MIT Energy Storage Discovery Could Lead to ‘Unlimited’ Solar Power
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered a new way of storing energy from sunlight that could lead to ‘unlimited’ solar power.
The process, loosely based on plant photosynthesis, uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. When needed, the gases can then be re-combined in a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity whether the sun is shining or not.
According to project leader Prof. Daniel Nocera, “This is the nirvana of what we’ve been talking about for years. Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now, we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon.”
Nocera has also explained that the process (video) uses natural materials, is inexpensive to conduct and is easy to set up. “That’s why I know this is going to work. It’s so easy to implement,” he said.
Other prominent scientists in the field have rushed to highlight the revolutionary potential of the new process. According to James Barber, biochemistry professor at Imperial College London, this research is a ‘giant leap’ towards generating clean, carbon-free energy on as massive scale. In a statement, he also said:
“This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind. The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production, thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem.”
No news has yet been released of a predicted timescale to commericial development or mainstream adoption. However, Nocera has said that he’s hopeful that within 10 years homes will no longer be powered using electricity-by-wire from a central source. Instead, homeowners will be able to harness solar power during daylight hours and use this new energy storage method for electricity at night.
Image Credit - markus941 via flickr.com on a Creative Commons license. See the Visual Photo Guide.
Old news in the alternative energy world, but people who are crazy paranoid about explosives in their basement (especially after Bond just came out) shouldn’t be worried unless they decide to go at it with four men with sledgehammers and then shoot it.
World’s Largest Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant to be Built in Dubai.
I can’t be the only person who thinks this is just too funny. I know,I know. Dubai is a very small, very rich, very welcoming very new country. Very friendly to us . This Year! And the largest windmill companies are in Europe. What do we make,besides a fuss?
The principal is nothing new. I think it is the cost viability that is considered a break through.
This is good, but seems a hi-tech solution to a pretty low-tech problem. Storing grid-connected solar (or any grid-connected energy) with reasonable efficiency is simple. Reverse hydro (pumping water uphill during the day to store grid energy as gravitational potential energy) is 80% efficient, and can use enough existing sites to cover solar energy generation, even at enormous growth rates, for years to come.
Another really simple solution is to USE MUCH LESS ENERGY, a dramatic way of reducing greenhouse gases that the West seems unable to contemplate seriously.
i think most people are missing the basic point here.
The main benefit of this breakthrough is that the process of electrolysis is MUCH more efficient and so it means that if you are getting the energy to do the electrolysis at minimal cost (from renewable energy such as solar, or wind) then the resulting energy carriers of hydrogen, or oxygen become really valuable.
To Pete. Please read “The Bottomless Well” then you will see why your statement is silly. Should we stop using lasers to fix peoples eyes? Should we go back to a carbohydrate society? If farmers had to use animals for harvest they would use about 25% of the food to feed them. That would lead to massive deforestation. Using more energy is the only solution to global warming.
There are 2 basic reasons why we should be seeking our own solar power source-money and self reliance. No one wants to or should be dependent upon some fanatical country(ies) or dictator(s) who controls the worlds oil supply. We as individuals can do the same. The technology exists to enable us to be independent and save money on energy costs. Keep it up to help the whole world realize this future!
Fantastic, as soon as we have solar panels stretched across the unlimited expanse of the Earth’s surface, we can begin harvesting those unlimited sunlight hours and hey presto! Unlimited power! Or not.
what is the status of the discovery today?
MatsRG
Myiphone
I wouldn’t be surprised if MIT hasn’t heard of the PURE project but using fuel cells to divide oxygen and hydrogen from water isn’t really new…
Except, instead of using Solar panels, Wind turbines were used.