Can the world rely on renewable energy? | Future Earth | BBC News

Summary

The video explores innovative technologies focused on sustainable energy. It introduces the concept of generating power from humidity, which could potentially be more efficient than solar panels, and could power household appliances. Additionally, it highlights a sand battery that stores energy as heat, lasting for months, and being tested in Finland. Another creative approach is using the heat from London's underground trains to warm buildings, reducing carbon emissions. These developments offer promising solutions for energy storage, generation, and sustainability in the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of generating energy from humidity is being explored, potentially offering a continuous, space-efficient energy source.
• 😀 Unlike solar panels, which take up space and are weather-dependent, energy from humidity could be produced day and night, everywhere.
• 😀 The key challenge with this technology is its energy density, but it could compete in terms of volume, as it operates constantly.
• 😀 Storing energy is crucial for success, and the idea of storing it in sand is being tested in Finland with promising results.
• 😀 A sand battery system converts wind and solar power into heat, which is stored in sand at 500°C and can retain this heat for months.
• 😀 Heat from the underground trains in London is being captured and repurposed to warm water for nearby buildings.
• 😀 This heat harvesting method reduces carbon emissions and contributes to making London more energy-efficient.
• 😀 The London Underground’s warm air is collected through ventilation shafts and pumped to heat water, serving over 1,000 council buildings.
• 😀 The idea of using ambient heat from infrastructure like the underground to serve urban energy needs is an innovative approach to sustainability.
• 😀 Combining various energy-generation methods like humidity energy, sand storage, and heat recovery from underground systems may form a multi-layered solution for future energy challenges.

Q & A

What innovative method is being explored to generate energy from humidity?

Researchers are exploring a method to generate energy by harnessing atmospheric humidity. This energy could potentially power everyday appliances like refrigerators and TVs, offering an alternative to solar panels.

How does the energy from humidity compare to solar power?

Energy from humidity could be more attractive than solar power because it doesn't require space like solar panels, which can be unsightly or intrusive. Additionally, humidity is consistently available both day and night.

What is the main challenge of using renewable energy that the video addresses?

One of the major challenges is energy storage. The video discusses a solution using sand to store energy generated by renewable sources, ensuring it can be retained and used when needed.

How does the sand battery work?

The sand battery stores energy by converting electricity from wind or solar power into heat, which warms sand up to 500°C. The sand can retain this heat for months, offering an effective energy storage solution.

What makes the sand battery a unique energy storage solution?

The sand battery is unique because it can store heat for long periods without significant energy loss, making it a promising solution for large-scale energy storage.

How is heat from the London Underground being used to benefit the city?

Heat from the Underground trains is collected from the ventilation shafts and used to warm nearby buildings. The warm air is pumped into pipes that heat water, which is then distributed to public buildings such as homes and leisure centers.

How many buildings benefit from the heat collected from the London Underground?

The heat collected from the London Underground helps to warm more than 1,000 nearby public buildings, including homes, leisure centers, and schools.

What environmental impact does the Underground heat project have?

This project reduces carbon emissions by utilizing otherwise wasted heat from the Underground, contributing to a more sustainable and self-sufficient energy system for the city.

How does the sand battery compare to other forms of energy storage?

Unlike traditional energy storage solutions like batteries, which degrade over time, the sand battery offers a more durable and cost-effective option for long-term energy storage, especially for renewable energy.

Why is the use of atmospheric humidity seen as a potential energy source?

Atmospheric humidity is seen as a potential energy source because it is constantly available in the environment, making it a reliable and sustainable option for generating energy without requiring extra space.