A second fluid lets geothermal plants run on cooler water
A binary-cycle geothermal plant hands hot water's heat to a fluid with a low boiling point. Its vapour spins the turbine, so cooler reservoirs make power.
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A Hawaiian blowhole shows how waves can drive an air turbine
An oscillating water column uses rising and falling waves to pump air through a turbine. A University of Hawaii design copies a blowhole on Oahu.
Antarctic bases lean on diesel when the polar sun goes
Antarctic bases fall back on diesel in winter. Belgium's small Princess Elisabeth station runs on wind and sun, and a 9-kilowatt turbine ran Halley unstaffed.
A pumped-hydro plant stores height, not water
A pumped-hydro plant stores energy as water lifted to a high reservoir, then lets it fall through turbines to give the power back when demand peaks.
A hydrogen fuel cell sends electrons round a wire to make power
A fuel cell splits hydrogen into protons and electrons, sends the electrons round a circuit and makes water. It can beat a petrol engine on efficiency.
A tidal lagoon wall makes power as the tide rises and falls
A tidal lagoon walls off part of the sea, then lets the height difference between the tide and the lagoon push water through turbines twice a tide.