In the face of mounting environmental challenges, the energy sector is undergoing a profound shift toward cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. The research conducted throughout 2023 showcases a diverse array of innovative solutions and breakthroughs in the fields of energy and green technology. Researchers and engineers have explored novel approaches to harness solar energy, address plastic waste, and create sustainable fuel sources. The developments span various domains, including renewable energy, waste management, and environmental sustainability.
Let’s dive into some key highlights of the year:
January — February
— Engineers have invented a solar-powered artificial leaf, built on the electrode which is transparent and porous, capable of harvesting water from the air for conversion into hydrogen fuel.
— A new kind of solar panel has achieved 9% efficiency in converting water into hydrogen and oxygen — mimicking a crucial step in natural photosynthesis.
— Researchers have developed a system that can transform plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and other valuable products — using just the energy from the Sun.
— A research team recently developed a lead-free perovskite photocatalyst that delivers highly efficient solar energy-to-hydrogen conversion.
— A novel technique called Underground Gravity Energy Storage turns decommissioned mines into long-term energy storage solutions, thereby supporting the sustainable energy transition.
— Chemical and environmental engineers detailed a method to convert plastic waste into a highly porous form of charcoal that has a whopping surface area of about 400 square meters per gram of mass. It could potentially be added to soil to improve water retention and aeration of farmlands.
— Scientists have succeeded in synthesizing fumaric acid, a raw material for plastics, from CO2 powered by solar energy.
— Researchers have developed a new method for measuring the solar energy produced by bifacial solar panels, the double-sided solar technology that is expected to meet increased global energy demands moving forward.
— Scientists carved a path to profit from carbon capture by creating a system that efficiently captures CO2 and converts it into methanol.
— Scientists have taken the first step at estimating the best large-scale uses for food processing waste, first analyzing its contents and, based on those findings, proposing production opportunities ranging from sustainable fuels, biogas, and electricity to useful chemicals and organic fertilizer.
— Researchers reveal the thermal instability that happens within the cells’ interface layers but also offers a path forward toward reliability and efficiency for halide perovskite solar technology.
— Researchers have found a way to use small shocks of electricity to disinfect water, reducing energy consumption, cost, and environmental impact.
— Researchers have developed a cheaper and more energy-efficient way to make hydrogen directly from seawater. The method splits the seawater directly into hydrogen and oxygen — skipping the need for desalination and its associated cost, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.
— Scientists create carbon nanotubes and other hybrid nanomaterials out of plastic waste using an energy-efficient, low-cost, low-emissions process that could also be profitable.
— Scientists have developed an affordable add-on technology that removes more than 99.9% of acidic gases and other emissions to produce an ultraclean natural gas furnace.
March — May
— Researchers have developed a propeller design optimization method that paves the way for quiet, efficient electric aviation.
— Researchers have engineered a material with the potential to dramatically cut the amount of heat power plants release into the atmosphere.
— A study shows that the best trees for air purification depend on the type of pollutant involved.
— Renewable energy experts have come up with an environmentally-friendly plan to dispose of solar panels at the end of their lives.
— Scientists have created a comprehensive ‘roadmap’ to guide global efforts to convert waste energy into clean power.
— Research has shown that methane emissions from urban areas are underestimated by a factor of three to four and that untreated wastewater may be a contributing factor.
— Researchers have developed a new method that can easily purify contaminated water using a cellulose-based material.
— Engineers have developed a new water treatment that removes ‘forever chemicals’ from drinking water safely, efficiently, and for good.
— A team has experimentally confirmed that nitrate, a compound common in fertilizers and animal waste, can help transport naturally occurring uranium from the underground to groundwater.
— Researchers have found an environmentally friendlier solution with enhanced performance, utilizing PEDOT:PSS/silicon heterojunction solar cells. This hybrid type is made of organic-inorganic material, which could potentially ease the production process compared to conventional silicon-only solar cells.
— A research team has demonstrated a unique method that reduces the aerodynamic resistance of ships by 7.5 per cent.
— A new technology can limit the buildup of algae on the walls of photobioreactors that can help convert carbon dioxide into useful products.
— Researchers have created environmentally-friendly, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells that harness ambient light to power internet of Things (IoT) devices.
— Researchers have developed a new mining technique that uses microbes to recover metals and store carbon in the waste produced by mining.
— Researchers have developed a chemical process that can disassemble the epoxy composite of wind turbine blades and simultaneously extract intact glass fibers as well as one of the epoxy resin’s original building blocks in high quality.
— Researchers confirm the superiority of seawater batteries that use chelating agents.
June — August
— Researchers have achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31% with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known as polymer solar cells.
— A team of researchers has created a new supply chain model that could empower the international hydrogen renewable energy industry.
