As if solar cells weren't sustainable enough as they are, a new solar energy technique from engineers at the University of Chicago uses the sun's rays to convert carbon dioxide into usable fuel. This means that the system will simultaneously be powered by the sun, a renewable source of input energy, while removing environmentally harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The solar energy technique isn't a new idea, however. In fact, it's been in use for billions of years in the form of photosynthesis. Just like plants' leaves, the solar energy technique uses the sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide into fuel. For plants, that fuel is sugar, but with the new solar cell, the fuel is synthetic gas, or "syngas." This syngas can be burned directly for use in engines or converted into diesel.
CO2-Converting Solar Cells
This New Solar Energy Technique Turns CO2 into Usable Energy
Trend Themes
1. Carbon Conversion - A rising trend in sustainable energy is using solar cells to convert carbon dioxide into usable fuel.
2. Solar Energy Innovation - Engineers are developing new techniques to harness the sun's energy for more efficient and environmentally friendly power generation.
3. Syngas Utilization - The use and conversion of synthetic gas, or syngas, produced by solar cells is an emerging trend in renewable energy technologies.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry can explore the potential of solar cells to convert carbon dioxide into useful energy, leading to cleaner power generation.
2. Advanced Materials - The advanced materials industry can develop new materials for solar cells that enhance their efficiency in converting carbon dioxide into fuel.
3. Energy Storage - The energy storage industry can play a crucial role in storing the energy generated from the conversion of carbon dioxide into fuel by solar cells, ensuring a constant and reliable power supply.