Solar Energy

Solar power heats materials over 1,000 degrees Celsius

Published

4 months ago

May 17, 2024

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Solar power heats materials over 1,000 degrees Celsius

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 16, 2024

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method to generate heat exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius using solar power. This innovation could replace fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries like steel and cement production. The study, published in the journal Device on May 15, utilizes synthetic quartz to capture solar energy, demonstrating the potential for clean energy in these industries.

“To tackle climate change, we need to decarbonize energy in general,” said Emiliano Casati of ETH Zurich. “People tend to only think about electricity as energy, but in fact, about half of the energy is used in the form of heat.”

The production of glass, steel, cement, and ceramics requires high temperatures, traditionally achieved by burning fossil fuels. These industries account for about 25% of global energy consumption. Researchers have explored using solar receivers to concentrate and build heat, but transferring solar energy efficiently above 1,000 degrees Celsius has been challenging.

Casati’s team enhanced solar receivers using quartz, which traps sunlight through the thermal-trap effect. They created a device with a synthetic quartz rod and an opaque silicon disk to absorb energy. When exposed to intense sunlight, the device’s absorber plate reached 1,050 degrees Celsius, while the quartz rod’s other end remained at 600 degrees Celsius.

“Previous research has only managed to demonstrate the thermal-trap effect up to 170 degrees Celsius,” Casati said. “Our research showed that solar thermal trapping works not just at low temperatures, but well above 1,000 degrees Celsius. This is crucial to show its potential for real-world industrial applications.”

Using a heat transfer model, the team simulated the quartz’s efficiency under various conditions. The model showed that thermal trapping achieves target temperatures at lower concentrations with similar performance or higher efficiency at equal concentrations. For example, a state-of-the-art receiver has an efficiency of 40% at 1,200 degrees Celsius with a concentration of 500 suns. A receiver shielded with 300 mm of quartz achieves 70% efficiency at the same temperature and concentration. The unshielded receiver requires at least 1,000 suns for comparable performance.

Casati’s team is optimizing the thermal-trapping effect and exploring new applications. They have tested other materials, such as different fluids and gases, to reach even higher temperatures. The ability of these semitransparent materials to absorb light or radiation is not limited to solar radiation.

“Energy issue is a cornerstone to the survival of our society,” Casati said. “Solar energy is readily available, and the technology is already here. To really motivate industry adoption, we need to demonstrate the economic viability and advantages of this technology at scale.”

Research Report:Solar thermal trapping at 1000C and above

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Solar Energy

Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show

Published

19 hours ago

September 11, 2024

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Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Sep 11, 2024

Researchers at Swansea University have developed a new tool to help find the best photovoltaic (PV) materials to support both solar energy generation and crop growth.

In a new study published in ‘Solar RRL’, scientists from the Department of Physics explored how semi-transparent PV materials, used in agrivoltaics (combining solar panels with farming), impact crops. Their research is aimed at optimizing the balance between food production and solar power generation.

The team introduced a freeware tool that predicts the performance of various PV materials in terms of light transmission, absorption, and energy generation. This tool, capable of analyzing materials for different locations worldwide, relies on geographical, physical, and electrical data.

Austin Kay, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at Swansea University, said: “This technology, which allows us to compare many types of PV material, could help us determine how we balance food production and renewable energy generation.”

One critical factor in agrivoltaics is choosing the right PV material, which depends on how the material absorbs different light wavelengths and its bandgap. A material’s bandgap influences its ability to absorb either higher-energy, short-wavelength light (blue) or lower-energy, long-wavelength light (red).

By selecting PV materials based on these properties, researchers can adjust the light that passes through semi-transparent PV panels to benefit crops. Crops primarily absorb red and blue light for photosynthesis, while they reflect green light.

Associate Professor Ardalan Armin, the project leader, added: “By optimising the combination of solar panels and agriculture, agrivoltaics has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector. This approach not only generates clean energy but also enhances food security.”

Solar panels can be implemented in agriculture in several ways, such as on the roofs of greenhouses or polytunnels, and can even offer shelter for livestock. Livestock, in turn, can help maintain vegetation around the panels. However, the choice of livestock is important since certain animals, like goats, can damage the panels by jumping on them.

