The Promising Future of Clean Energy: Practicality Over Flash
In the heart of Seattle, a gathering of clean energy experts recently convened to discuss the future of sustainable power. While fusion reactors and next-generation nuclear technology often capture headlines and imagination, the conversation took a surprisingly pragmatic turn when Dan Schwartz, founding director of the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute, shared his enthusiasm for more familiar technologies: solar power and batteries. This revelation came during a Seattle CityClub Civic Cocktail event, where Schwartz joined Emily Moore of the Sightline Institute and Gregg Small from Climate Solutions to explore realistic pathways toward a clean energy future.
At first glance, Schwartz’s excitement for solar and battery technology might seem underwhelming. After all, solar panels have been around since President Jimmy Carter installed them on the White House in 1979, and lithium-ion batteries have been powering our devices for decades. However, Schwartz’s perspective is grounded in practical reality: “I love fusion. I love that we are the fusion capital of the world in this region. But there’s no utility that has on their 10-year planning document… a fusion reactor or even a small modular reactor, or even a conventional nuclear reactor. You’re just not going to build those in 10 years.” This straightforward assessment cuts through the hype to focus on solutions that can be implemented immediately as Washington state and the world face increasing energy demands driven by AI data centers, transportation electrification, and the transition of building systems away from fossil fuels.
This isn’t to say that cutting-edge technologies aren’t making progress. The region is seeing significant advancements in fusion and nuclear energy, with Helion Energy beginning construction this summer on what aims to be the world’s first commercial fusion reactor near the Columbia River. With Microsoft already committed to purchasing energy from the facility, Helion hopes to be operational by 2028. Similarly, Washington’s TerraPower is developing its first small modular reactor in Wyoming with plans to begin operations by 2030. These projects represent important steps toward diversifying our clean energy portfolio, but they still face challenges in scaling up and establishing robust supply chains for widespread deployment.
Meanwhile, solar technology has quietly revolutionized itself since the Carter administration. “Solar is really the cheapest, fastest thing that you can install today for new generating capacity, and when it’s coupled with a battery, it is really a tremendous new resource for the grid,” Schwartz explained. The UW’s Clean Energy Institute is actively supporting innovations that significantly improve upon existing solar technologies, including the development of photovoltaic cells that can capture energy from previously untapped solar wavelengths. Battery technology has seen equally impressive advancements, with Washington-based companies like Group14 Technologies, Sila, and Ecellix working on materials that make batteries more powerful, longer-lasting, and quicker to recharge. These improvements address the intermittency issues that have historically limited renewable energy sources, allowing solar power generated during daylight hours to be stored and used when needed.
The ethical dimensions of clean energy are also evolving rapidly. Battery manufacturers have made significant progress in reducing their reliance on problematic materials, with Schwartz noting that “batteries now use about 10% as much cobalt as they did a decade or two ago.” The industry is increasingly shifting toward abundant and less controversial minerals like iron, sodium, and sulfur. This transition addresses concerns about “conflict minerals” often mined under conditions involving forced labor, child labor, corruption, and environmental damage. Simultaneously, growing initiatives focus on recycling and reusing solar panels and batteries, creating circular economies that maximize the value of these resources while minimizing environmental impact.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Schwartz envisions entirely new economic opportunities emerging from the clean energy transition. He specifically highlighted the potential for a marketplace centered around used batteries: “There is a whole economy waiting to be created out of [used] batteries if we can understand their state of health and then value them. Honestly, I think it could be Amazon’s biggest business, creating a marketplace for this because it is a massively increasing asset.” This suggestion points to how the clean energy revolution extends beyond just power generation to create new industries, jobs, and economic models. As Washington state continues its leadership in clean energy innovation, these practical, implementable solutions—rather than distant technological promises—may prove to be the most transformative in addressing our immediate climate and energy challenges.
