{"id":327,"date":"2021-03-08T07:42:15","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T07:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/?p=327"},"modified":"2021-03-08T07:42:15","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T07:42:15","slug":"scientists-have-discovered-a-way-to-store-solar-energy-for-several-years-without-the-need-for-electronic-components","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/scientists-have-discovered-a-way-to-store-solar-energy-for-several-years-without-the-need-for-electronic-components\/","title":{"rendered":"RESEARCHERS DISCOVER MATERIAL CAN STORE SOLAR ENERGY FOR YEARS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scientists have discovered a way to store\u00a0solar energy<\/a>\u00a0for several years without the need for electronic components.<\/p>

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After studying a type of crystalline material commonly used for desalinating or filtering water, researchers at the Lancaster University realized it was an extremely effective method of capturing and storing the sun\u2019s energy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The breakthrough paves the way for a whole new range of applications where batteries or other existing technologies are either impractical or too expensive.<\/p>

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The material could be used as a coating on buildings to store summer energy that can then be released as heat in the winter, for example.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Another potential application, the researchers said, would be as a thin, transparent film on car windows and windshields that could quickly de-ice them on freezing-cold mornings.<\/p>

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Remote locations or off-grid systems could also benefit from the material\u2019s ability to store energy for long periods of time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe material functions a bit like phase change materials, which are used to supply heat in hand warmers,\u201d said Dr. John Griffin from Lancaster University, who was the joint principal investigator of the study.<\/p>\n

“However, while hand warmers need to be heated in order to recharge them, the nice thing about this material is that it captures \u2018free\u2019 energy directly from the sun.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt also has no moving or electronic parts and so there are no losses involved in the storage and release of the solar<\/a> energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The energy collected by the material is stored in a similar way to a compressed spring, meaning it can be released very quickly when required.<\/p>\n

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A small amount of heat can be applied to the material as a \u201ctrigger\u201d in order to release the energy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The research team was able to store solar energy in the material for four months at room temperature, but estimate it could hold a charge for up to four-and-a-half years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The research is outlined in a paper published in the journal\u00a0Chemistry Materials<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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