A group of scientists has developed a unique media for storing solar energy in liquid form, which will produce electricity on demand and store the energy for an incredible 18 years.
According to a BGR article, this game-changing event has been in the works for several years. Molecular Solar Thermal system (MOST), a solar energy storage technology developed by academics at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology, was unveiled in 2017.
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, on the other hand, have developed a more compact thermoelectric generator capable of recycling stored energy.
How It Functions
Hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon are used in the newly constructed molecular system. When this solution is exposed to sunlight, the atoms rearrange and change shape, converting the molecule into an energy-rich isomer.
This entire process functions as a liquid solar energy storage system. Researchers may be able to re-harness the power by combining the liquid solar energy storage technology with a thermoelectric generator — an ultra-thin chip.
The technology can be used to power smartwatches and headphones. This ground-breaking technology has so far only been employed to generate modest amounts of electricity.
However, experts feel the results are encouraging and will allow them to modify the system further to extract additional energy.
According to research leader Kasper Moth-Poulsen, Professor at Chalmers’ Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, this is a totally new approach of manufacturing electricity from solar radiation.
It is also now possible to harness solar energy to generate power regardless of the season, weather, time of day, or even geographical location.
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