One of the technologies he mentioned was solar shingles, a lesser-known photovoltaic energy source that looks like regular roofing shingles but could power homes more cheaply than common solar panels.

But instead of going for solar power or some other renewable source of energy, they decided bugs and rodents could do the job.

Another use could be to provide cooling for giant concentrated solar power plants, which are gaining credibility as a future large-scale energy source.