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Thermal Solar Goes Where PVs Can’t

Cars That Think

Global solar energy supplies are growing rapidly, with nearly 10 times as much solar capacity installed today as there was a decade ago. Leading the boom is the photovoltaic (PV) panel, which converts sunlight into electricity using semiconductors. The first utility-scale solar-thermal plants were built in the 1980s.

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Convert Oil Wells to Solve the Solar Storage Problem

Cars That Think

One of the main impediments to harnessing solar energy is storage. Solar batteries work as a short-term solution, but not when it comes to long-term storage or to power, say, an entire city. Solar energy and oil wells might sound like an odd combination, but the principle is similar to how geothermal energy would be harnessed.

Solar 121
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Thermal Solar Goes Where PVs Can’t

Cars That Think

Global solar energy supplies are growing rapidly, with nearly 10 times as much solar capacity installed today as there was a decade ago. Leading the boom is the photovoltaic (PV) panel, which converts sunlight into electricity using semiconductors. The first utility-scale solar-thermal plants were built in the 1980s.

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ARPA-E awarding $30M to 12 hybrid solar projects; conversion and storage

Green Car Congress

Under the FOCUS program, projects will develop advanced solar converters that turn sunlight into electricity for immediate use, while also producing heat that can be stored at low cost for later use as well as innovative storage systems that accept both heat and electricity from variable solar sources. Cogenra Solar, Inc.

Solar 300
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Researchers Propose Solar-Driven Biomass Gasification Pathway for Synthetic Fuel Production

Green Car Congress

Schema of synfuel synthesis through solar-driven biomass gasification. Solar energy produces both heat for gasification and H 2 via electrolysis. High temperature heat for biomass gasification is obtained from a molten-salt system in a solar concentrating tower. From Hertwich et al. 2009) Click to enlarge.

Solar 186
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DOE requesting information on critical energy materials, including fuel cell platinum group metal catalysts

Green Car Congress

Permanent magnets Batteries Catalytic converters Lightweighting (platform, frame, engine cradle, etc.). Solid oxide solid acid Phosphoric acid molten carbonate Polymer electrolyte membrane. Solar photvoltaics. Concentrated solar power. Mirrors Molten salts. Grid storage. Thin films. Wind turbines.

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Energy storage: the key to a decarbonised future

Setec Powerr

We are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and the use of energy storage is becoming more widespread. chemical, kinetic, or thermal) and convert them back to useful forms of energy like electricity. Technologies include energy storage with molten salt and liquid air or cryogenic storage.