MIT Breakthrough Means 24/7 Solar Power

Kernel Sanders · 08-02-08, 07:12 PM

Quote:

We all know how much global warming affects the environment and that we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The best solution is solar power which is already user in many countries around the world, but for the moment our technology can’t use this huge source of power at its full potential. Researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a new technique that could revolutionize the use of solar power.

The researchers managed to remove the biggest problem of solar power - thanks to their technique, now we can use solar power at night or when the sun isn’t shining. Before, we also could store solar power but that technology was very expensive and inefficient.

MIT researchers developed a technology inspired by the photosynthesis and for this process, there are needed only non-toxic natural materials. They managed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy and at a later stage they combined the hydrogen and oxygen inside a fuel cell. [...]

In order to make this possible, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, describes as “a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera’s lab”, used a new catalyst that consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode. This catalyst produces oxygen from water and another catalyst, usually platinum, produces hydrogen from water therefore when combined, these can resemble the process of photosynthesis.

“The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it’s easy to set up. That’s why I know this is going to work. It’s so easy to implement,” said Nocera.

Source [ Device Inn]

Bravo to the lads at MIT

Now I can see why they rejected me

DeeJayH · 08-02-08, 07:32 PM

sounds promising, and will be good news if it is brought to market

MC.no.spin · 08-02-08, 07:37 PM

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Originally Posted by DeeJayH

sounds promising, and will be good news if it is brought to market

Indeed. Solar will take off in popularity once it becomes more cost competitive and thus has a faster ROI (return on investment). This technology would make less solar panels necessary and thus a more inexpensive installation package possible.

Kernel Sanders · 08-02-08, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

Indeed. Solar will take off in popularity once it becomes more cost competitive and thus has a faster ROI (return on investment). This technology would make less solar panels necessary and thus a more inexpensive installation package possible.

Definitely. It also removes one of the objections you often hear about wind and solar - "what happens when the sun/wind doesn't shine/blow." I've heard from other sources that this energy storage has very near 100% efficiency which would be a great boon to the industry

DeeJayH · 08-02-08, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernel Sanders

Definitely. It also removes one of the objections you often hear about wind and solar - "what happens when the sun/wind doesn't shine/blow." I've heard from other sources that this energy storage has very near 100% efficiency which would be a great boon to the industry

that ignorant argument is akin to 'what do you do when your wife doesnt want to blow?"
you supplement with alternatives

MC.no.spin · 08-02-08, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernel Sanders

Definitely. It also removes one of the objections you often hear about wind and solar - "what happens when the sun/wind doesn't shine/blow." I've heard from other sources that this energy storage has very near 100% efficiency which would be a great boon to the industry

Here in sunny California some solar customers get a check each month from the power companies for their unused power that was fed back into the grid.

UtahBill · 08-03-08, 09:17 AM

The cobalt cartel is foaming at the mouth over this news......guess who produces most of the cobalt in the world? Not the USA...
From Wikipedia...
In 2005, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the top producer of cobalt with almost 40% world share followed by Canada, Zambia, Russia, Brazil and Cuba, reports the British Geological Survey.

Kernel Sanders · 08-03-08, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahBill

The cobalt cartel is foaming at the mouth over this news......guess who produces most of the cobalt in the world? Not the USA...
From Wikipedia...
In 2005, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the top producer of cobalt with almost 40% world share followed by Canada, Zambia, Russia, Brazil and Cuba, reports the British Geological Survey.

Between diamonds, uranium, and other rare materials Africa is shaping up to the ME of the 21st century with even less stability holding it together