The future bodes well for energy...that is, if we can get past the next 50 years or so.
Here is one simple example of tech that could be used in just about everything:
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/26689/
"Devices that harvest wasted mechanical energy could make many new advances possible—including clothing that recharges personal electronics with body movements, or implants that tap the motion of blood or organs. But making energy-harvesting devices that are compact, flexible, and, above all, efficient remains a big challenge. Now researchers at Georgia Tech have made the first nanowire-based generators that can harvest sufficient mechanical energy to power small devices, including light-emitting diodes and a liquid-crystal display"
Lots of stuff on the horizon - but we certainly are not going to power big Hummers with these......the future also involves using the lowest amount of energy to do any particular job (efficiency).
Here is one simple example of tech that could be used in just about everything:
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/26689/
"Devices that harvest wasted mechanical energy could make many new advances possible—including clothing that recharges personal electronics with body movements, or implants that tap the motion of blood or organs. But making energy-harvesting devices that are compact, flexible, and, above all, efficient remains a big challenge. Now researchers at Georgia Tech have made the first nanowire-based generators that can harvest sufficient mechanical energy to power small devices, including light-emitting diodes and a liquid-crystal display"
Lots of stuff on the horizon - but we certainly are not going to power big Hummers with these......the future also involves using the lowest amount of energy to do any particular job (efficiency).