Research Report:On the Performance Limits of Agrivoltaics-From Thermodynamic to Geo-Meteorological Considerations

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Solar Energy

Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

Published

6 days ago

September 6, 2024

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Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Argonne National Laboratory to lead the newly established Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), a national hub focused on advancing energy storage technologies. The ESRA, co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is one of two new Energy Innovation Hubs announced by the DOE.

Bringing together nearly 50 leading researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities, ESRA aims to address the most critical challenges in battery technology, such as safety, high-energy density, and the development of long-duration storage solutions using cost-effective and abundant materials. The initiative is designed to push the boundaries of energy storage science, fostering innovation and strengthening the competitive edge of the U.S. in this crucial field.

“The demand for high-performance, low-cost and sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise, especially those with potential to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid,” stated Shirley Meng, ESRA director and chief scientist at the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. “To achieve this, energy storage technology must reach levels of unprecedented performance, surpassing the capabilities of current lithium-ion technology. The key to making these transformative leaps lies in a robust research and development initiative firmly grounded in basic science.”

Leveraging decades of investment in fundamental science, ESRA will focus on transformative discoveries in materials chemistry, a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes at the atomic level, and establishing the scientific foundations necessary for major advancements in energy storage technology.

“ESRA creates an energy storage research ecosystem with the mission to rapidly innovate, shorten the time between basic discovery and technology development, and train the next-generation workforce,” commented Bryan McCloskey, ESRA deputy director for scientific thrusts and a faculty engineer at Berkeley Lab.

The success of ESRA’s efforts will lead to the development of high-energy batteries that are fire-resistant, capable of providing long-duration storage for multiple days, have a lifespan of several decades, and are constructed from low-cost, widely available materials.

“ESRA will pave the way for innovative energy storage solutions that drive both U.S. prosperity and security,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. “As the lead laboratory for ESRA under the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne takes pride in spearheading this collaborative effort that unites world-leading experts and taps the impressive scientific resources available in national labs and academia.”

The DOE has committed up to $62.5 million in funding for ESRA over the next five years.

In addition to its research goals, the Argonne-led hub will prioritize training a diverse, next-generation battery workforce to meet future manufacturing demands. This will be achieved through innovative training programs that involve industry, academia, and government partnerships.

“Cultivating a diverse workforce dedicated to safeguarding America’s energy resilience is key to ESRA’s mission,” noted Wei Wang, ESRA deputy director for crosscuts and director of the Energy Storage Materials Initiative at PNNL. “Through our strategic equity and inclusion initiatives, we plan to create a robust training ground for energy storage science from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.”

With Berkeley Lab and PNNL as co-leads, the ESRA collaboration brings together comprehensive expertise across the energy storage spectrum. Their state-of-the-art capabilities in technology discovery, modeling and simulation, and materials synthesis and characterization complement those of Argonne, setting the stage for significant advancements in energy storage.

Argonne is joined by 14 partners in this initiative, all of whom are deeply involved in ESRA’s scientific endeavors, governance, strategic development, and the training of the next generation of battery scientists and engineers. This collaboration among national laboratories and universities is vital for discovering new materials, accelerating the development of technology, and commercializing new energy storage innovations.

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Solar Energy

UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

Published

6 days ago

September 6, 2024

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UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

by AFP Staff Writers

Beijing (AFP) Sept 5, 2024

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told African leaders Thursday that expanding ties between China and the continent could “drive the renewable energy revolution”.

Guterres and more than 50 African leaders are attending this week’s China-Africa forum, according to state media.

Guterres told the gathering that “China’s remarkable record of development — including on eradicating poverty — provides a wealth of experience and expertise”.

“It can be a catalyst for key transitions on food systems and digital connectivity,” he said.

“And as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, Africa can maximise the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology,” Guterres added.

Guterres also told the leaders it was time to correct “historic injustices” against the continent.

“It is outrageous… that the continent of Africa has no permanent seat on the Security Council,” he said.

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