Solar society in 2020 (part 2): Implications of Nocera’s breakthrough

Daniel G. Nocera, MIT - Photo Donna Coveney

FACT: Daniel Nocera (MIT) developed a new catalyst for the storage of solar power. The catalyst is much cheaper than the precious metal platinum.

Chemist Daniel Nocera, head of the M.I.T.’s Solar Revolution Project, has found a substitute for platinum (>USD 1,700/ounce). The components of the catalyst are the cobalte (USD 2.25) and phoshor (USD 0.05). Concerning the components this means a cost effectiveness factor of around 1,000. The discovery is seen as breakthrough.

CONTEXT: The advance is a key discovery in the context of efforts to create artificial photosynthesis.

Researchers have made a major advance in inorganic chemistry that could lead to a cheap way to store energy from the sun. Technology Review

RELEVANCE: Efficient local solar systems (“solar at home” – with no storage problem) change the game.

There is an increased competitiveness of solar power and an impact for conventional energy generation and infrastructures
Technology to store energy is relevant beyond solar energy generation, e.g. volatile wind power
Winners: The more autonomous “solar prosumer” (esp. in sun rich zones).
Loosers: Fossil based energy companies
Comeback of the hydrogen vision as a realistic scenario is possible – even with the hydrogen car getting the energy from the rooftop
Solar society* before 2020 in some regions of the world

(* “solar society” i.e. with a solar energy share >> 50%? – I have no definition up to now)

RELATED POSTS