How Innovations in Fuel, Food, Water, and Power Are Leading Us to a Sustainable Future

More Efficient Biofuel Production Is on the Horizon

Plants release much of their carbon into the atmosphere as they die and decompose. One way to prevent some of this is to stop deforestation. However, our diet requires an enormous amount of plant matter. So scientists are developing new ways to utilize food production waste and other types of biomass, including grasses and animal byproducts. One of the most promising of these techniques is pyrolysis.

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Pyrolysis converts biomass into a combustible liquid fuel by heating it to 500 degrees Celsius in a low-oxygen environment. The lack of oxygen prevents the biomass from combusting. Instead, it thermally decomposes into three primary compounds: liquid bio-oil, bio-char, and syngas, each of which can burn to create a self-sustaining reaction.

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Bio-oils have an energy density between 50-70% of traditional oil, making them good fuel for boilers. Improvements in the complex refining process will increase bio-oils' quality to the point where they can power vehicles. In addition, their density makes them easier to transport than biomass, leading scientists to develop a portable pyrolysis system that farmers could use to convert biomass to bio-oil on their farms.

Vertical Farms May Hold the Key to the Urban Food Supply

Vertical farming layers crops on top of each other instead of horizontally to conserve space. Facilities are climate-controlled buildings where operators have full control over light, temperature, water, and sometimes CO2 to provide optimal growing conditions. Newer technology, such as root misting, reduces water consumption.  

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Since the world's population will grow to 9.8 billion by 2050 and most people will live in cities, vertical farming may be a way to provide food to them from a local source. This proximity will require shorter transportation distances, reducing emissions. Moreover, since vertical farms are controlled environments, they can produce healthier, more nutrient-dense foods than many traditional farms, further increasing their utility.  

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The main limitation of adopting vertical farming practices is energy consumption. Controlling light, heat, humidity, etc., requires a lot of electricity. In an ideal configuration, vertical farms would draw their power from a sustainable source like wind, solar, or geothermal. Still, many facilities are attached to traditional fossil-fuel-powered energy grids.  

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Nanotechnology Can Help Purify Water

According to the CDC, 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water at home, most of them in rural areas of developing nations. Moreover, 80% of wastewater directly returns to the environment without purification or treatment. Scientists are currently working on sustainable purification systems to purify and desalinate water. These projects aim to increase safe drinking water reserves and reduce contamination of natural waterscapes.

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The Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Center (NEWT) at Rice University is leading the way in developing high-tech water purification systems. Their membrane distillation method draws fresh water out of salt water without using chemicals. The technology relies on maintaining a temperature difference between salt water on one side of a porous membrane and fresh water on the other.  

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The process of maintaining a temperature difference is energy intensive. Therefore, NEWT has developed "nanophotonics enabled solar membrane distillation” (NESMD) technology, adding non-chemical compounds to the membrane that absorb heat from sunlight.

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NEWT is also researching new ways to deactivate microbes and remove other contaminants from water using nanotechnology. For example, they have killed over 99% of the bacteria in a water supply using UV light delivered through optical fibers coated with silica nanoparticles. In addition, they have begun to develop the capacity to remove nitrates and sulfates (compounds dangerous to human health) using special electrodes. 

Solar Power Generation Can Become Ubiquitous

All of our energy ultimately derives from the sun. Unfortunately, the sun's rays are diffused, requiring that photovoltaic cells cover a large area to generate sufficient electricity. As a result, engineers have developed floating solar panels in areas where land is scarce, affectionately called "floatovoltaics.” They cast less to install and produce 10% more electricity than land-based solar power. In addition, they help water management by reducing evaporation and algae growth, making floatovoltaics excellent for use in reservoirs.

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Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) turn solar panels into part of a building's structure. While installers can retrofit buildings with them, it is more efficient to use BIPVs in a building's initial design as a façade, rooftop, or semi-transparent window-like surface. As PV cells become more efficient, some buildings may be able to power themselves independently of the nearby grid, perhaps even adding to it.

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Other advancements in solar technology include photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNB) on the sides of highways. However, the most interesting new application is solar fabric. As part of a wardrobe, this technology can provide warmth and potentially charge a cell phone. More expansive uses include retractable solar awnings and curtains to provide shade and add power to the energy grid.    

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We Are on the Path to Sustainable Food, Fuel, Water, and Power

A sustainable future requires advancements in many areas of our lives. The primary concerns are how we fuel our vehicles, provide ample clean water and healthy food, and meet our power needs. Fortunately, scientists worldwide are innovating and refining new technologies to meet our current needs and provide for our future.  

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Key Takeaways

• Fundraise for Sustainability – Share your company's enthusiasm for sustainability by hosting fundraising drives for sustainability initiatives. It's a great way to build awareness and help fund progress by sending money to innovators.
• Recognize Employee Contributions – Call attention to employees helping the office embrace sustainability. This will elicit more engagement and foster a culture of eco-consciousness in your business.
• Be an Early Adopter – Not every business can afford to use the latest, cutting-edge sustainable tech, but do what you can. Whether installing high-efficiency appliances and equipment or a photovoltaic façade, every little bit helps.