The thermal system will be able to concentrate the power of 2000 suns while also delivering fresh water. The system will follow the sun and will be made up of hundreds of photovoltaic chips that will gather energy at the center while being cooled by a microchannel water cooling process. This will allow the each chip to concentrate the solar energy without being damaged by extreme heat. And since the water in the microchannels reaches up to 194 degrees, it will be used to heat a...

A hybrid solar system could help increase the efficiency and eco-friendliness of natural gas power plants while also creating a synthetic fuel for vehicles. The system will feature a parabolic mirror that will focus sunlight on a small chemical reactor lined with narrow channels containing natural gas. A catalyst will break down the molecules of the sunlight-warmed gas to create a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen called syngas (synthesis gas). The waste heat from this...

One day, snowboarders may be able to charge down the slopes while charging their batteries with a solar panel equipped snowboard. The snowboard will be equipped with a pair of solar panels fitted to the board's shape and connected to a converter in the center of the board. The board's two rechargeable batteries will be able to power smartphones and music devices, taking advantage of the bright sun on snowy mountain slopes.

The skies will get a bit safer for birds with the wind turbine, which will use no blades at all. The turbine will capture up to 80 percent of the wind's kinetic energy (current turbines only capture about 30 percent). Instead of spinning blades, the wind will be harnessed by a sail that will move in a non-rotational back and forth motion. The motion will then be converted to a hydraulic pressure that can either be stored or instantly converted to electricity via a hydraulic motor...

The turbine will be easily assembled and pack flat for transport. It will be retrofitted on a roof without the need for a supporting unit, and will be a self-starting turbine, able to cope with variable wind speeds. The turbine design will be adapter to sizes from 1 to 24kW, and its minimal noise will make it both wildlife and neighbor friendly.

A hydroelectric lamp powers its bulbs with the water that runs through the plumbing of a house. The system is made up of an array of micro turbines placed in strategic pipes throughout the home. Water from sinks, toilets, and washing machines will flow past the turbines, generating electricity stored in the system's batteries, which then power the long, vertical lamps.

A new floating wind turbine will be able to generate more energy by harnessing higher altitude winds, and could be used at remote sites. The turbine will be contained within an inflatable tube-shaped shell filled with helium, which will allow it to rise to the strong winds at high altitudes while remaining tethered to the ground. Besides harnessing more powerful winds, the turbine will require little maintenance.

A new solar panel system will be able to track the sun while floating on the surface of artificial waterways, increasing efficiency without taking up any space on land. The floating panels will use reflectors to increase the efficiency of the solar energy capture during different times of the day. The panels will also use the water to help stay cool, reducing costs to 20 percent less than conventional, ground based systems.

The idea is to use waste bins as mobile power sources, able to power household appliances or party starting speakers and amplifier. The bins will consist of a solar panel, car battery, and inverter. They will be lightweight and mobile, and can be adapted to a variety of uses, and could eventually be used to provide cellular charging stations or sell goods in rural areas.

The new wave power system concept is inspired by the swaying action of ocean plants. The system will consist of a central column topped with an array of blades reaching almost to the surface of the water. The action of the waves both above and below the surface will cause the column to move back and forth, pressurizing a hydraulic fluid which will spin a generator and covert the energy into electricity. The system will be easy to install and service, and, unlike conventional...