Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

[SubGod22]

Researchers make remarkable breakthrough in battery technology capable of storing more power faster than before: 'These ... mean we need to produce fewer cells'

A 3D electrode design has seemingly unlocked new potential for Battolyser researchers. Their invention is a battery-electrolyser combination spawned in labs at the Netherlands' Delft University of Technology, according to the spinoff company's website.

Battolyser has been in development since 2013 with great potential to store renewable energy from the sun and wind while also creating so-called green hydrogen through electrolysis, per Delft.

Electrolysis uses electricity, in this case generated from renewables, to split hydrogen from water. It's a cleaner method than the more common approach that uses dirty energy sources, as described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The battery can store power for shorter-term use. Creating hydrogen provides power for longer storage. The latest improvement allows the device to store twice as much power four times faster than before, all per Delft and the company website.

"This aligns well with the needs of the green energy market in the future, as peaks in energy surplus and shortages typically occur over approximately four hours. During this time, both (dis)charging and hydrogen production must be realized," Battolyser inventor and professor Fokko Mulder, said in the lab report.

Battolyser can charge up to 82% in about 12 minutes, be discharged for up to four hours, and be toggled between functions. As a result, it can make hydrogen or electricity on demand, depending on market conditions. The versatility comes with fewer costly parts, Delft and a summary published by Cell Reports Physical Science noted.

This does seem pretty brilliant and could be a valuable tool down the road.

[SubGod22]

Scientists unveil futuristic battery material: 'Our discovery has made this concept a possible reality'

There's some positive news in advanced battery science thanks to hydrogen ions, or protons.

These positively charged particles can work inside a power pack to carry energy, similar to lithium ions but sans the expensive supply chain and invasive mining needed to gather the metal, according to a lab report from Australia's UNSW Sydney.

A linchpin to the invention is the development of an organic anode material called tetraamino-benzoquinone, or TABQ, which can store the protons.

When batteries operate, ions move between the anode and cathode through a substance called electrolyte.

"Using this material, we successfully built an all-organic proton battery that is effective at both room temperature and sub-zero freezing temperatures," professor Chuan Zhao said.

Lithium-ion batteries are effective and cleaner than dirty fuels. When powering an electric vehicle, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that the rides are cleaner during their lifespans than gas cars, even when considering the costly and dirty supply chain for the hard-to-gather power pack parts.

But alternatives, from potassium to salt, sometimes have cheaper, safer, and even better-performing potential in greater temperature ranges.

I think it's safe to say that we will transition away from lithium-ion at some point in the not too distant future. Will we use multiple types or will one of these alternatives to lithium win out?

[SubGod22]

Another push forward for hydrogen production.

Scientists make game-changing breakthrough that will speed up production of futuristic fuel source: 'A groundbreaking outcome'

Korean scientists have created a new composite catalyst of nickel and cobalt used in the production of turquoise hydrogen, leading to greater hydrogen production yields at lower energy expenses. This could help make turquoise hydrogen a viable clean energy source for the future.

Ironically, hydrogen is a colorless gas, but there is a whole color spectrum behind hydrogen production methods. Green hydrogen is the cleanest, produced through electrolysis, which splits water molecules using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower, as National Grid explains.

Blue hydrogen is produced using natural gas through a process called steam methane reforming, which produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Blue hydrogen isn't entirely clean, as it produces carbon dioxide — a gas that, in excess, traps heat and raises the temperature of the planet to dangerous levels.

Turquoise hydrogen falls somewhere between green and blue. Like blue hydrogen, turquoise hydrogen is also produced with natural gas, but the production process involves splitting methane gas at high — but more manageable — temperatures (around 900 degrees Celsius or 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit), per Tech Xplore. The process splits methane into hydrogen and carbon, but the temperature is "low" enough to keep carbon in its solid state, as opposed to its gas form.

Traditional methods require generating high temperatures — which uses significant energy — to produce turquoise hydrogen. For this reason, turquoise hydrogen has not been sustainable to produce or commercialize.

The new nickel-cobalt composite catalyst, developed by Dr. Woohyun Kim's hydrogen research team at the Korea Institute of Energy Research, lowers the temperature (and energy) required to produce turquoise hydrogen — by 300 degrees Celsius (540 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Interesting Engineering.

[SubGod22]

US firm to bury nuclear reactors 1-mile underground to power data centers

Offering a unique approach to powering data centers through nuclear energy, Deep Fission and Endeavour Energy have announced a strategic partnership. Their agreement plans to bury small modular reactors (SMRs) a mile underground.

“As part of the agreement, Endeavour and Deep Fission have committed to co-developing 2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear energy to power Endeavour’s expanding global portfolio of Edged data centers,” said Deep Fission in a press release. Notably, the first reactors are expected to be operational by 2029.

Offering a unique approach to powering data centers through nuclear energy, Deep Fission and Endeavour Energy have announced a strategic partnership. Their agreement plans to bury small modular reactors (SMRs) a mile underground.

“As part of the agreement, Endeavour and Deep Fission have committed to co-developing 2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear energy to power Endeavour’s expanding global portfolio of Edged data centers,” said Deep Fission in a press release. Notably, the first reactors are expected to be operational by 2029.

This method takes advantage of the natural geological properties at that depth. The earth provides robust containment and constant pressure. This eliminates the need for the massive concrete structures typically used for containment in aboveground nuclear reactors.

This approach offers several advantages. It significantly reduces the cost of construction and minimizes the environmental impact by decreasing the surface footprint of the reactor.

“Our technology not only ensures the highest levels of safety but also positions us to deliver zero-carbon continuous power at a cost of just 5-7 cents per kWh,” added Elizabeth Muller, Co-Founder and CEO of Deep Fission.

Furthermore, it enhances safety by utilizing the natural geological features as a barrier.

This is interesting. I'd like to know a little more about how it all works, but I like what I hear so far. SMRs already have a much smaller footprint than traditional nuclear sites and far less than most other green energy options. Reducing that even more I'd consider a positive, and if this can be maintained safely and effectively it has a lot of potential down the road.