While sustainable solar energy can potentially meet our global power needs, it has one major flaw. When sunlight disappears, solar panels stop generating electricity. The problem is that while they do an excellent job of converting light into power, they are not so good at storing the energy they collect.

To prove that their innovation works, the team ran several tests. In a solar simulator, it achieved a photothermal efficiency of 91.27%, meaning almost all the light hitting it became usable heat.

  • Quilotoa@lemmy.ca
    8·
    17 days ago

    The problem is that turning heat to electricity using thermoelectric generators is hugely ineffecient. And there wouldn’t be enough heat produced to create steam for steam turbines.

    • ageownage@slrpnk.net
      2·
      15 days ago

      You are right, it would be nearly useless to generate electricity, but it could be use to save some. IIRC, heating of water and the home account for roughly 20% of power consumption. Harnessing that heat could help supplement those systems, thus saving a little electricity.