The world’s power system is on the cusp of significant technological transformation, as nations strive for greater reliability in their electrical supply, and simultaneously reduce the adverse environmental consequences associated with generating that electricity.
The ten emerging energy technologies presented in a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and scientific publisher Frontiers are expected to provide options for cleaner, more resilient energy systems by 2030.
This evaluation will focus on innovative solutions which may simultaneously provide answers to multiple issues including, but not limited to, the following; electrical power storage, reducing emissions from manufacturing processes, providing reliable energy and reducing our reliance on a few sources for critical minerals.
The arrival of this report comes at a time where there is an anticipated increase in electricity use. The International Energy Agency predicts in their “Electricity 2026” report that from 2025 until 2030, the amount of electricity being used globally will increase by approximately 20%.
Therefore, the increasing growth will make it even more critical for the creation of more versatile and dependable electrical systems.
Batteries Made From More Abundant Materials
One of the technologies receiving attention is iron-air battery storage.
Conventional lithium ion battery technology is based on chemical processes, but iron-air battery technology is based on the chemical processes that are used to oxidize and reduce iron to produce electricity.
These systems may provide an alternative to storing renewable energy for extended periods of time. Some potential benefits include the use of more common resources, as well as being suitable for stationary energy storage.
The potential use of this type of technology is likely to be especially valuable in the case of power systems which rely heavily upon variable forms of generation (such as wind and solar).
Heat storage batteries represent another key advancement. In these systems, excess electrical energy is converted into heat energy stored within various types of material (i.e. sand, brick, molten salt) for future use.
Later, the stored heat may also be utilized by industrial processes requiring high-temperature environments.
This is a big deal since the industrial sector still uses a lot of energy and creates a large amount of pollution through its heating processes. Thermal storage may allow industries to use more green power from renewable sources.
Cement Production Could Become Cleaner
Another of the technologies assessed was limestone calcined clay cement (LC3).
The conventional method of producing cement uses a great deal of energy and produces large amounts of CO2. As a result, the industry has been looking for ways to develop alternative materials and/or production methods to help lower its impact on the environment.
LC3 is replacing a significant amount of traditional cement clinker with calcined clay and limestone.
According to the report, this method of producing cement can result in up to a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from conventional cement manufacturing processes.
More widespread adoption may affect the way that countries develop infrastructure, especially with developing nations creating new roads, houses, bridges, and manufacturing sites.
On the other hand, whether or not a company decides to use this type of building depends upon several variables including local availability of materials, production capabilities, quality requirements and building codes.
More Electricity From Existing Solar Installations
Solar power is also advancing through perovskite-silicon tandem cells.
In order to catch more of the sun’s rays, these solar cells are composed of various materials. Additionally, the report shows how it is possible to produce more electricity on the same amount of space used for installation.
This can enhance the output of solar developments in areas that have little available land that can be used for solar development, or where the cost of acquiring land is prohibitive.
Building integrated solar provides an alternative method of increasing solar energy production.
Solar panels do not have to be installed separately, but can instead use photovoltaic material in other parts of a building (i.e. roof, facade and/or windows).
These types of programs may enable commercial buildings, offices and households to produce a portion of the electric power they require.
Smarter Electricity Grids
The move towards using renewable energy as a source of power will require changes to our existing electrical distribution system.
Virtual Power Plants are a great example of how technology is being used to bring together the various components of our electric grid. A Virtual Power Plant uses software to manage the many different types of distributed energy resources that exist within a specific geographic area (such as residential batteries, electric vehicle charging stations, smart thermostats, etc.).
Connected systems are capable of responding to the electrical load (or demand) being placed on the system, which can alleviate some of the stress that is placed on traditional power systems.
Digital twins represent a second emerging technology. Operators can utilize digital twin technology to represent physical electrical networks virtually, enabling operators to analyze network performance, conduct testing on different scenarios, and potentially identify future issues.
This would allow utility companies to respond more effectively to changes in the need for electricity.
Offshore Wind and International Electricity Connections
Floating offshore wind turbines can be used in areas with greater water depth than what would normally allow the use of traditional fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines.
They might enable countries with deep water coastlines to develop off-shore wind power which was previously difficult to utilize.
Advanced subsea high-voltage direct-current connections are also highlighted.
The electrical system allows for the movement of large amounts of power over vast distances and can assist in connecting national/regional power grids.
Regions that generate too much renewable energy can connect with regions that need more.
Smaller Nuclear Reactors and Next-Generation Batteries
The assessment also considers modular nuclear reactors.
The goal of these designs is to employ factory-built and small-scale nuclear power plant systems to enhance current construction practices and allow for a larger variety of areas to be considered for installation.
However, there are still other areas where commercial competitive edge, licensing, safety standards, waste disposal and funding will pose significant challenges.
The development of next-generation lithium batteries (such as lithium-sulfur and solid-state) is an additional area for potential development.
The purpose of such batteries is to enhance energy density, safety, or materials efficiency. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these batteries will be determined by how much they cost to produce, how long they last, and how well they perform in a commercial environment.
Technology Alone Will Not Guarantee a Clean Energy Transition
The main idea of the report is that potential technology advances have to go past lab-based studies and prototype tests.
Governments, private businesses, and utilities must create appropriate laws, funding methods, physical systems (or infrastructure), and technical knowledge.
The commercial use of some of these technologies is underway, while other technologies have only reached the preliminary stage of development.
Thus, it would be premature to state that all ten innovative technologies will have achieved widespread use by 2030.
However, the assessment shows a new trend in the way that we think about energy security. The future electric grid will rely not just on producing electricity, but also on storing it, transmitting it effectively and using fewer resources to create it.
The identified technologies may be able to influence this transition if they can provide reliable service and cost effective operation on a large scale.