9 Crazy Ideas That Just Might Be the Future of Green Energy

Graphic design by Sam Cornett

Solar RoadwaysIf solar panels were installed on all 31,250 miles of roads and

parking lots in the U.S. the country could generate three times more energy then it uses each year.

Graphic design by Sam Cornett

Piezoelectricity from Walking

Each step we take generates kinetic energy. One footstep

can generate enough power to light two 60-watt bulbs for one second. Harvesting this

power by installing piezoelectric flooring could light areas with a lot of foot

traffic. Photo credit: Flickr/Giuseppe Milo

Piezoelectricity from Rainfall

Just like each step we take generates kinetic energy, so do rain drops. By installing

sensor pads on a rooftop we could collect this energy when

the sun isn’t shining.

Photo credit: Flickr/Kevin Dooley

Burning SeawaterOcean water can be burned when applied with high intensity

radio waves. The waves break apart the water into its chemical components, which can be burned.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Lockheed Martin is designing a system in China that uses

the temperature differential in tropical areas to generate

electricity. Ammonia passes through a heat exchanger

containing the warm water and is vaporized and used to

turn a turbine. It’s then cycled past cold water to

recondense.

Tidal Power

Tidal power is a form of hydro power than converts the energy from ocean tides into electricity.

Photo credit: Flickr/Ctd 2005

Underwater Tide-driven Turbine Farm

Turbines can be used above the ocean and driven by the wind. However, turbines can

also be placed underwater and driven by tidal currents.

The energy unit of Alstom, which General Electric is trying

to acquire, is developing technology for tidal energy. Photo credit: Flickr/phault

Thorium

The U.S. government tested thorium based nuclear power in the 1960s but shut down its

research in 1973. Thorium-based nuclear power has

several advantages over nuclear power including a reduction in

nuclear waste and reduced worries of a meltdown.

Image courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Recycled Nuclear Waste

General Electric and Hitachi created the ARC, which is the Advanced Recycling Center for nuclear waste. The plant would consume 96% of the used nuclear

fuel waste by volume to generate electricity.

Source: GE Hitachi

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