Expert forecasts on energy development in the 21st century

After the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima, it first seemed as if the world would give up nuclear power generation in favour of solar and wind energy.

The arguments of opponents of nuclear power development have always been based on the danger of this type of power generation and the existence of radioactive waste. The current situation, in which a nuclear power plant is being shelled, gives opponents of nuclear power generation additional arguments. Nevertheless, France, which continues to operate its nuclear power plants and will not shut them down, keeps selling surplus electricity to, for example, Germany – a country that categorically rejects nuclear power and is shutting down its nuclear plants – and Japan, which has practically given up developing nuclear power. Moreover, in October 2020 the United States and Poland concluded an agreement on cooperation in expanding, modernising and developing Poland’s nuclear power programme and plan to build several nuclear power plants within 20 years.

Why is there no common, consolidated opinion on reforming the energy sector in the process of abandoning the use of fossil fuels?

L. K. Rumyantsev, PhD, a specialist in nuclear power plants and alternative energy and deputy chair of the scientific advisory board of the Neutrino® Energy Group, commented on this topic.

Leonid Rumyantsev. It seems to me that at present only developed countries with high per capita incomes can afford to switch to alternative energy, above all solar and wind energy. It is no secret that the price of electricity from these two types of power generation is higher than for electricity from burning fossil fuels and is in fact subsidised. In addition, there are their:

• critical dependence on weather conditions
• lack of favourable sites for placing wind generators and solar collectors
• unsolved problem of disposing of used solar panels and wind turbine blades
• need to build expensive storage systems for surplus electricity

As you know, the price of electricity generated by nuclear power plants is one of the lowest. Countries such as Poland, Hungary, India, China, Russia and many others are very interested in obtaining cheap electricity. They are not afraid of nuclear power, especially as new units with an increased level of protection in the event of a global accident can be built. The willingness – not only of terrorists but also of individual states – to sabotage nuclear power plants, on the other hand, will seriously deter planners of new nuclear power plants.

L. K. Rumyantsev, PhD, deputy chair of the scientific council of the Neutrino Energy Group

In the world media over the last three years, the possibility of obtaining electricity under the influence of ambient radiation fields has been actively discussed. Even the term “free energy” has been introduced. Do you think this direction is promising?

Leonid Rumyantsev. The creation of fuel-free generators (BTG) of “free energy” is of great interest, as they would save fossil fuels for future generations. At present there are two areas of work on BTGs: firstly, the effect of permanent magnets on a rotating flywheel, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of such a plant several times over; and secondly, the use of the latest nanomaterials to convert the energy of particles from ambient radiation fields into electric current. In installations of this kind there are no rotating parts. This means there is no physical wear during operation, so practically no maintenance is required.

I find it difficult to assess the prospects and results of work in the first direction. But the results achieved by a group of scientists of the Neutrino Energy Group in Germany under the direction of the economist and mathematician Holger Thorsten Schubart, who holds a doctorate, are very impressive.

The technology developed by Neutrinovoltaic makes it possible to produce BTGs of different capacities, right up to use in electric vehicles. In my opinion, with its broad introduction this development can claim to be the most important discovery of the 21st century.

History knows many inventions and discoveries that were not appreciated by contemporaries and were not properly developed. In the field of energy and electric mobility, for example, you can take the results of the work of the brilliant Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla, which modern science has not been able to reproduce to this day.

Leonid Rumyantsev. I agree that without the introduction of discoveries into industry, however brilliant they are, they remain mere discoveries. But I am sure that a different fate awaits the work of Dr Holger Thorsten Schubart. Since he was not only a scientist but also a professional organiser, he was able to inspire large investment companies with the results of his work, which in turn provided the investment capital for implementing the development. These activities lead to a quick result. As early as the end of 2023 / beginning of 2024, licensed industrial production of Neutrino® Power Cubes – i.e. fuel-free generators of “free energy” with a net capacity of 5–10 kW, initially designed for residential buildings – will begin in Switzerland. According to the developers, this is currently the most popular market for products developed in this way.

Can you briefly explain the operating principle of the Neutrino® Power Cube, i.e. the fuel-free generator, and say something about its dimensions and approximate cost?

Leonid Rumyantsev. The mechanism of electricity generation is based on a property of graphene. Owing to the peculiarities of its crystal lattice, it can only exist stably in 3D. Oscillations of graphene atoms, which, because of the hexagonal crystal lattice, lead to wave-like vibrations – the graphene film – are an inexhaustible source of electricity. One layer of graphene film can generate a very small amount of electric power. The idea of the Neutrino Energy Group’s scientists was to combine the nanomaterial in multiple layers by placing layers of doped silicon between individual graphene layers. Constructed in this way, a wafer measuring 200 × 300 mm can produce a voltage of 1.5 V at a current of 2 A.

This leads to polarity: the coated side has a positive pole, the uncoated side a negative one. Since the movements (oscillation) of graphene atoms depend on the thermal Brownian motion of the atoms and the effects of particles from the surrounding radiation fields of the invisible spectrum – above all neutrinos – the plates are stacked on top of each other like a pack of copier paper and compressed into a stable sequential connection.

The insight of connecting the plates to each other in this way ensures the compactness of a Neutrino® Power Cube. With a set of such plates for generating electric current, any engineer can later determine the required characteristics of the BTG’s output in terms of current and voltage.

The Neutrino® Power Cube with a net capacity of 5–6 kW will be produced in the form of a switch cabinet divided into 2 sections: on the one hand electricity generation, on the other the control system. The Cube measures approx. 800 × 400 × 600 mm and weighs approx. 50 kg. The control system houses inverters that convert the generated direct current into alternating current at 220 V and 380 V. A direct current output for directly connecting, for example, computers is also planned. At present, the net price estimated by the Swiss company for such a “free energy generator” is approx. 11,000 euros. Based on the current level of electricity prices in European countries, the payback period is therefore quite short.

The Neutrino Energy Group

The Neutrino Energy Group is a German-American research group. Its aim is to find ways to harness the power of the invisible radiation spectrum. As fossil fuels are limited and climate change requires the development of alternative and CO2-neutral energy sources, this research group is dedicated to an urgent problem. It has succeeded in creating a dense substance that can interact in a specific way with neutrinos and other invisible radiation. This unique substance is used to build the first neutrino photovoltaic cells for power generation. Vapour-deposited layers of silicon and doped graphene are applied to the carrier layer to make the end product. The thickness of these layers is in the nanometre range. When neutrinos and other invisible radiation strike this substance, they generate both horizontal and vertical impulses. It is crucial that the doped materials have the right layer thickness. At the optimum layer thickness, the atomic vibrations caused by the impulses are brought into resonance. As a result, an electric current can be detected in the substrate material. The hypothesis states that the amount of energy that can be harvested depends on the distance travelled in the process. With this approach it will soon be possible to charge electrical devices anywhere in the world without needing a socket or a cable. Simply “collecting” energy from the environment is a viable option. As a result, humanity will have access to an endless supply of clean energy, which will help to slow or halt global warming.

The Neutrino® Energy Group works with a worldwide team of scientists and various international research centres. They research applications for converting invisible radiation spectra of the sun, including neutrinos – high-energy particles that reach the Earth incessantly and can be converted into electrical energy.

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