thousands of new jobs, economic security, competitiveness in the global marketplace, and, well, hope for a more environmentally responsible future.
So what types of revolutionary green technologies can we look out for? Here is a glimpse into the Top 5 green technological breakthroughs from the past few years that we think will positively impact the way we live:
- DYNAMIC BUILDINGS
- TUBURCLE BLADES
- MICRO-ALGAE
- WAVE & TIDAL POWER
- SOLAR-THERMAL ENERGY
Introduction To Biomimicry
Biologists and scientists such as Janine Benyus discovered years ago that perhaps “man-made” technology isn’t so smart after all. The concept of biomimicry suggests that modern innovators follow the designs that nature has developed to withstand the test of geologic time. If natural designs are superior to anything that us humans have come up with, so why not “mimic nature” in the development of all our modern technologies?
The idea seemed too simple for many engineers and designers, but the theory is catching on. Two modern examples of Biomimicry-based designs include wind turbine blades that have been designed to use the same design as humpback whale fins, and skyscrapers that mimic the movable, dynamic architecture of a tree.
MOVING SKYSCRAPERS
From creating man-made islands visible from space to ski resorts in the middle of the desert, the city of Dubai continues to defy convention. This time however, they’re turning to nature to inspire a whole new type of architecture: dynamic towers.
According to the city’s architecture firm, the new skyscrapers will have 80 floors and stand 1,380 feet tall. Each floor will rotate and move independently (and slowly enough to keep residents from getting motion sickness). Not limited to rotational movement- inhabitants will also be able to extend their own balconies outward so they can soak up the sun - and the constantly changing views!
The movement of the modulated floors will create a building that resembles something out of a sci-fi film; something that should defy the laws of physics. Depending on the time of day and how it reflects light, the variation of shape can make the tower look like the craziest LEGO creation a kid could come up with. The most exciting facet of the new building in motion is its environmental friendliness. According to renowned Italian architect Dr. David Fisher, “the Dynamic Tower is the first building designed to be self-powered, with the ability to generate electricity for itself, as well as for nearby buildings. It achieves this feat with 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.”
The structure will mimic that of a tree. The building’s stable core resembles a thick trunk that runs from the ground up, with the floors acting like branches and leaves that shadow the rhythms of nature. Dr. Fisher states, “Today’s life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change to our concept of design and to our mood. [Our] buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather, these buildings will be alive.”
TUBERCLE BLADES
Inspired by the agility and speed of whales, designs that integrate biomimicry with a host of mechanical components are being built based on the science of fluid dynamics. Wind turbines, fans, pumps and compressors are just a few examples of everyday items that can break through the limitations of conventional technologies by mimicking the design of the whale flipper.
Dr. Frank E. Fish studied the unusual bumps (tubercles) on the leading edge of humpback whale flipper and discovered that they create what he dubbed a “tubercle effect” on surrounding fluid: delaying stall, increasing lift and decreasing drag. This discovery allowed a portal of understanding into the grace and ease by which these huge mammals glide through the ocean. By adding precisely formed versions of those bumps to blades or rotors, his designs have proven to easily overcome the scientific limitations once deemed unavoidable by engineers and scientists.
The possibilities are endless, from more efficient wind and hydroelectric turbines, municipal water systems, farm irrigation, ventilation systems to efficient aircraft wing design, this simple tweak to the shape of blades could dramatically improve thousands of modern technologies.
MICRO ALGAE
Slimy-looking pond scum could save our planet? As we come to terms with the major drawbacks of harvesting crops to fuel our cars, it is essential that we find new renewable fuels that won’t compete with food crops such as soy or corn. Micro-algae could be the answer. This super-organism grows prolifically in areas not suitable for traditional crops and can store massive amounts of oils and starches necessary to make biodiesel or ethanol. Micro-algae has garnered considerable attention lately, since it can produce 30-100 times the oil yield of soybeans on the same acreage, while it’s biomass remnants can be reused as cattle feed supplement or fermented into ethanol.
One of the main obstacles to industrial production of biodiesel from algae is the organism’s reliance on photosynthesis for energy to consume CO2 and produce oils. Solazyme, a San Francisco-based startup, has been working for the past five years on deriving biofuel from algae without sunlight. They are using sugar. Algae are not entirely dependent on sunlight for growth, in fact, they are 1000 times more efficient at producing oils from sugar compared to growth by sunlight. Although the process is still in development, Solazyme’s claim may prove to have revolutionary merit.
SOLAR-THERMAL
Solar power is a well known entity. Although few of us are aware of the embodied energy that is required to design, manufacture and distribute traditional photovoltaic cells to our rooftops, most of us know that it is easily accessible and relatively simple to convert a home or business from electric to solar power.
