Cool MIT Solar Power Discovery - The Hull Truth

paulyjsob · 08-13-2008, 07:22 AM

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html

RickyR · 08-13-2008, 07:31 AM

That looks interesting..
He better hide from big oil...

They may find him and

paulyjsob · 08-13-2008, 07:37 AM

That's what I was thinking!! I won't feel safe.

LI Sound Grunt · 08-13-2008, 08:26 AM

If those catalysts really work they may be on to something! Although we still may be better putting the money into reducing the costs of current (pun intended) photovoltaic cells. If you can get that cost down you can store in some of the other low tech energy storage systems. Anyway, uisng fuel cells to store energy for stationary sources or electric cars makes more sense than fuel cells in the cars where you need new distribution systems.

happyjack92 · 08-13-2008, 08:45 AM

that is cool stuff.

i have a buddy who follows the energy market very closely for an equity firm. based on his research and market analysis he is predicting that the costs and pricing for solar related hardwares, i.e. photovoltaic cells, will hit a cliff in the next 12-18 months. according to him, although a very different product, the model we saw with high-def televisions is very analogous -- lots of money pouring into research and capitalization of manufacturing and the supply chain will eventually create the competition needed to see the prices start coming down to a level affordable by joe six-pack. break-thrus like this one from MIT could even accelerate my buddy's prediction. i'd love to see it come true -- i have a two-acre field on my property with a clear southern exposure...i could have the neighbors buying electricty from me!

Flot · 08-13-2008, 08:52 AM

This article seems pretty fishy.

First of all, as far as I can tell, all they are claiming to do is to have come up with a new process for electrolysis of water. They haven't done anything to solar power, except come up with allegedly a good way to "convert excess electrical energy" into hydrogen.

Maybe they have a great system but it is not improving solar power. I am pretty sure a better thing to do with your excess energy is to sell it to someone that needs it.

This line is good: "It still requires excess electricity to start the water-splitting reaction, energy that isn't recovered and stored in the fuel"

Here is the real benefit: "Currently, MIT is working with photovoltaic cell manufacturers to incorporate electrolysis using their catalyst into solar energy systems. By combining the two, excess capacity during the day could be stored as hydrogen and oxygen, then used in fuel cells at night when needed. "

All they are saying is that if you have excess electrical power lying around, you can convert it into Hydrogen and Oxygen, and then you just feed that into the fuel cell in your basement to power your house at night. Well that's just dandy, but not very practical. For one it assume you'd have excess electrical power during the day. It also assumes that you have a way to store the hydrogen and oxygen. Oh and you have a fuel cell too right?

Long term it may be a GREAT solution for generating hydrogen gas (they claim very high efficiency numbers) but until we have a way to use that hydrogen gas...

GravyBoat · 08-13-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Flot - 8/13/2008 7:52 AM

This article seems pretty fishy.

First of all, as far as I can tell, all they are claiming to do is to have come up with a new process for electrolysis of water. They haven't done anything to solar power, except come up with allegedly a good way to "convert excess electrical energy" into hydrogen.

Maybe they have a great system but it is not improving solar power. I am pretty sure a better thing to do with your excess energy is to sell it to someone that needs it.

This line is good: "It still requires excess electricity to start the water-splitting reaction, energy that isn't recovered and stored in the fuel"

Here is the real benefit: "Currently, MIT is working with photovoltaic cell manufacturers to incorporate electrolysis using their catalyst into solar energy systems. By combining the two, excess capacity during the day could be stored as hydrogen and oxygen, then used in fuel cells at night when needed. "

All they are saying is that if you have excess electrical power lying around, you can convert it into Hydrogen and Oxygen, and then you just feed that into the fuel cell in your basement to power your house at night. Well that's just dandy, but not very practical. For one it assume you'd have excess electrical power during the day. It also assumes that you have a way to store the hydrogen and oxygen. Oh and you have a fuel cell too right?

Long term it may be a GREAT solution for generating hydrogen gas (they claim very high efficiency numbers) but until we have a way to use that hydrogen gas...

Its not new, its just a cheaper more efficient way of storing unused solar power without the losses you currently get by going to a battery or on-grid method.