Storing Sunshine

[clarencebunsen]

Novel Methods Store Sunshine as Fuel

The sun is the most abundant power source on Earth, but new designs soon hitting the market could keep its energy flowing even after sunset

The sun is the most abundant power source on Earth, but new designs soon hitting the market could keep its energy flowing even after sunset.

Researchers are exploring various strategies to put sunshine on tap, converting the sun's energy into fuels that can be stored, transported and used as needed. Setting excess power aside can help solar plants produce consistent electricity throughout the day, diminishing one of solar energy's biggest drawbacks. Sun-derived fuels can also be used to power fuel cells that drive cars or provide heat to warm homes.

www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=novel-methods-store-sunshine-as-fuel

[Swimmy]

I firmly believe that solar energy is the way of the future, until we are able to create and sustain a nuclear fusion reaction.

[JGRobinson]

Solar, Wind, Thermal and Bio Sludge all hold great promise for clean NRG production. Sustained fusion is the holy grail but still a stretch to reach. Technically, I think we need them all and a few more to keep us viable.

Nimbies on both sides of the debate still think that we shouldnt start the shift until we have the perfect solution. Nothings perfect, windmills are big and unsightly to many, Hydro Turbines can upset Wildlife populations, Nuke Plants can radiate and Fuel transformation and production facilities have been dis-allowed to be built in the US.

Unfortunately, right now everything is measured up against Oil and NG Gas efficiency and effectiveness and most still come far from reaching that in the short run. Very much like living in a desert with no fresh water near the ocean. Desalination is very expensive but it produces what we need, clean water so produce it or die. Now filling our swimming pools or water features with that very expensive water would be dumb but thats the equivalent of what we are doing every day!

As long as fossil fuels are readily available, we will burn them as a cheap source of NRG. There will come a time and it may be nearer than we think that these wells start to dry up around the globe, the ME has pretty much maxed out on their production and others are very close. The transition will be like nuclear winter, I hope its not during my lifetime because its going to produce a world wide Depression of biblical proportions lasting decades if not centuries.

We have to either accept a slow transition with bumps in the road or wait until we reach the cliff! I vote for the first one, most everyone else it seems is still trudging towards the 2nd one!