Scientists make solar power advance

subscribe

A new breakthrough could allow sunshine to become one of the most important sources of clean renewable energy, it has been claimed.

Up to now solar power has been a "Cinderella" energy source because storing the sun's energy is so expensive and inefficient.

Now scientists believe they have overcome the problem using technology inspired by photosynthesis in plants.

The system allows small amounts of electricity from solar panels to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. A similar water-splitting reaction occurs during photosynthesis. Later, the gases can be recombined in a fuel cell to produce carbon-free electricity.

Electolysers which split water are already used industrially, but are extremely costly and do not work in everyday conditions.

The new process is cheap and operates at room temperature, with neutral acidity water.

Professor Daniel Nocera, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, who co-led the research, said: "Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited, and soon."

British expert Professor James Barber, from Imperial College London, said the technology represented a "giant leap" towards generating clean, carbon-free energy on a massive scale.

"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," he said. "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."

More work needs to be done to integrate the new technology into existing solar power systems. But Prof Nocera believes that within 10 years people will be able to power their homes with a combination of solar panels and household fuel cells.

Related News

renewables 2030 graph

U.S. Renewable and Clean Energy Industries Set Sights on Market Majority

WASHINGTON - Within a decade, more than half of the electricity generated in the U.S. will come from clean, renewable resources supported by energy storage, according to a joint commitment today from the American wind, solar, hydropower, and energy storage industries. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), National Hydropower Association (NHA), and Energy Storage Association (ESA) have agreed to actively collaborate across their industry segments to achieve this target. 

The four industries have released a set of joint advocacy principles that will enable them to realize this bold vision of a majority renewables grid. Along with…

READ MORE

German official says nuclear would do little to solve gas issue

READ MORE

Site C Dam

OPINION | Bridging the electricity gap between Alberta and B.C. makes perfect climate sense

READ MORE

coronavirus

BC Hydro launches program to help coronavirus-affected customers with their bills

READ MORE

us capitol

Senate Democrats push for passage of energy-related tax incentives

READ MORE