— A research team has developed a new catalyst composed of elements abundant in the Earth.
— Researchers have demonstrated how carbon dioxide can be captured from industrial processes — or even directly from the air — and transformed into clean, sustainable fuels using just the energy from the Sun.
— The study demonstrated the benefits of tidal energy, which does not suffer from unpredictable intermittency as power is generated both day and night and in windy or calm weather. The creation of a tidal barrage could operate for 120 years or more to meet future demand and storage problems.
— Scientists have found that coal may represent a potential way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain.
— Researchers have developed a method that can reduce the levels of mercury in sulphuric acid by more than 90 percent — even from low levels.
— Engineers have developed a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to remove heavy metals, including copper and zinc, from biosolids.
— A team of engineers has shown that nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air.
— A team of researchers has discovered molecular crystals capable of capturing iodine — one of the most common radioactive fission products — and other pollutants.
— Engineers have created a device that turns sunlight into hydrogen with record-breaking efficiency by integrating next-generation halide perovskite semiconductors with electrocatalysts in a single, durable, cost-effective and scalable device.
— Researchers have developed new bioplastics that degrade on the same timescale as a banana peel in a backyard compost bin.
— Scientists revealed the extent of plastic pollution on coral reefs, finding that debris increases with depth, largely stems from fishing activities, and is correlated with proximity to marine protected areas.
— New research reveals an electrolyzer device capable of converting carbon dioxide into propane in a manner that is both scalable and economically viable.
— A research team developed a stable artificial photocatalytic system that is more efficient than natural photosynthesis.
— Researchers have developed a multimodal platform to image biohybrids — microorganisms that use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into value-added chemical products.
— Scientists engineered microbes to make the ingredients for recyclable plastics — replacing finite, polluting petrochemicals with sustainable alternatives.
September — December
— A research team achieved significant breakthroughs in harnessing low-grade heat sources (<100 °C) for efficient energy conversion.
— Researchers have genetically engineered a marine microorganism to break down plastic in salt water.
— Researchers discover thermoelectric properties of nickel-gold alloys. These can be used to efficiently convert heat into electrical energy.
— Scientists have found a way to harvest hydrogen from plastic waste using a low-emissions method that generates graphene as a by-product, which could help offset production costs.
— A research team has achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of a hybrid silicon photocatalyst.
— Scientists isolate a microbial enzyme and branch it on an electrode to efficiently and unidirectionally convert CO2 to formate.
— The research showed the benefits and risks of using plastics in agriculture, and identifies solutions that ensure their sustainable use.
— Scientists have devised an efficient method of recovering high-purity silicon from expired solar panels to produce lithium-ion batteries that could help meet the increasing global demand to power electric vehicles.
— Engineers have designed a system that can efficiently produce ‘solar thermochemical hydrogen.’
— Research revealed that recycling post-use plastic through pyrolysis can reduce GHG emissions by 18–23%.
— Researchers presented a new and efficient way to recycle metals from spent electric car batteries. The method allows recovery of 100 per cent of the aluminum and 98 per cent of the lithium in electric car batteries.
— Researchers have created an advanced liquefied stabilized soil (LSS) from construction sludge that has better mechanical properties and fluidity than conventional LSS, potentially making the construction industry more sustainable.
— Using a new 3D printing technique, researchers have developed ceramic structures for a solar reactor that can enhance the production of solar fuels.
— Engineers have achieved a world first by manufacturing the first back-contact micrometric photovoltaic cells.
— Scientists have developed a biology-driven process to convert the mixtures into a new biodegradable material that can be used to make fresh products.
— Researchers have identified the potential environmental risks of using ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel to develop an engineering roadmap to a sustainable ammonia economy.
— Researchers have used computer models of closed-loop geothermal systems to determine if they would be economically viable sources of renewable energy. They found that the cost of drilling would need to decrease significantly to hit cost targets.
Throughout the year, groundbreaking research in energy and green technology has showcased remarkable advancements, addressing key challenges in sustainability. Innovations include a solar-powered artificial leaf for hydrogen fuel, efficient water-to-hydrogen solar panels, and systems converting plastic waste into valuable products using solar energy. Notable breakthroughs extend to energy storage with Underground Gravity Energy Storage, plastic waste conversion to carbon nanotubes, and the development of seawater batteries. Researchers have excelled in renewable energy, achieving high efficiency in organic solar cells and exploring the potential of tidal and coal-based energy solutions. The integration of innovative materials, efficient water treatment methods, and advancements in heat-to-electricity conversion demonstrate a holistic approach to environmental impact mitigation. These breakthroughs, coupled with advancements in recycling and circular economy practices, collectively propel us towards a more sustainable and resilient future, ushering in transformative changes across various facets of energy and green technology.
