Who will lead us into the new energy age?

Question

Technologies exist that will radically change our access and use of electricity. Who will step up to the worldwide marketplace with a home power unit that will start the revolution?

Answer 1

Your question is of an engineering nature, but the solution, unfortunately, is a political one. For example, in the United States, alternative energy, and specifically the source you described, will be slowly integrated into the infrastructure as a whole when the age of oil has ended.
The only way I see any other solution is if an individual, or small company, can invent a device, in secrecy, and market it over the Internet quickly so everyone can buy one without interference from the major oil corporations and government.

Answer 2

We don't need home power units, we need less homes needing power. No matter how much energy we produce, if we grow too fast, we'll need more, and eventually kill off the plants and animals with waste heat. While a small improvement would improve our lives in the US and Europe, and Japan, most other countries will try to catch up, and kill all of us, when 10 billion people eventually try to use the same energy we are now using.

Answer 3

The problem isn't about delivery of energy into homes (superconductors will vastly improve current electric gird capacities), the problem is generation of sufficient electrical power without loading the environment with CO2 and without being an environmental eyesore. The holy grail of energy generation is fusion power, particularly using the 3He + 3He reaction, and ITER is an international collaborative effort in making it commerically practical. ITER is a fusion reactor based on the Tokamak configuration. The first will be built in France, and the 2nd is slated to be built in Japan.

Answer 4

The next energy age is likely Fusion, most other things are adaptations of existing technology (though important ones, living within your means is a good idea).

It is no more sensible to mandate that all energy must be produced locally than it is to mandate that is must be produce remotely. However full cells seem to have real potential right now.

Answer 5

I'd assume China or India.