Figure 1, Source (Allianz Global Investors)

Powering the Future: Cutting-Edge Energy Storage Solutions for Reliable Renewables

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The transition to renewable energy is critical in reducing emissions from the power sector, with solar and wind energy standing out as key players in the future energy mix. However, their inherent intermittency poses challenges to grid stability. These fluctuations are represented by a strategic combination of intermittent (solar and wind) and non-intermittent (biomass) resources alongside advanced storage technologies, which is essential.

We are exploring the integration of solar, wind, and biomass energy with four storage systems-batteries: hydrogen, methane, and ammonia. The analysis is applied to several countries worldwide, evaluating the feasibility of these technologies through economic and social lenses, including a newly developed social indicator. This two-pronged evaluation aims to identify optimal locations for these integrated facilities, considering economic costs and social impacts.

Economically, the integration strategy suggests an average cost of electricity between $100 and $200 per MWh, significantly influencing the ratios of wind and solar energy in different regions and the choice of storage technologies. The social index highlights areas where installing these facilities could reduce social inequalities, ensuring a fair energy transition.

This comprehensive approach aims to facilitate an orderly, fair, and efficient energy transition, aligning economic viability with social equity to achieve climate sustainability goals. By leveraging storage solutions, the energy sector can better manage supply and demand and store energy seasonally, paving the way for a more resilient and balanced renewable energy landscape.

A novel social index addresses the social impacts of the energy transition and guides the optimal placement of energy facilities. This index assesses the social effects of installing integrated power production and storage facilities in various countries. It comprises ten items: three specifically related to the energy transition’s social impact and seven that evaluate the broader social conditions of each country. Each item is normalized on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more significant social challenges. A maximum score of 100 suggests countries affected by social issues where new facilities could provide substantial social benefits.

The index works alongside economic assessments to help pinpoint the best locations for these facilities, considering that such installations could bring investments and job opportunities and improve local economies. Key elements of the index include Loss of Installed Capacity vs. Total Capacity Lost, Loss of Jobs vs. Total Employment, Loss of Installed Capacity vs. Total GDP, Regional GDP vs. National GDP, Unemployment Rate, Population Decline, Aging Index, Population Density, Youth Migration, and GDP per Capita. By integrating these social factors into planning, this index aims to ensure that the energy transition meets economic goals and supports social equity, helping to create a more balanced and inclusive approach to sustainable energy development.

The study evaluates the integration of intermittent and non-intermittent renewable sources with storage technologies to ensure a reliable energy supply. Across different scenarios, results show that storage solutions are essential to meet demand and manage seasonal fluctuations. Incorporating biomass stabilizes the energy supply and reduces electricity costs by 20%, while ammonia storage, though promising for a carbon-free system, currently incurs higher costs.

The research emphasizes that energy transition planning should consider both economic and social factors. A newly developed social index identifies regions where investments in renewable facilities can have the most significant social impact, promoting economic viability and reducing social inequalities. The findings highlight the need for advanced storage and diverse renewable sources to achieve a reliable and equitable energy transition, providing valuable insights for sustainable decision-making. 

Sources

  • Author links open overlay panel Antonio Sánchez, et al. “Towards a New Renewable Power System Using Energy Storage: An Economic and Social Analysis.” Energy Conversion and Management, Pergamon, 8 Dec. 2021, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890421012322
  • Zilien, Christian. “Supercharging Clean Energy Storage Capacities.” Sustainable Energy Storage | Allianz Global Investors, Allianz Global Investors, 15 July 2024, www.allianzgi.com/en/insights/outlook-and-commentary/clean-energy-storage 

crispr1-min

The Future of Gene Therapy: CRISPR TOOL

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Gene therapy has been defined by Boston’s Children’s Hospital as a ‘technique used in an effort to treat or prevent disease. When a gene mutation causes a protein to be missing or faulty, gene therapy may be able to restore the normal function of that protein.’ It has been portrayed as one of the future applications in medicine. With its versatility, CRISPR has a bright future in multiple methods from turning off genes, gene editing, and modifying the amino acid sequence. But ultimately, the goal of this tool is to specifically attack the cause of genetic problems.

Although gene therapy has endless applications, the rising tool dominating the field is CRISPR. Officially began developing in 2007, Danish scientists were able to study the interactions between bacteria and viruses. As they further investigated, they were able to find that DNA fragments were being inserted into the DNA, with the original DNA being cut out. The experiment would revolutionize our perception and understanding of bacterial transmission for the next few decades.

