TOP 10 renewable energy solutions of 2022
spotlighting the top 10 renewable energy projects of 2022
This year, designboom introduces a new round-up of TOP 10 BIG stories: the most impactful solutions coming out of the renewable energy industry. Between a solar-powered car that can drive for months without charging, a spine-like device that converts wave movement into electricty, and using vertical-farming technologies to turn clean energy into fresh algae, the year 2022 saw an incredible push for greener and affordable alternatives to climate-destructive fossil fuels, each harnessing one or several of mother nature’s resources: wind, sun, water, and flora.
Continuing the tradition of welcoming the new year with our BIG stories wrap-up, we spotlight below the TOP 10 renewable energy solutions featured on designboom in 2022.
THIS SPINE-LIKE FLOATING DEVICE CAN CONVERT WAVE POWER INTO ELECTRICITY
image courtesy of SWEL
For over ten years, UK and Cyprus-based R&D company Sea Wave Energy Limited (SWEL) has been developing a unique Wave Energy Converter (WEC) dubbed the ‘Waveline Magnet.’ Conceptualized as a spine-like device floating on water, it harnesses the power of waves to produce electricity — offering an affordable, low-maintenance, and climate-friendly alternative to traditional technologies. In January 2022, after much research and testing, SWEL released a concept design simulating the mechanism of its latest ‘Waveline Magnet’ model. It features several floating platforms linked via a central power system, creating a flexible and modular device that seamlessly follows wave movement.
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HELIOWATER SPHERES USE SOLAR POWER TO TURN SEAWATER INTO CLEAN DRINKING WATER
image courtesy of HelioWater
In 2019, UNICEF and the World Health Organization published a report revealing 1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. In response, designers and inventors around the world are developing novel ways of accessing clean water. The latest idea comes in the form of HelioWater, a French company conceived by Marine Tech. Composed of large spheres mounted onto a metal frame, the HelioWater device relies on a large solar panel at its base to power the purification process, with each module of 1 sqm producing 10 liters of water per day. This method is completely autonomous and works using evaporation, condensation and mineralization. Seawater is pumped into the sphere, where it evaporates and condenses onto the inside surface of the top dome. Clean drinking water then drops to the bottom and is pumped away.
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UNÉOLE COMBINES SOLAR AND WIND POWER TO DEVISE AN IDEAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM
courtesy of Unéole
French startup Unéole has developed a silent, mixed-energy system that combines solar and wind power, specifically adapted to city buildings. The proposed mechanism comprises wind turbines covered with a photovoltaic rooftop to maximize energy production by 40%, compared to a pure solar solution. Indeed, pairing two renewable power sources gives the possibility to alternate between them depending on weather conditions. As photovoltaic efficiency relies on solar radiation, wind turbines can take over at night or during winter when radiations are usually weak, making them the ideal complement.
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OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND TURBINE ‘SEATWIRL’ STORES KINETIC ENERGY TO STABILIZE VOLTAGE
image courtesy of SeaTwirl
Swedish wind turbine company SeaTwirl has patented the storage of kinetic energy in its turbines which the company states can help optimize the rotational speed of a wind turbine and stabilize the voltage fluctuations. So far, the company has this patent in France, El Salvador, the UK, Ireland, and the US. The solution stems from a problem with wind power where voltage fluctuations are caused by variations in wind speed. The company states that the solution works by moving mass to or from the center of rotation. By doing so, the output power can be maintained with less wind and thus be optimized to reduce fluctuations on the electric grid. ‘It is the same principle as a figure skater who pulls her arms towards her body to spin faster when making a pirouette,’ SeaTwirl writes.
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