Abstract
“Nanotechnologies for Sustainable Energy: Reducing Carbon Emissions
Through Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy Sources” examines the
impact of nanotechnology on the quest for sustainable energy.
Both the report and the accompanying free white paper
“Nanotech:Cleantech - Quantifying The Effect Of Nanotechnologies on CO2
Emissions” use a new economic model based on primary research that
quantifies the impact and diffusion of nanotechnologies over time, allowing
more accurate quantification of market impacts than was previously possible.
Through a detailed analysis of technologies both currently available and under
development the report concludes that
- The major near-term benefit of nanotechnologies will be in reducing weight
in the transportation sector with nanocomposite materials quickly diffusing
across the automotive and aerospace industries
- Over the next seven years, highest growth opportunities will come from the
application of nanomaterials to making better use of existing resources rather
than generating new forms of renewable energy
- Highest growth rates will be in the development of renewable energy
sources while the materials sector is already crowded
- Current applications of nanotechnologies will result in a global annual
saving of 8 thousand tons of carbon dioxide in 2007, rising to over a million
tons by 2014