One of the great problems of solar energy and, in general, of renewable energies is its storage for later use. Both its storage and its transport are problems that must be solved so that renewables gain in competitiveness and make their way more and more in international markets.
In order to alleviate this storage problem, a team of researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology, in Gothenburg (Sweden) has shown that it is possible to store solar energy directly in a chemical fluid, called molecular solar thermal system. How exactly does it work?
Solar energy storage
As I mentioned before, storing the solar energy that we produce for later consumption is something that is difficult and has been the result of research that can solve it. This technique of using a chemical fluid to store solar energy shows that it can be achieved thanks to chemical bonds. It also allows it to be released when we need it according to our demand for solar energy.
The one who leads the research team of this fluid is Professor Kasper Moth-Poulsen and has explained that combining chemical energy storage with thermal solar panels allows a conversion of more than 80 percent of incoming sunlight.
How exactly does the fluid work?
When the fluid molecule is hit by photons of light from solar radiation, they are able to change shape and store energy. This storage system is capable of supporting 140 storage cycles like a conventional battery. It is also capable of releasing energy with negligible degradation.
The liquid research project began 6 years ago and has been published in the scientific journal Energy & Environmental, thanks to the University of Chalmers. At the beginning of the investigation, the solar energy conversion efficiency was 0,01% and ruthenium, an expensive element, played the most important role in the process. With the improvement and development of the project, Each time it has been possible to access a system that manages to store 1,1% of the sunlight that falls as chemical energy that remains latent until the moment of demand, which is when it is released. This is an improvement of a factor of 100. Furthermore, ruthenium has been replaced by much cheaper carbon-based elements.