I work in sustainable development and follow these types of garage innovators extensively. There are systems which are off the beaten track that most people don't know about. Take for example the Pyron Solar concentration system which was built in a back yard. Newer better, more efficient engines, composite materials for lighter vehicles. Biomass to liquids, Solazyme modified algae to grow in the dark.
Advanced hydrogen storage methods, CO2 to fuel, Ocean Ethanol (reverse direct fuel cell to produce Butanol), Syntrolysis, Los Alamos Renewable Energy, LLC has a solar concentration system to convert CO2 into fuel.
The inventor os the super soaker came out with a solid state energy converter which achieves 60% efficiency. Charles Schults at Worlds Nest came up with a new fresnel concentrator system which will produce electricity for $1 per watt. His associate Joe Holden came up with an awesome hydro device.
Another inventor in Australia drove an old beat up van across the outback on waste oil and electrolyzed water.
I am not even going to get into the supposedly freee energy devices that people feel defy the laws of physics.
I say discovery should check out Peswiki and take the next season international.
Global resource corporation has a new microwave device which can convert waste into energy.
Flash Pyrolysis systems, Gliding Arc Tornado Plasma Reactor at Penn State. I can go on and on and on and on about all the better alternatives which are not being brought about.
I forgot the Kite Sail Boat in Hawaii as well as the ones for commercial shipping. For those who want to know stuff I can be found on myspace (same handle).
