Researchers from the Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have developed an energy system that stores solar energy in liquid form for up to 18 years. This allows storing energy and using it when and where it is required.
Researchers foresee that this research could lead to self-charging electronics using stored solar energy
Recently researchers have tested their device, called the Molecular Solar Thermal system (MOST), by connecting it to a thermoelectric generator. MOST helped to capture solar energy, store it and release it when and where required as heat. Now they have succeeded in producing electricity from the system, by connecting it to a thermoelectric generator.
“The generator is an ultra-thin chip that could be integrated into electronics such as headphones, smartwatches, and telephones. So far, we have only generated small amounts of electricity, but the new results show that the concept works. It looks very promising,” said researcher Zhihang Wang.
Environmentally friendly
It is a big breakthrough, as it’s going to boost renewable energies and emissions-free energy production. However, a lot more work requires making it viable for charging our technical gadgets or heating our homes.
“Together with the various research groups included in the project, we are now working to streamline the system. The amount of electricity or heat it can extract needs to be increased. Even if the energy system is based on simple basic materials, it needs to be adapted to be sufficiently cost-effective to produce, and thus possible to launch more broadly,” says Kasper Moth-Poulsen.
