‘Major discovery’ from MIT primed to unleash solar revolution

Scientists mimic essence of plants’ energy storage system

Anne Trafton, News Office
July 31, 2008

In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.

Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. With today’s announcement, MIT researchers have hit upon a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy.

Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun. “This is the nirvana of what we’ve been talking about for years,” said MIT’s Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. “Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon.”

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera’s lab, have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun’s energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

The key component in Nocera and Kanan’s new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas. The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity – whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source – runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.

Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.

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

SOURCE:  MIT News

When was Solar Cell Technology developed?

Modern solar cells with practical efficiency were invented in the early 1950’s and has been used to power satellites since 1959.  Their popularity in terrestrial use came in the mid-70s and was mostly for remote telecommunications, navigational aides and other remote industrial use which included the microwave, TV, radio and cellular repeater stations.  Since the mid 80s they’ve been used to power urban applications such as roadside emergency telephones and traffic signs.  With prices steadily dropping, they are now becoming more and more affordable for urban or remote homes and businesses.

Recycling 101: Sort What You Throw

Just like any other day, you find yourself confronted with the same old trash problem like you were yesterday.

Aside from the regular trash production that you make everyday, there are lots of other things from old books, old clothes, broken down appliances, old batteries and all those kind of stuff that gets to pile up in your garage or closet or basement as the year goes by.

As this pile grows higher and higher… the temptation of having an immediate solution to your personal space problem runs into your head.

But wait!  While it’s true that it’s very easy to jam-pack all those things in a huge trash can and take it out of your house for the garbage collector to pick it up, there is, still, another option available.

Sort your garbage before taking them out.  You’d find out that there are things there that could still be salvaged.

Old clothes and old shoes for example are always welcome in shelters.  You can even contact a local representative of international organizations who provide relief aid to countries in distress or under the state of calamity.

Separate discarded batteries and other broken appliances that has mercury content because it brings harm to our environment.  There are stations who accept those kinds of things so that they could be disposed of properly. The same goes with plastic bottles and paper.

This may be a very dirty job but it helps not only you but Mother Earth as well.  What good is a clean house if your environment is thriving to survive?

A Little Bit of Sacrifice to Gain Huge Returns

It is never too late to show how we care about the world we live in.

It would never be late to think about where our efforts might come into play.

It may be just a simple gesture of keeping candy wrappers in your pocket until you find a trash can or plainly recycling old paper and plastic.  No task can ever be so small not to be counted.

It wouldn’t be that bad to sacrifice a little if it would mean a longer life for Mother Earth.

Throw waste properly.  Dispose of discarded batteries, light bulbs, computer monitors properly.

Learn to segregate and help in lessening the waste that we produce everyday.

Once you get that habit going in you, the rest will follow.

It all starts in you.  Who else would pay attention to things like these but us?

Looking for Answers? You’ve come to the right place

Welcome to Free Solar Guide! A portal created to provide you with up-to-date answers to solar questions.

Feel free to surf around to find new solutions that fits your requirement.