Figure 2, Source: Microbiology Notes

Between the years of 2014 to 2015, scientists were successful. They employed CRISPR in mice to cure muscle dystrophy, a progressive muscle loss disorder. Currently scientists are aiming to create organs through other animals as an alternative method to eliminate the shortage of available organs. Although their success was fairly recent, their work has been revolutionary and promising in curing genetic disorders, creating artificial organs, and eliminating mutations in DNA. (whatisbiotechnology).

Why is CRISPR so important to the future of gene therapy? There remains a long list of gene therapy products ranging from plasmids, bacteria, and viral vectors. Yet, there are. According to Microbiology Notes, ‘Using modified versions of Cas9, researchers can activate gene expression instead of cutting the DNA. These techniques allow researchers to study the gene’s function.’ In addition, its precision provides it an efficient, effective advantage with target-specific nucleotides.

Figure 3, Source: Microbiology Notes

As our society continues to evolve, it’s vital to take steps to advance our  healthcare. Although cures for cancer, preventable treatments for heart disease, and permanent treatments for diabetes are decades away, our research only pushes us into a brighter future. 

Sources:

  • Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “What Is Gene Therapy?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy. Accessed 27 Mar. 2024. 
  • “CRISPR Enables Gene Editing on an Unprecedented Scale.” WhatisBiotechnology.Org, www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/science/summary/crispr. Accessed 27 Mar. 2024. 
  • “Gene Therapy.” Boston Children’s Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/treatments/gene-therapy#:~:text=Gene%20therapy%20is%20a%20technique,normal%20function%20of%20that%20protein. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024. 
  • Kumar, Vivek. “CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Tool: Introduction, Principles, Uses & Applications.” Microbiology Notes, 20 Mar. 2021, microbiologynotes.org/crispr-cas9-gene-editing-tool-introduction-principles-uses-applications/. 
  • Figure 1, Source: FDA

ai1

Artificial Intelligence – Building the Future

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a newly emerging dynamic field that is greatly helping in creating technological advancements for the future. You may have heard about AI, but what exactly is it? In this article we will aim to inform, address, and understand the relevance and importance of AI in today’s world.

At its simplest, AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This encompasses a broad spectrum of capabilities such as speech recognition, image processing, problem-solving, and decision-making. The overarching goal of AI is to create machines that mimic human intelligence and adapt to various scenarios.

When we consider the potential applications of AI, a window of innovation is opened. AI has been progressively worked on and developed for the past 40 years, but it wasn’t until recently that breakthroughs have been made. For example, Apple’s Siri was first released in 2011 and took nearly 2 decades to create. Siri’s voice analysis and response features showcase one of the most beneficial uses of artificial intelligence.

Well, why should we care? How is this relevant in today’s world? Though AI does serve its benefits and potentially helpful uses, AI has also proven to be somewhat of an issue. One key concern in today’s world is AI’s effect on the workforce. It is estimated that by 2030 AI could replace up to the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs globally. These jobs could include things like customer service, research and data analysis, retail jobs, and accounting/data management. However as AI continues to evolve, it also may open up a variety of unprecedented career pathways. This includes occupations such as cybersecurity management, machine learning engineers, and healthcare professions surrounding AI integration and development.

To conclude, AI and its potential is still somewhat unknown. As AI continues to evolve, it is important that we stay informed and up to date on its advancements in today’s world.

Sources:

  • https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Top-AI-jobs
  • https://www.nexford.edu/insights/how-will-ai-affect-jobs
  • https://www.lifewire.com/positive-impacts-of-ai-7514777
  • https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence
prosthetics2

Prosthetics: A Rapidly Changing Field of Innovation

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Prosthetics are a life-saving and common innovation – according to the World Health Organization, around 35-40 million people around the world require prosthetic devices! Prosthetics help so many people around the world with their daily lives and tasks, but have you ever wondered about their origins? What is the history behind them, and what effort do engineers put into their creation? 

Prosthetics, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, encompass artificial body parts, including leg prostheses, breast prostheses, upper limb prostheses, and more! This technology holds the potential to assist numerous people across the world who face challenges in their daily lives. Additionally, prosthetics are projected to expand even more in the coming years with the advent of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), allowing prosthetics to be controlled using brainwaves.

Prosthetics can be created using various materials, but the most common are plastic, metal, and composite materials (a type of material produced from multiple individual materials). The material of the prosthetic is tailored to each person, as is the fitting of the prosthetic! Prosthetics must be fitted to each person to ensure a perfect and comfortable fit. The lifespan of prosthetics also depends on the user. For more active individuals, prosthetics will last less time, but for more sedentary individuals, prosthetics will last longer. High-activity prosthetics last for about one to three years, lower extremity prosthetics last for about the same time, upper extremity prosthetics last for about three to five years, and pediatric prosthetics last for 6 months to 2 years. 

