As smartphones become smarter, advanced wearables track our health better than ever and our computers morph from laptops to tablets and back, these innovative tech devices still share one thing in common: a reliance on often ho-hum power sources.
Fortunately, it appears that we are in the midst of a battery revolution that will allow our state-of-the-art tech devices to work better than ever, and for longer times. Here are four battery trends that may change the way we power up, both now and in the future.
Available now: mobile platforms with faster charging times
Thanks to advances in mobile platforms, devices can now charge up faster than ever. For example, the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms feature some of the fastest processors to date that are designed to offer both fast charging and long battery life. In addition, the Snapdragon mobile platform offers high performance, while being gentle on power consumption. When the battery finally starts to run low, Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ Technology will boost the device back to 50 percent power in as little as 15 minutes.
Coming soon? Gold nanowire batteries that live forever
An exciting battery trend to keep an eye on are gold nanowire batteries that can withstand lots of charging. Nanowires, which are a thousand times thinner than a human hair, have typically broken down when being recharged. But thanks to a new discovery that uses gold nanowires in a gel electrolyte, this issue seems to be a thing of the past. Gold nanowire batteries were tested and recharged over 200,000 times in three months and showed zero signs of breaking down. Thanks to this emerging technology, we may someday soon have batteries that will charge an infinite number of times, preventing our need to eventually replace them.
Available now: using the power of the sun to power batteries
Solar energy gets a lot of attention for its ability to heat and cool buildings, but it can also be an effective way to power small devices in our homes, offices and retail locations. In a scientific nutshell, photons, which are the sub-atomic particles in light, are strong enough to push electrons from their orbits. As the electrons are displaced, they create a positive and a side to something called a photovoltaic cell, which creates electricity. Up until now, photovoltaic cells have been large and inefficient, but now they are smaller, lighter and much more efficient. As a result, we can now use solar power to use even weak sources of light to power a variety of products and devices. For example, Logitech has launched a line of solar-powered PC accessories, like a Wireless Solar Keyboard and Marathon Mouse combo for just over $100. The keyboard can run on regular lights found in most homes or offices, and the battery lasts for around three years.
Coming soon? A solid state lithium-ion car battery
Scientists from Toyota have tested a solid state battery that uses sulfide superionic conductors. What they discovered is a solid state battery that operates at “super capacitor levels” and will completely charge or discharge in seven minutes. In other words, this type of battery will be ideal for cars, and it will also be safer and more stable than current batteries.
It is good to know that as our reliance on different types of tech devices grows, researchers are hard at work discovering new types of batteries that will keep up with our power needs. From quick-charging mobile platforms and solar-powered batteries that are available now, to immortal batteries and safer and quick-charging batteries for vehicles that are on the horizon, the topic of battery trends is a fascinating one to watch.
The consumption of non-renewable resources has been increasing around the world at a rapid rate. New technologies have made it possible to harness solar energy to fuel our electricity and mechanics, making it possible to decrease the amount of non-renewable resources being used. Solar energy technology has spread and is now largely used worldwide. Many countries have built solar power plants to fuel factories and many people are now using solar panels to fuel their own residences.
What is Solar Energy?
Image via Flickr by KUTAustin
Solar energy is a term that refers to energy from the sun. This is considered environmentally friendly and is a renewable resource that we can never use up. The sun is one of the most natural forms of energy and has been producing this energy for eons. Whether we are harnessing the energy or not, it will always be there. Solar energy comes in a form that we do not have to burn, as we do with fossil fuels, and therefore produces no airborne pollutants.
This natural source of energy is available all around the world and only requires an installation of the solar panels. Because of this and the affordable cost of home solar panels, many people have taken to using solar energy in their homes. This is one of the many reasons why it has spread so well worldwide. So how are countries around the world able to harness solar power energy and how do they use it to fuel solar power plants as a major source of electricity?
Germany
In 2014, Germany produced one of the highest amounts of solar energy worldwide. The country generated approximately 31 percent of its electricity from renewable resources. Now this percentage can also include wind power and hydropower, but it is a start in a greener direction. Germany has advanced to using solar power energy for as much as possible, lining solar panels along the rooftops of residential homes and businesses, along train tracks, and even around the outskirts of what used to be coal mines.
In one day in 2012, Germany produced approximately 22 gigawatts of energy from the sun, which is equal to the energy produced by 20 nuclear power plants. Germany also experienced a huge price cut in the cost of using solar power energy, costing about 2000 euros/kW in 2012 and decreasing to about 1200 euros/kW by 2015. The cost of using this more efficient source of energy has almost been cut in half, making it much more affordable and accessible to companies and residences.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s production of solar energy has rapidly increased over the past few years, making them also one of the highest solar energy producing countries. Despite the fact that the UK gets about half as many hours of sunlight as many other countries in Europe, the UK government predicted that by 2020, they will be able to produce enough energy to power 4 million homes across the country with the sun’s natural energy. By the end of 2011, there were as many as 230,000 solar power projects in the works.
Residences in the United Kingdom have been greatly encouraged to use solar energy to fuel their homes. The UK government funded the Energy Savings Trust, a government program which gives out loans in order for people to install solar power panels into their homes. The Green Energy for Schools program installed solar panels into about 100 schools across the country. In a continuing effort to make solar energy affordable and accessible, IKEA stores in the UK began selling solar panel packages for residential homes in 2014.
China
Solar production in China continues to increase and currently the country has over 400 different solar energy companies. The installation of panels has increased from 2.5 GW in 2011 to about 11.3 GW installed in 2013. The Chinese government has created a five-year plan, set to end in 2015. This plan produces a layout to install 1,000 more MW of solar panelling by the end of 2015.
Although the initial installation rate was slow for residential homes and businesses in China, the National Energy Administration has stepped up to help distribute more solar projects and subsidies to schools and hospitals. Continuing efforts will ensure that more residences across the country switch to using solar energy.
Solar power energy is increasing worldwide and becoming more efficient for residences and businesses alike. With continuing advances, solar energy will take the place of nuclear energy in the near future.
