Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, have succeeded in creating a system that can capture and store solar energy for up to 18 years and generate electricity when connected to a thermoelectric generator.
The implications of this discovery are significant: it means solar energy can be stored and shipped anywhere in the world, then converted into electricity on demand.
The result is a closed-loop, circular system that operates without producing carbon dioxide pollution that contributes to global warming.
The researchers tested their discovery by harvesting solar energy in Sweden and sending it to colleagues at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who were able to convert it into usable electricity.
“This is a radically new way of generating electricity from solar energy. It means we can use solar energy to generate electricity regardless of the weather, time of day, season, or geographical location,” said research lead Kasper Moth-Poulsen, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers. “I’m very excited about this work. We hope that, with further development, this will become an important part of the future energy system.”
Solar energy is on the rise and is undoubtedly better for the planet than dirty energy sources such as oil or natural gas, but it also comes with its own challenges—such as the fact that it can only be collected when the sun is shining, making it less viable in parts of the world that don’t get much sunshine.
However, this new invention could expand the possibilities of solar energy even further. The researchers believe it could eventually replace electric car batteries and solar cells.
“Together with the various research groups involved in the project, we are now working to streamline the system,” Professor Moth-Poulsen said. “The amount of electricity or heat it can produce needs to increase.”
“So far, we have produced only small amounts of electricity, but the new results show that the idea really works. It looks promising,” said Zhihang Wang, another researcher on the project.
Source: TCB
Source: TCB
