Emerging Energy Technology

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 30 April 2010

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The primary emphasis of emerging energy technologies in North America has been the electricity and heating sectors. The transport sector is another major area for R&D.

Emerging energy technologies are the way forward not only to meet the growing global energy demand but also to find ways of conserving energy and transforming renewable energy into forms for everyday use. Emerging energy technologies can help the North American industrial sector move towards using cleaner fuels and more sustainable production and consumption processes, while remaining competitive. The challenge that emerging energy technologies face today is the fight for capital investment against the more established and traditional technologies.

To compete against existing energy technologies, emerging technologies need to:

  • Identify areas that will lead to effective R&D
  • Pinpoint the technologies that can play a crucial role in market transformation
  • Increase awareness and provide information on new technologies to policymakers
  • Spread awareness regarding new insights and potentials of energy efficient technologies
Demonstrate the benefits of emerging technologies not only for sustainable energy supply and energy conservation, but also in protecting the environment

A Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Markets and Strategies study conducted by Emerging Energy Research and published in December 2007 highlights the renaissance of solar power. The study analyzed the global CSP resources, technologies, cost trends and market drivers. According to the study, CSP is the fastest growing alternative to wind power in the utility-scale renewable energy category. Emerging Energy Research expects the US to invest up to $20 billion in developing CSP technologies between 2008 and 2012.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Energy Technology Division of the University of California has been busy developing eco-friendly methods of generating and storing energy. The main focus areas for research in emerging energy technologies are:

  • Energy efficient batteries and fuel cells
  • Low emission combustion
  • Improved sensors and sources of clean energy
  • Energy efficient lighting, such as the organic light-emitting diodes

In February 2008, the MIT Industrial Performance Center was awarded a two-year, $2 million grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to evaluate the energy technology innovation system in the US.

The latest development in the field of emerging energy technology has been the successful testing by the US Navy's Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division of two fuel cell technologies developed by the US Department of Energy in August 2008. This success marks a breakthrough for power systems based on the solid oxide fuel cell. >


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