Unknown Renewable Resources

By Gemma Tabet

Written: June 2, 2021

Theme of Issue: SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy. Here is the official UN link where you can learn more about this particular Sustainable Development Goal: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7

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Photo from Unsplash by Noah Buscher

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We’ve all heard about renewable energy sources (energy that comes from natural sources and that can be replenished constantly) and how they’re better than the old nonrenewable energy sources: coal, natural gas, nuclear energy and more. You know, the usual, solar panels, hydropower and wind turbines. But here’s a secret. There are so many other renewable energy sources out there, and I have collected a list of some of the strangest.

1. Heat Capture

Heat capture is a system that harnesses excess heat from crematoriums and uses it to warm up offices, buildings and more. And, unlike what you’re probably thinking now, you’re not really going to be breathing in the ashes of a dearly departed. Because mercury is found in dental amalgam fillings, which millions of people have, when cremated, the mercury is filtered and released into the atmosphere with the flue gas (other gases released during cremation), polluting lakes and oceans, ending up in animals like eagles or fish. When filtering or separating the mercury from the flue gas, temperatures most go down from 800 degrees Centigrade to 150 degrees, meaning it must be transferred into another liquid, in this case water through a network of parallel pipes. Usually, this heated water is wasted but with heat capture, it can be transformed into electrical energy which can be used in various places. A town in Worcestershire, UK uses their excess heat to warm up their local pool while countries like Sweden and Denmark use theirs to directly heat homes. This heat capture system from crematoriums, can recover 90% of normally wasted heat and lower emissions, but it is considered very controversial and for some is unethical and morally wrong.

2. Bio-solar

Sounds weird right? Well, bio-solar could really be called jellyfish power. Research at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg Sweden led by Zackary Chiragwandi, developed in 2010 a biophotovoltaic device that can take green fluorescent protein (GPF) from jellyfish and mix it with aluminum electrodes. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the GPF mixture absorbs photons and emits electrons, which travel through a circuit to produce electricity. It’s a much cheaper system as it does not require expensive materials like in solar panels. The device is still being refined, but their technology has so far powered a clock. Just imagine, one day there could be biocells floating around on the ocean generating power with minimal damage to the environment and at a lower cost.

3. Dancefloors

Not just technologically advanced but fun too. In Rotterdam, Netherlands, dance-floors or energy floors have been adapted to absorb kinetic energy when people dance. The energy is converted into electricity which lights up the dance-floor itself with one floor tile or module producing up to 35Wp in ideal circumstances. The dance-floor in question is called Club Watt, but sadly it’s been closed since a few years, leaving behind a legacy of generating clean energy in a fun and innovative way. But this system can still be used on larger scales, especially since the average person takes 150 million steps in their lifetime. In fact, a London company, Pavegen, aims to make cities sustainable and smart by developing streets made of these tiles for clean electricity and a greener future. 4. Van-Gogh Roosegaarde Path

Imagine taking a nighttime bike ride on streets that glow. That’s exactly what you can find in the Netherlands, in Eindenhoven, the town where Van Gogh himself was born. The path was in fact, inspired by the artist’s famous ‘Starry Night’, with thousands of twinkling stones which emit light. The path absorbs solar energy during the day, which causes these rocks (coated with photosensitive material) to glow at night. This is only one project by the SMART HIGHWAY initiative from Dutch designer, Daan Roosegaarde, which aims to makes roads more environmentally friendly with other projects like Glowing Lines and Gates of Light.

These are only four bizarre renewable energy sources from a long list. And, as technology advances more and more alternative sources will need to be created to replace fossil fuels. What will the new energy source be? Will it be affordable and accessible for all? Will it be effective? These are questions we need to ask as our world faces the climate crisis, and ones our governments must begin taking seriously.