There’s a new solar game in town and it’s known as solar thermal. Although it may sound like a new type of underwear, solar thermal is a renewable energy that is often referred to as the “other” solar power. Unlike photovoltaic cells that directly converts sunlight into energy, solar thermal uses mirrors to focus sunlight on a liquid that turns into steam and powers a turbine. This key difference means that solar thermal does not rely on direct sunlight to produce energy, and the relatively simple process can store energy for several hours after sundown. Solar thermal plants can also rely on other fuels such as natural gas when it’s dark or cloudy. So, there’s hope for those of us who live in Vancouver, Seattle, London or Stockholm!
OCEAN POWER
Sweden, Scotland and recently the Pacific Northwest of the US have developed energy technology powered by the force of the sea. The technology utilizes the forces of waves and tidal pull to generate electrical energy which is fed straight into national power grids. Wave and tidal power produces zero emissions and leaves no harmful waste. While estimates for solar power in many parts of the world is 1,000 hours a year and for wind power is 2,200 hours a year, it is estimated that wave and tidal power will be available for up to 4,000 hours a year.
The challenge remains: harnessing energy from heaving waves, severe weather, crushing currents and the corrosive power of salt water can seriously thrash expensive equipment. Yet the potential benefits seriously outweigh the drawbacks; the majority of researchers believe that tapping power from our oceans could supply a third of our energy supplies.
While we still have fossil fuels to burn, why not channel them into designing technologies that will allow us to live without the destructive oil habit in a regenerative, clean, energy conserving way?
Voraciously intrigued?
- Check out the Biomimicry Institute to keep up with nature-inspired technological advancements
Posted on September 19, 2008 |
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12 Responses to “The Top 5 Green Technology Breakthroughs”
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What about hybrid cars? The bicycle is best ever.
Well researched material. What a fascinating concept is biomimicry. Enjoyed your article very much.
Good article. Your referenced technologies are all awe-inspiring.
Coincidentally, Discover Magazine has a special about new energy technologies this month. A future econscious article could perhaps elaborate on their highlighted technologies:
- high altitude wind turbines
- conversion of urban trash & wood chips into biofuels
- high energy storage capacity of Vanadium batteries
- and, everyone’s favourite…cold fusion
Note that modern technologists are still stumbling over the key energy consuming activity that stumps us all…transportation. When we say transport, we immediately think of the internal combustion engine (ICE), but we really need to look at the combination of ICE, jet turbines, and the variety of engines that power our ships. All of these use a variation of the high-density energy fuel that we call “oil”. Hybrids show promise as a large scale REDUCTION in consumed ICE oil, but not a REPLACEMENT for that fuel. Note that the Fuel Cell is no longer considered a viable alternative (see Economist article 4th Sep) and there is no technology on the horizon for planes and ships yet.
I would welcome a future article about viable transportation technology alternatives.
Would be an exciting time to be an architect, or an engineer. So much possibility!
I love the look and idea of mimicking nature in architecture in such creative ways…what took us so long?
I’m ready to live in the future. Just hope our next President [the one we want] is able get public opinion on our side given economic priorities and the fact that our energy problems aren’t going to go away if we drill in Alaska.
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Well researched article! Love the Moving Skyscraper. So ingenious! (Is that how it is spelled) But again, it’s all about consumption consumption consumption! But progress is the name of the game, everywhere, although some cultures experience it alot slower than the west due to finances and availability of resources and a host of other factors. As a species, we didn’t do much for a couple million years, plus or minus, but we are certainly making up for it our huge appetite for everything because of our intellectual growth in the last 2000 years, mostly the last 500! Now, lets work on moderation and giving back to the planet with making more proper choices more often.
Very interesting article. Thanks for the insight into solar thermal and moving skyscrapers! Rumors are floating around that Sergey Brin (Google) might be investing in micro-algae very soon. Make sure to put those projects in your investment portfolio as well!
The piece is a great renderning of Janine Benyus’ notion of biomimicry — fashioning selective techologies in ways that mimic mechanisms, processes and designs from the natural world. It’s an extremely engaging concept and to whatever extent it can be integrated into the design of buildings, energy sources, and modes of transportation, it should –- as soon as we can liberate the political process from the control of big coal and big oil. Absent success on the political front, regrettably, the carbon lobby will continue to thwart all manner of innovative and creative ways to prepare for a very turbulent future.
Hi
Just remember that all of these technologies are codependent upon hydrocarbons. To extract and make the metals - all of these are still dependent upon big oil…
not to say we should not do it… definitely. Just remember to go in with eyes wide open rather than eyes wide shut. There is going to be some stiff competition for the resources that are remaining. Getting them singulary focused and expended on these types of technologies… well now that is where the proverbial rubber meets the road.
yep it is complicated and HARD… all the more reason to not be pollyannaish and face the facts .. we have some elegant choices to make…
[...] obstacles and large scale experiments must be addressed before the ‘non-combustion’ (ie. Wind, Water, Solar, Geothermal & Biofuel) will ever have the critical mass to truly rival the global reach of [...]