July 1, 2024

Oliver Gordon writes:

Sodium-ion batteries are set to disrupt the LDES market within the next few years, according to new research – exclusively seen by Power Technology’s sister publication Energy Monitor – by GetFocus, an AI-based analysis platform that predicts technological breakthroughs based on global patent data. Sodium-ion batteries are not only improving at a faster rate than other LDES technologies but they are also set to be cost comparable with the cheapest forms of dispatchable power, and therefore enter mainstream use, as early as 2027.

Read Sodium batteries to disrupt energy storage market

Edit: people were getting confused about which quote was for what, so I added dividers and titles to separate it all better. Sorry for the confusion.

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Kinetic Tiles

Many years ago now, I was watching an NHK (a Japanese broadcaster) program about how kinetic energy was going to be utilized in the busiest stations in Japan. The theory was simple; as people walk over a mat, their steps would produce electricity to help power the station. In any other station it might not work, but in a station that typically has 1.57 million passengers per day, that is a lot of people power.

Since then, there have been many companies attempting to utilize kinetic energy, with the biggest company likely being "Pavegen." They have their system in certain city sidewalks, airports, and even under sports turfs.

"The downward force drives an energy-storing flywheel inside the tile, which spins to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. It’s like a generator — only instead of spinning a turbine with wind, water, or coal, it’s spinning a flywheel with footsteps." Grist

More Info On Kinetic Pavement:

• https://youtu.be/VD15-2Uriyc
• https://youtu.be/vnAwsEUOUxw

Kinetic Shoes

If tiles are not unique enough for you, that same tech can be used in shoes.

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"The researchers say that this method can produce a lot of watts relative to the surface area of the generator, with the proof-of-concept device generating around 10 watts per square meter in early experiments. They claim that theoretical estimates indicate up to 10 kW might be possible." NewsAtlas

More Info On Kinetic Shoes:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjc9tUs96Y&t=9s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svK6Gv7oM6U

More work needs to be done to make kinetic energy more efficient, but there is just something fascinating to me about power generation that can fit seamlessly into our world without us noticing.

To ensure his plans were based on historic originals, Gareth purchased over 1,700 survey drawings of the Bourn Windmill in Cambridgeshire, approximated the measurements, and then reconstructed a quarter-size copy in his garden.

Gareth relied on his skills and education as a classical boat builder at the Falmouth Marine School, which also serves him at his day job repairing furniture. The windmill is built mainly of green oak and can rotate to be directed at the wind. He sewed the sails himself from a curtain he bought in a thrift store.

The mill’s generator produces 100 amps at 12 volts when spinning at its optimum speed.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/man-builds-an-electricity-generating-windmill-in-his-own-garden/

Alternative Youtube Link