But where does the lifecycle of prosthetics begin? Personalized prosthetics begin in the clinic, where measurements and other necessary data are taken from the patient. Then, the procedure gets moved to the engineering disciplines! Let’s say, for example, the joint in a knee prosthetic is not working correctly – it could be squeaky, rotating incorrectly, or a myriad of other problems. In the body, the knee contains a type of fluid called synovial fluid – this fluid is meant to smoothen the movement of the joint. Chemical engineering is an important part of replicating the action of the synovial fluid – chemical engineers designed the hyaluronic acid that is used in joint prosthetics! Additionally, chemical engineering also aids with creating new biomaterials for prostheses – in fact, the work of chemical engineering has introduced many of the new materials used in prostheses today! Chemical engineering is necessary to design, synthesize, and produce biocompatible polymeric materials that ensure a product is compatible with the body.. 

Electrical engineering also plays a huge role in the new advances in prosthetic manufacturing. A new trend that is rising in prosthetic manufacturing is BCIs or brain-computer interfaces! An advanced understanding of electrical currents is necessary to create BCIs while also taking into account the safety of the human using the prosthetic – electrical engineers have this advanced knowledge! According to Energy5, “Through the integration of electrical engineering principles, advanced prosthetic limbs, and assistive devices have significantly improved the quality of life for individuals with limb loss or disabilities. Electrical engineers create customized solutions, such as brain-computer interfaces, that allow patients to control prosthetic limbs with their thoughts.”

One more field of engineering that might not be as well known is regenerative engineering. Regenerative engineering, in a crisp nutshell, is a field of engineering that is researching how to efficiently recreate lost tissue. This field uses advances in engineering, biophysics, science, and medicine. 

Another significant issue with prosthetics is the lack of feedback provided to users regarding their interactions. Regenerative engineering is hard at work on this issue too – regenerative engineers are collaborating with a huge array of other fields to build new conductive biomaterials and technologies to support tissues like muscles and nerves, deliver biochemical cues, and localize electrical stimulation! 

Similarly, electrical engineering plays a similar role.A broad and accurate knowledge of electrical engineering is necessary to properly deliver the pulses necessary to activate the peripheral nerves using nerve cuff electrodes to improve prosthetic use. The area of nerve stimulation to enhance connection with prosthetics is new, but has the potential for a huge impact on all amputees. The advent of BCIs also requires a thorough knowledge of electrical engineering. BCIs have the potential to change the lives of amputees in the reverse direction by allowing easier control. 

Prosthetics are life-changing, but not everyone gets them. While some people do choose to throw their prosthetic away once it becomes too worn out to use, there is another option. Some clinics allow amputees to send their prosthetics to them to be taken apart and transformed into replacement prosthetic parts! These parts are shipped to places like Vietnam, Haiti, and Belize to serve people there! This method can help amputees around the world who may not have the means to take care of their prosthetics. Programs like this truly help to restart the life cycle of old prosthetics!

But even with these programs, prosthetics still cost a lot, and that is one fact that cannot be denied. But, many researchers and companies are looking to eradicate that problem! An example is Rise Bionics, a company based out of India that creates prosthetics from rattan trees (sugar cane). Creating flexible prosthetics from sugar cane cuts the cost of prosthetics by over 50%! The prosthetics that Rise creates cost around 20% to 50% of the cost of regular prosthetics. Rise’s workflow is different from most – rather than having day-long fittings spread out over multiple sessions, they use an app on a device that will scan the region where the prosthetic will fit and use an algorithm to design the mesh that will fit between the amputee’s body and the prosthetic!

The pandemic severely impacted research and medicine, particularly for scientists and engineers unable to access labs. This hindered innovation in prosthetics and brain-computer devices. Clinicians faced similar challenges, with orthotists reporting variations in appointment times and a shift to telehealth services. Some services were limited to urgent cases, potentially affecting non-urgent patients. Despite these setbacks, the prosthetics field is rebounding, with innovations like BCIs and alternative materials driving progress. 

References

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6lENrRANxY
  • https://navier.engr.colostate.edu/whatische/ChEL07Body.html
  • ://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-015-0446-0
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1792192
  • https://opcenters.com/what-is-the-lifespan-of-prosthetics/
  • https://www.georgiaprosthetics.com/blog-articles/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-prosthesis-donate-it/#:~:text=Many%20people%20simply%20throw%20away,out%20in%20a%20tremendous%20way
  • https://news.mit.edu/2022/rise-bionics-prosthetics-orthotics-0429