Carbon neutrality cannot be achieved without new energy technologies
With the development of industry and the growth of the world's population, global energy consumption is rapidly increasing. This applies to both the total volume of consumption and the amount of energy consumed per capita.
According to a study published in August 2024 in the publication "Our world in data", from 1965 to 2022, energy consumption per capita increased by 62%. The graphs show that the share of energy obtained from wind and solar is extremely small, which is explained by the dependence of these electricity generation technologies on weather conditions. This means that solar and wind energy can only partially cover the growing demand for electricity. They are not able to completely replace fossil fuels in the energy sector. Moreover, the demand for fossil fuels continues to grow, which calls into question the success of the international community in the fight against global warming, although experts from the International Energy Agency claim that by 2030, renewable energy will provide about 50% of the world's electricity consumption. According to forecasts, by 2030, over 5.5 thousand GW of capacity will be additionally built, which is the combined capacity of China, India, the USA and the EU.
However, the reality is that a rapid and often forced transition to a zero-emissions economy can lead to serious economic problems for large companies. For example, the Volkswagen automobile concern, which has placed its bets on the production of electric cars, is currently in a very difficult situation, and the entire German economy is now in a crisis both economically and politically.
More and more large companies that recently took a course on carbon neutrality are starting to abandon this strategy in favor of business development. Four years ago, the world's largest oil company BP planned to achieve zero emissions by 2050 and reduce oil and gas production by 40% by 2030. Now the company is not ready to reduce production even by 25%.
Unfortunately, we have to admit that more and more global companies are in no hurry to switch to alternative energy sources, which significantly reduces the chances of achieving even the most preliminary and cautious goals. The main goal of business is to make a profit for development and to satisfy the interests of shareholders. Therefore, it is not surprising that large companies are wary of switching to solar and wind power generation technologies, which are highly dependent on weather conditions. The risks are too high, and it is also necessary to create energy storage systems, which makes these technologies uncompetitive compared to fossil fuels.
Speaking of electric cars, it is worth noting that outside large cities, the infrastructure for them is not sufficiently developed. This creates certain inconveniences for drivers and increases the risk of battery discharge away from charging stations. This is why many wealthy people prefer to have both an electric car and a car with an internal combustion engine for long trips.
However, progress in the study of two-dimensional materials for the needs of power generation can convince even inveterate skeptics of the possibility of completely abandoning the use of fossil fuels. The first step in this direction has already been taken. Scientists at Neutrino Energy Group have conducted research into a combination of graphene with silicon and a number of alloying elements and created a multilayer nanomaterial capable of converting the energy of particles in surrounding radiation fields and the thermal motion of graphene atoms into electric current.
During the research, an electricity-generating plate measuring 200x300 mm was developed, made of metal foil with a multilayer nanomaterial applied to one side. This plate demonstrates stable output parameters for current and voltage. At a temperature of about 20 °C, the plate produces 1.5 V and 2.0 A. The coated side of the metal foil becomes the positive pole, and the uncoated side becomes the negative pole. The multilayer nature of the nanomaterial allows for an increase in the current per unit surface area, which is a key factor in creating a compact current source.
Currently, the work on creating fuel-free graphene electric generators has been finalized and their industrial production is planned for the coming months at the first plant built in Europe, which will allow us to talk about the onset of a new technological era of energy production without the use of fossil fuels.
The uniqueness of the created graphene power generation technology lies in its compactness and ability to operate in any climatic conditions. This technology can be used not only to provide electricity to homes, but also to create a fully autonomous electric vehicle with a graphene power source.
The revolutionary significance of the development of Neutrino Energy Group has yet to be assessed, but today the serious potential of graphene power generation technology is clearly visible.
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