Without problems, there are no solutions. The human race has time and again proven its ingenuity in breaking every hurdle in its relentless quest to achieve a better quality of life on earth. While solar energy is raining abundantly on the planet, it has been a challenge how best to convert most of this to useful work. Efficiency, cost and storage problems dog solar. But research is fast catching up.
Scientists at the Ohio State Institute for Materials Research recently announced that they have developed a new hyper-efficient solar material that is able to capture light from every spectrum of the rainbow. Whereas most photovoltaics are limited to collecting energy from a small range of frequencies, the new material is able to absorb energy from all spectrums of visible light at once. The breakthrough development heralds a new breed of extremely efficient solar panels on the horizon.
The new electrically-conductive plastic includes materials such as molybdenum and titanium. It operates upon the same principles as standard photovoltaic materials, wherein light energizes the atoms of the material and knocks electrons free to generate a current. Whereas in traditional photovoltaics the electrons are removed for a fraction of a second, in the new hybrid material the electrons are excited for much longer (7 million times) than before.
Elsewhere, a company Sionyx, have found that ‘black silicon’ is more efficient as a material in PVs. Blasted by laser energy on its surface, in the presence of sulphur and other dopants, silicon is transformed into more sensitive material that can detect photons of various frequencies which otherwise pass through it. More photons absorbed means more electrons kicked into motion, and so more current.
Meanwhile, the search for cheap, clean, unlimited energy has seen much research in the field of algae and their use as a biofuel. GreenFuel Technologies, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of algae bioreactor systems that convert carbon dioxide emissions into clean-burning biofuels, announced today that it had launched the second phase of a major project with Spanish renewable energy firm Aurantia to build a large-scale algae farming plant adjacent to a CO2-spewing cement plant near Jerez, Spain.
The carbon dioxide from the plants sustains and boosts growth of algae which takes it in using photosynthesis to produce an oil and manure. Compared with second generation biofuels, algae are high-yield high-cost (30 times more energy per acre than terrestrial crops) feedstocks to produce biofuels. The biomass left-over from oil-pressing can either be fed to cattle as a protein supplement, or fermented into ethanol.
On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage, says ScienceDaily. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.
The big problem has been figuring out how to collect and press the algae, and in the case of open ponds, to prevent contamination by invasive species. The scaleability and costs of harvesting algae are some of the other challenges.
But ideally, this is one technology which will see more investments and research going into it given its twin advantages. In India, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has inked a memorandum of understanding with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) to develop a pilot plant technology for biodiesel production from algae.
There is no doubt anymore about the need for renewables if we are to meet the growing energy demand. The amount of research globally is evidence of the importance being given to this area. But a question that begs an answer here is: why is India lagging behind? Especially given that it is here that one of the largest demands for energy is going to come from.
Is innovation in technology simply not in our genes? There is after all no dearth of research institutions here. Or is it the sad plight of our education system that needs to be blamed for this? A system that stymies fresh thinking and is happy to reward rote-learning.
Would it be a good idea for some institutions to go to our schools and offer a big prize for children to think of totally new ways to find our way out of present problems? Be it in energy, or food or water. A revolution could be in the waiting!
Any thoughts, anybody?
Scientists at the Ohio State Institute for Materials Research recently announced that they have developed a new hyper-efficient solar material that is able to capture light from every spectrum of the rainbow. Whereas most photovoltaics are limited to collecting energy from a small range of frequencies, the new material is able to absorb energy from all spectrums of visible light at once. The breakthrough development heralds a new breed of extremely efficient solar panels on the horizon.
The new electrically-conductive plastic includes materials such as molybdenum and titanium. It operates upon the same principles as standard photovoltaic materials, wherein light energizes the atoms of the material and knocks electrons free to generate a current. Whereas in traditional photovoltaics the electrons are removed for a fraction of a second, in the new hybrid material the electrons are excited for much longer (7 million times) than before.
Elsewhere, a company Sionyx, have found that ‘black silicon’ is more efficient as a material in PVs. Blasted by laser energy on its surface, in the presence of sulphur and other dopants, silicon is transformed into more sensitive material that can detect photons of various frequencies which otherwise pass through it. More photons absorbed means more electrons kicked into motion, and so more current.
Meanwhile, the search for cheap, clean, unlimited energy has seen much research in the field of algae and their use as a biofuel. GreenFuel Technologies, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of algae bioreactor systems that convert carbon dioxide emissions into clean-burning biofuels, announced today that it had launched the second phase of a major project with Spanish renewable energy firm Aurantia to build a large-scale algae farming plant adjacent to a CO2-spewing cement plant near Jerez, Spain.
The carbon dioxide from the plants sustains and boosts growth of algae which takes it in using photosynthesis to produce an oil and manure. Compared with second generation biofuels, algae are high-yield high-cost (30 times more energy per acre than terrestrial crops) feedstocks to produce biofuels. The biomass left-over from oil-pressing can either be fed to cattle as a protein supplement, or fermented into ethanol.
On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage, says ScienceDaily. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.
The big problem has been figuring out how to collect and press the algae, and in the case of open ponds, to prevent contamination by invasive species. The scaleability and costs of harvesting algae are some of the other challenges.
But ideally, this is one technology which will see more investments and research going into it given its twin advantages. In India, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has inked a memorandum of understanding with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) to develop a pilot plant technology for biodiesel production from algae.
There is no doubt anymore about the need for renewables if we are to meet the growing energy demand. The amount of research globally is evidence of the importance being given to this area. But a question that begs an answer here is: why is India lagging behind? Especially given that it is here that one of the largest demands for energy is going to come from.
Is innovation in technology simply not in our genes? There is after all no dearth of research institutions here. Or is it the sad plight of our education system that needs to be blamed for this? A system that stymies fresh thinking and is happy to reward rote-learning.
Would it be a good idea for some institutions to go to our schools and offer a big prize for children to think of totally new ways to find our way out of present problems? Be it in energy, or food or water. A revolution could be in the waiting!
Any thoughts, anybody?
Posts
1 comment:
I agree - we need to motivate the next generation to look for the right alternatives. We have knowledge and technologies scattered across various disciplines that between them should have sustainable solutions for energy.
Also there was an announcement from MIT that Prof.Daniel Nocera has created a catalyst that can turn water into hydrogen - much like basic photosynthesis process component - worth watching!
Post a Comment