Crazy Ideas for A Brighter Future

Unique ideas by people clearly thinking outside the box may be hold the key to our energy crisis and harmful levels of CO2 emissions. In an article I found on msnbc.com, a slideshow of six very interesting green solution concepts are shown that may be promising for a brighter future. Apart from alternative sources of energy already known such as fields of windmills and solar panels, artificial leaves and trees is one of the idea posed. Just like in trees how leaves convert sunlight into energy through the process of photosynthesis, scientists at the Imperial College of London, are looking to create artificial leaves that will also perform a similar process of photosynthesis but harvest the energy for our own personal needs and uses. A company called Solar Botanic also in London, “is in the R&D stage of building artificial trees fitted with "nanoleaves" that generate electricity from sunlight and heat” (Roach 2). Not to mention by making them look like real trees, they will blend in and be more aesthetically pleasing.

Another project in progress is called ‘Anaconda’ being developed by the University of Southhampton. A long, water-filled rubber tube would be positioned just below sea surface, with one end facing approaching waves. As ‘rollers’ bash the tube, they will squeeze it and generate something called a “bulge wave.” The waves then push this bulge along the tube, making it larger and larger as it goes. At the end of the tube, the bulge wave powers a turbine that will essentially generate electricity which is subsequently harnessed and shipped to shore by a cable of some sort. Researchers say it “would be about 660 feet long, 25 feet in diameter and capable of generating 1 megawatt of electricity – enough to power 2,000 British homes” (Roach 3). Solar power from outer space may also be another idea. The plan entails beaming down electricity from solar panel satellites that orbit the Earth through radio waves, a possibility beginning in mid-2016. These solar satellites would be able to harvest the sun’s energy twenty-four hours a day, unaffected by clouds and night time on Earth.

Some scientists and engineers are even looking to utilize all of the space we have on our ocean’s surface. Being that oceans cover about 75% of Earth’s surface, it would make sense to build islands devoted to generating energy using temperature differences in water. According to the article, in this plan, “warm surface water is evaporated in a vacuum, producing steam to drive a turbine that generates electricity. Cold water pumped up from depth causes the steam to condense as desalinated water and wind turbines, solar cells and wave energy converters would kick in additional juice” (Roach 5). Scientist believes that a few of these islands together would have the ability to power a city.

Another idea posed is the establishment of the cylindrical rods on the ocean or river floor in a certain configuration will capture energy from slow-moving currents. According to engineer Michael Bernitsas the University of Michigan, “As water flows past the rods, it creates what are called vortex-induced vibrations. The eddies, or swirls, form in an alternating pattern, pushing and pulling an object up or down or side to side to create mechanical energy” (Roach 6). The idea they said was inspired by schools of fish and how they efficiently ride in each other’s wake to move at great speed not normally possible alone. If they can create a way to harvest this mechanical energy, they say that “An array about the size of a running track and about two stories high could generate enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes” (Roach 6).

Because to make and use all of these things and continue to use and consume the way we do today will still be producing much CO2, a giant problem, researchers have came up with a structure that will imitate a tree and be able to sequester masses of CO2 from our atmosphere. The structure according to the article “will use a proprietary absorbent material to trap carbon dioxide from the air. The gas is then stored, and the absorbent material is recycled to capture even more carbon dioxide” (Roach 7). Designed in Arizona by Global Research Technologies, the company, it is believed to be able to collect carbon approximately a thousand times faster than trees and is several hundred times more efficient than the current windmill. (Roach 7)

There is something to be said about thinking outside the box. I believe it is extremely important to keep one’s mind open to many different ideas no matter how abstract they may seem. As seen in this article, some of the most abstract in weird ideas may have very profound effects if implemented on our future, and can help to create a safer and healthier Earth for us. In fact, these types of ideas may save us all. I say don’t be afraid to contribute your own ideas because you never know what may inspire somebody who can implement a bit of science and their own creativity to it, kind of like the ‘snowball’ effect.

Resources

Roach, John. "Crazy green-energy ideas that just might work: So far these are mostly concepts, but we may be using them in the future." msnbc.com Technology & Science msn, 29 Aug. 2009. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545685/ns/technology_and_science-green_innovation/?pg=1#Science_FringeEnergy_090826>.