How can you become more innovative in renewable energy?

Another perspective to the Energy Management. With the exception of Nuclear all the Energy Sources are fundamentally RENEWABLE, with different time frame. For example Solar PV, instantaneous, Hydel and wind few days, wood few months years, coal centuries… First Law of THERMODYNAMICS, provides an insightful understanding and way forward for managing the issues

Learning from experts and scholars older than you is sometimes the shortest path to learning. Engineer can reach out to experts by attending webinars/seminars, participating in conferences, and seeking internships and new positions/opportunities.

Nuclear power plant engineered with thorium rather than Uranium is an opportunity to generate cheap and safe base energy, wind and solar and biogas and gasification etc all can support it as and when possible. Any thoughts on this?

To enhance innovation in renewable energy: 1. Stay updated on industry trends. 2. Invest in R&D for new tech. 3. Collaborate with experts. 4. Encourage creative thinking. 5. Prototype and test ideas. 6. Focus on energy storage and grid integration. 7. Invest in sustainable infrastructure. 8. Advocate for supportive policies. 9. Utilize digital tools and analytics. 10. Engage communities and stakeholders. 11. Promote education on renewables. Innovation demands interdisciplinary collaboration, persistence, and a readiness to take calculated risks for a greener energy future.

To foster innovation in renewable energy, encourage a culture of experimentation and idea sharing. Invest in R&D, collaborate with academia, and form partnerships with tech firms. Create an environment where failure is seen as a learning opportunity. Encourage diverse perspectives, regularly review processes for improvement, and incentivize innovative ideas from team members. Embrace emerging technologies and stay adaptable to industry shifts to drive continuous innovation.

Don’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes. Solar and storage tech is evolving faster everyday so you have to be prepared to expand your own perceptions (AC and DC coupling, grid tied batteries, alternate battery materials) along with the crucial need to diversify our solar work force to ensure enough perspectives for quality and justice. Don’t forget to keep it human in the never ending quest for efficiency, we are not Borg. Try to make it fun.

Like many other areas of improvement and breakthrough, innovation in renewable energy industry can benefit tremendously from the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In my experience the AI should be an enabling technology that intersect well with renewable energy. Consider developing AI solutions for optimizing energy production, storage, and distribution both on the Behind-the-meter (BTM) and front of the meter (FTM). Implementing smart forecast, adaptive controls, predictive maintenance, and use AI to enhance energy efficiency in buildings. These are example of ways to collaborate with experts from both AI and energy fields, to explore new possibility and co-create diverse and sustainable solutions.

Continuous learning and education is the path for becoming innovative in the renewable energy field, especially that thee field is continuously evolving and new solutions are being included. Learning should not be limited to technical and engineering learning, but also getting into new fields, such as machine learning, would be the way to drive innovation and create new industry solutions.

Community solar stands out as one of the most innovative approaches in renewable energy. It allows multiple individuals or businesses to benefit from a single solar array, democratizing access to clean power. By sharing resources and costs, community solar projects make sustainable energy more accessible, especially for those who may not have suitable roofs or the capital for individual installations. This model fosters local engagement, reduces carbon footprints, and supports the grid with additional clean energy sources. It's a scalable solution that harnesses both technological innovation and community spirit.