The Renewables Revolution
The bright ideas lighting the way forward
How will our lives be powered in 2050?
Over the last twenty years, wind, solar, and hydro power have brought electricity to remote communities and reduced our emissions from energy generation.
The revolution in renewables has transformed our world, but the current mix can’t provide us with clean energy all of the time. Novel technologies, as well as optimisations to existing ones, are reshaping the energy landscape so it is more efficient, less visible, and doesn't cost the Earth. These seven companies are fuelling a new era of renewables.
Tokamak Energy are accelerating fusion's arrival to market. Fusion is the process that powers the stars – and it could also unlock virtually limitless clean energy on Earth. With innovations like their ST40 device, Tokamak are working to deliver fusion by the mid-2030s.
Space Solar are exploring new frontiers in solar energy. By capturing sunrays before they’re filtered by Earth’s atmosphere, space-based solar panels can deliver 13 times more energy than if they were on the ground. Their system converts energy to radio waves, which are beamed down to antennae on Earth before being converted back into energy. This out-of-this-world innovation could be in operation by 2035.
Eavor are scaling clean, baseload and dispatchable power. Using a closed-loop system, their technology brings heat to the surface of the Earth by conduction. While traditional geothermal energy is pulled from underground aquifers and often requires fracking, Eavor extract energy from hot rock, a resource that is virtually everywhere – right beneath our feet.
Hyphen are harnessing Namibia’s ample natural resources to create green hydrogen. Exported as green ammonia, Hyphen are answering the call from global demand centres like Korea and Japan, as well as redistributing excess energy to the Namibian grid. This project is crucial for bolstering Namibia’s energy security and stimulating their green economy.
Yosemite Clean Energy are creating a waste-free bioeconomy. In Yosemite National Park, the logging industry has cleared swathes of forest, leaving behind 50 million tonnes of debris that act as kindling for wildfires. By turning this wood waste into green hydrogen and natural gas, Yosemite Clean Energy are creating a new source of renewables while protecting the fragile ecosystems of Northern California.
BluEarth Renewables are transforming power in British Columbia. In collaboration with the Squamish Nation, BluEarth have created a low-impact, run-of-river hydro plant in Culliton Creek. Sitting within Squamish Fist Nation Territory, this project serves as a blueprint for successfully involving Indigenous communities in clean energy projects.
Biome Renewables are taking design cues from the natural world to improve the efficiency of wind turbines. Their FeatherEdge blades are inspired by owl wings to decrease noise pollution, while their PowerCone model mimics the movement of maple seeds and the kingfisher to maximise wind power. Biome Renewables are demonstrating that nature already has the answers to some of our biggest questions.
These innovations are contributing to a network of solutions that is already reenergising the landscape. When it comes to renewables, the future may be closer than we think.
To learn more about these companies and innovations, visit their websites:
