Big innovations for uncertain times
In keeping with the theme of this year’s student-run MIT Energy Conference — “Insight and Innovation in Uncertain Times” — the two-day program highlighted several major innovations, from both MIT and industry, that could make a dent in global greenhouse gas emissions while helping to meet the energy needs of a growing population.The conference’s opening panel discussion on Saturday featured four cutting-edge innovations now under development in MIT laboratories: an industrial-scale battery system that could help even out the intermittency of many renewable energy sources; a new material that could store solar heat indefinitely until it’s needed; a way for solar and nuclear power systems to store heat underground for long periods; and electronic control systems that could greatly improve the efficiency of solar panels, electric vehicles and light bulbs.Introducing that panel, MIT President Susan Hockfield said that sustainable energy “represents truly the great challenge of this generation.” The landscape...