Solar energy could one day be stored in the ground beneath our feet, if an ‘adventurous’ new project to create a ‘bottom battery’ succeeds.
The design — which uses Earth’s teeming microbial life to transfer energy — is one of dozens of clever ideas that have just received a major financial boost from the UK government.
As with sand and water batteries, researchers at Cardiff University are drawing on an abundant natural resource to help solve the problem of renewable energy storage.
UK Research and Innovation is investing £15m (€16.9m) in the nascent technology, along with 67 other projects that it recognizes are ‘high risk’ but have ‘potentially transformative impact’.
“The potential magnitude of that impact is really exciting,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael Harbottle v Euronews Green. “To see something that is really very new and potentially has a big impact is what drives us.”
He first got the idea from reading about a concrete battery that used a chemical process, and wondered if a biochemical process might not have more to offer.
How can soil store solar energy?
The research area of Harbottle is as yet abstract. On the same subject : Solar power is booming in Germany as Russia rejects gas. But he is not the first to see the potential of the soil in this way.
“There are plenty of examples of people just putting soil in a pot, putting some electrodes in it and connecting them together,” he says.
Throwing solar into the mix requires something more elaborate. The plan is to send electricity from solar panels to buried electrodes to stimulate certain bacteria in the soil.
“If you make energy available to microorganisms, they will somehow use it to survive,” Harbottle explains. “Just like providing food, if you provide electrical energy, there are organisms that can use that to perform electrosynthesis, synthesizing [combining] carbon-based molecules from carbon dioxide.”
Kind of like photosynthesis – where plants take in CO2 and convert it into their cells – but all underground. Electricity, CO2, action: The “bugs,” as Harbottle calls them, go to work and use the energy to reduce the carbon dioxide and make a more complex molecule called acetate.
This acetate, which he describes as the same kind of molecule found in vinegar minus the acid, acts as a chemical store of energy. If necessary, another circuit (called a microbial fuel cell) is switched on, which activates another set of bacteria to break down the acetate.
These party animals release electrons that flow through the circuit, providing electricity on demand. Just another strange stage in the 150 million kilometer journey from sunlight to Earth.
Soil could offer a subterranean alternative to lithium
The soil is incredibly diverse; a teaspoon contains over 10,000 species of microbes. This may interest you : Synthesis of perovskite visible-light-absorbing semiconductor material. The researchers want to use some of the already existing organisms and select the best ones for the task by creating optimal conditions for them.
“One advantage of the idea is that it doesn’t require limited resources or dangerous chemicals like lithium used in other battery technologies,” Harbottle says. “It creates organic molecules that are already often present in the soil, which are naturally produced in smaller quantities by microorganisms.”
Acetate isn’t harmful, but could too much of the chemical harm other life forms in this rich ecosystem? Harborttle acknowledges it could. While the researchers have their sights set on the deeper, wetter ground beneath the busiest top layers, the impact has yet to be explored.
“The way we envision this is that it won’t stick around for too long,” he adds. Unlike some renewable energy systems, the prototype will operate on a daily basis and store the sun’s energy for use at night.
What could soil batteries be used for?
In time, these batteries could be installed under fields of solar panels. But because the microbial fuel cells only supply low voltages for the time being, their use in relatively low-power systems is closer.
“I’m a civil engineer by training, so I automatically think of some civil engineering solutions,” Harbottle says. “Things that may be far from the grid, but have little power.” He points to sensors, lighting systems, communications for off-grid homes or highway infrastructure.
Ultimately, the researchers — a multidisciplinary team of geo-environmental and electrical engineers — want to scale up by joining hundreds of cells together to produce a much higher voltage.
Carbon storage and other novel projects are also receiving UK government funding
When investigating soil battery potential, Harbottle’s team will also look at soil carbon storage.
“If you convert CO2 into a carbon-based molecule, the molecules that aren’t consumed by the microbial fuel cell can end up staying in the soil for a while,” he explains. “And effectively that’s a way to pump carbon dioxide into the ground.”
Carbon capture is the focus of another UK government-backed project, which is testing whether microalgae could be used to absorb some of the steel industry’s massive footprint.
Another solution is to launch an early warning system for stone chips, which are more often caused by climate change.
Inspired by seagrass, a third will test the feasibility of filtering salt from salt water, making more water available for crops.
“The adventurous thinking emerging in these new projects underscores the ingenuity and imagination of our research base, taking new approaches to tackle major challenges,” said Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) within UK Research and Innovation.
What are the 2 main disadvantages of solar energy?
Disadvantages of solar energy
- Cost. The purchase costs of a solar system are quite high. …
- weather dependent. Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system decreases. …
- Storage of solar energy is expensive. …
- Uses a lot of space. …
- Associated with pollution.
What are the 2 main benefits of using solar energy? Solar energy is pollution-free and causes no greenhouse gas emissions after installation. Decreased dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. Renewable clean power available every day of the year, even cloudy days produce some power.
