MIT researchers find way to harness and store solar energy day and night
source: http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=10-P13-00026&segmentID=6
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- JanforGore
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Renewable energy technologies have long been plagued by a lack of storage. But scientists have developed a new technology that promises to store the sun’s energy all day and night.
Installing a wind turbine at home: $30,000. Switching to geothermal heat: $20,000. Powering your home with the sun and a bucket of water? Priceless. Well, not quite priceless. But MIT researchers have discovered an inexpensive way to harness and store the sun's energy. The new technology only needs 5 liters of water, 4 hours of sun and a 16 x 20 foot array of solar panels to produce 30 kilowatt hours of electricity. That's enough to power a four-person household all day—and night.
When the sun is shining, solar panels power household appliances. Any excess electricity is run through a container of water containing two catalysts and an electrode, splitting the water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The two elements are stored separately during the day and recombined in a fuel cell to power the house at night. There's even enough energy left over to charge an electric car. And there may be global applications for the technology.
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Installing a wind turbine at home: $30,000. Switching to geothermal heat: $20,000. Powering your home with the sun and a bucket of water? Priceless. Well, not quite priceless. But MIT researchers have discovered an inexpensive way to harness and store the sun's energy. The new technology only needs 5 liters of water, 4 hours of sun and a 16 x 20 foot array of solar panels to produce 30 kilowatt hours of electricity. That's enough to power a four-person household all day—and night.
When the sun is shining, solar panels power household appliances. Any excess electricity is run through a container of water containing two catalysts and an electrode, splitting the water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The two elements are stored separately during the day and recombined in a fuel cell to power the house at night. There's even enough energy left over to charge an electric car. And there may be global applications for the technology.
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royulery
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this is an update on last month's article. on the link there is a link to m.i.t. that gives a little info on the materials used.
if you want to get you feet wet, with solar. harbor freight has a $250 ($180 on sale) complete solar kit, 50 watt with everything you need except a 12v car battery. you can light a couple of rooms and run a t.v. easily.
- 1 year ago
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royulery
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ampersand
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It would have been nice to have a bit more information than "researchers at MIT" for references to the work on the "catalyst" and fuel cell system in this article, but still, it's always good to know where to start looking.
- 1 year ago
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ampersand
