As climate change pressures mount and global energy needs escalate, newer technologies are becoming increasingly more necessary to reshape how we generate and consume power. In this post, we’ll explore some of the cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the energy sector. 

Smart grids

Smart grids are being adopted worldwide as a way of reducing energy losses in cities. This technology involves integrating digital communication and automation to predict energy demands, distribute power and reduce outages. Many smart grids are now integrating renewables like solar and wind more heavily to make cities and towns greener. 

Sodium ion batteries

When it comes to storing grid electricity, traditional lithium-ion batteries could one day be replaced by sodium ion batteries. These batteries provide similar energy density but at a lower cost due to not having to rely on scarce lithium supplies. Electric vehicles may also end up using these batteries in the future once they have been developed further. 

Perovskite solar cells

Traditional solar panels use silicon cells to harvest energy. However, research has found that using a material called perovskite could greatly improve efficiency. This material can also be printed on flexible surfaces, making it possible to install these panels in more places. 

Algal biofuel

Biofuels use sustainable organic matter to create energy. One promising biofuel that we could see becoming more popular in the future is microalgae. This can be grown in the sea, making it much more scalable than many land-based biofuel options.

Green hydrogen

Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis from renewable electricity and is a zero-emission fuel that could potentially make huge cuts to global emissions. It is already being used for some heavy transport, but it has been proposed that all future ships could one day run on it.

Footstep power generation

This innovative source of power generation involves using kinetic energy from footsteps. In high traffic areas like airports and malls, such an energy source could be used for elements like lighting and sensors (companies like Pavegen have already started implementing this technology in urban areas). 

Oil e-ticketing

Technologies such as Oilfield ticketing software are helping to digitize the trading and tracking of shipments. Such systems can automatically bring up real-time information to help enable faster and more efficient oil trading. 

Enhanced oil recovery

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) uses techniques like CO2 injection and chemical flooding to extract 60% more oil. Such technology has already started to be used on many oil reserves as a greener alternative to traditional methods. 

Robotic drilling

To reduce costs and improve efficiency, many oil companies are also now using robotic drills. These systems are able to operate autonomously in harsh environments helping to reduce risk to humans. Using AI such robots can also optimize paths to oil. 

AI oil discovery

Using seismic big data, it’s also possible to speed up the discovery of new oil reserves by using AI. This technology also lowers the cost of discovering oil and is also a greener method, although it is still very much being developed.