What is a major disadvantage of solar power?
The disadvantages are that it only produces energy when the sun is shining, requires a significant amount of land, and certain solar technologies require rare materials.
What is a disadvantage of solar energy quizlet?
A disadvantage of solar energy is that it can only be used in tectonically active areas. One benefit of using biomass as an energy source is that it reduces the amount of organic matter thrown into landfills.
What is the major disadvantage with solar cells for power generation?
1. High investment. One of the main disadvantages of solar cells is the relatively high installation costs of solar panels.
What are 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of solar energy?
It offers several benefits, such as energy independence for homeowners and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. While there are many advantages to using solar energy, there are also some disadvantages such as the installation cost and dependence on sunlight and environmental factors.
What are the 5 disadvantages of solar energy?
In general, the disadvantages of solar energy are the high initial cost, low efficiency, space required to install solar panels, unreliability of sun exposure, and high pollution from solar panel production.
Can you store solar energy and use it at night?
So yes, solar energy can be stored — in more ways than one — for use at night, in winter, in the rain, or any other not-so-sunny time.
Can we store solar energy to use at night? So yes, solar energy can be stored — in more ways than one — for use at night, in winter, in the rain, or any other not-so-sunny time.
Can solar energy be stored and used later?
Can solar energy be stored for future use? Yes, in a residential photovoltaic (PV) system, solar energy can be stored for future use in an electric battery bank. Today, most solar energy is stored in lithium-ion, lead-acid and flow batteries.
Can you store solar energy for months?
The energy can be stored at room temperature for several months and can be released in the form of heat on demand.
How long can solar energy be stored for?
A catalyst releases the saved energy as heat while returning the molecule to its original shape, ready to be used again. Over the years, researchers have refined the system so that it is now possible to store the energy for an incredible 18 years.
What is the biggest problem with solar panels?
intermittent. One of the biggest problems with solar technology is that energy is only generated when the sun is shining. That means nighttime and cloudy days can interrupt supply.
What is the disadvantage of buying solar panels? Disadvantages of solar include high upfront costs, the inability to work on any roof type, and it can be difficult to find a local installer depending on where you live.
What are three problems with solar power?
In general, the disadvantages of solar energy are the high initial cost, low efficiency, space required to install solar panels, unreliability of sun exposure, and high pollution from solar panel production.
How do you transport solar energy?
Transporting solar panels is a delicate process. The first panels are placed face up on the pallet and the last is placed face up. Corner protectors and foam pads over the frame have been added. Usually a piece of cardboard or plastic is placed between each two panels.
How much solar energy do you need to power a house? The average American home needs between 16 and 20 solar panels based on the average electricity consumption of 893 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. Installing that many solar panels would cost between $12,000 and $17,000 after the federal solar tax credit.
Is solar cheaper than electric?
Although solar requires an initial investment to purchase and set up, people find that solar is a lot cheaper than electric power in the long run due to the rising price of electricity.
Is solar really cheaper than electric?
It is clear that solar energy is more cost effective than ‘regular’ or standard electricity. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), installing new solar panels is cheaper than a comparable investment in coal, natural gas or other fossil fuels.
Is going solar better than electric?
Homeowners who install solar systems can receive a host of benefits: lower electricity bills, lower carbon footprints, and potentially higher home values. But these benefits typically come with significant installation and maintenance costs, and the magnitude of the gains can vary widely from home to home.
Does solar energy actually save money?
The short answer is yes, solar panels save money. In addition to helping the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, solar panels allow you to keep more money in your bank account each month.
What are the 3 types of solar energy?
Solar thermal energy (for heating) Solar concentrated energy (for electricity) Solar photovoltaic energy (electricity)
What are the main types of solar energy?
There are two main types of solar energy technologies: photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar thermal (CSP).
What are the 4 types of solar power?
The 4 main types of solar panels There are currently 4 main types of solar panels on the market: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, PERC and thin film panels.
What solar means?
Definition of solar 1: from, derived from, related to, or caused by the sun. 2 : measured on the basis of the course of the earth in relation to the sun a solar year also : related to or calculated according to solar time. 3a : produced or operated by the action of sunlight or heat solar energy.
What is solar example?
Solar energy is often used for solar water heaters and home heating. The heat from solar ponds enables the production of chemicals, food, textiles, hot greenhouses, swimming pools and stables. Cooking and providing a power source for electronic devices can also be achieved by using solar energy.
What is the word solar come from?
-sola- comes from Latin, where it means “to soften.
Does solar mean sun?
The definition of solar energy refers to the sun, coming from the sun or depending on the sun. An example of solar energy used as an adjective is in the expression “solar energy”, which means energy that comes from the sun. Concerning the sun (the star Sol). Using or exploited by energy from the sun.