Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

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More news in the area of battery storage.

Scientists Turn Industrial Waste into Batteries for Storing Renewable Energy

A team at Northwestern University has transformed an industrial waste product into a battery for storing sustainable energy.

While many iterations of these batteries are in production or being researched for grid-scale applications, using a waste molecule, in this case, triphenylphosphine oxide, (TPPO) has never been done before.

The batteries used in our phones, devices, and even cars rely on metals like lithium and cobalt, sourced through intensive and sometimes exploitative mining operations. Demand for these critical minerals is expected to skyrocket over the next few decades.

At the same time, thousands of tons of the well-known chemical byproduct TPPO are produced each year by many organic industrial synthesis processes, including the production of vitamin supplements, but it is rendered useless and must be carefully discarded following production.

In a paper published last week in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a ‘one-pot’ reaction allows chemists to turn TPPO into a usable product with the powerful potential to store energy, opening the door for the future viability of a long-imagined battery type called “redox flow” batteries.

“Battery research has traditionally been dominated by engineers and materials scientists,” said Northwestern chemist and lead author Christian Malapit. “Synthetic chemists can contribute to the field by molecularly engineering an organic waste product into an energy-storing molecule. Our discovery showcases the potential of transforming waste compounds into valuable resources, offering a sustainable pathway for innovation in battery technology.”

The market for redox flow batteries is expected to rise by 15% between 2023 and 2030 to reach a value of $720 million worldwide. Unlike lithium and other solid-state batteries which store energy in electrodes, redox flow batteries use a chemical reaction to pump energy back and forth between electrolytes, where their energy is stored. Though not as efficient at energy storage, redox flow batteries are thought to be much better solutions for energy storage, if not in our cell phones, at the scale of the grid itself.

Using anything and everything possible to improve usage and lower waste is a positive.

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I love when someone finds a way to utilize something in the positive that has been creating chaos or other negative effects.

Alien Water Hyacinth is Lethal for Lakes - But it's Being Turned into Biodegradable Plastic Bags and Pots

The most invasive species on Earth is not a mouse or boar, but the water hyacinth.

Blooming in an ornamental pond, the water hyacinth seems lovely and harmless, but look at how it can take over freshwater ecosystems like Kenya’s Lake Naivasha, and one can understand why the UN set up a program specifically to combat this aquatic plant.

Connecting environmental work with business, low-income rural villagers with jobs, and incentives with issues, Hyapak Ecotech Limited is turning this plant pest into plastic that biodegrades.

When the water hyacinth spreads across Lake Naivasha, (a phenomenon that can be seen from space) it chokes the life out of many native species. Casting a net or line into the waters beneath is a hopeless exercise for local fishermen who rely on native fish for income. CNN reports that, entering a hyacinth patch, a man became so entangled it took a government helicopter to free him.

As long as the hyacinth is destroying the livelihood of the fishermen, HyaPak offers to pay them for as much hyacinth as they want to collect. It’s then dried, processed, and turned into biodegradable alternatives to single-use disposable plastic products like wrappers, straws, tumblers, and party plates.

Thusly incentivized, locals have so far cleared around 47 acres of water hyacinth from the lake.

HyaPak founder Joseph Nguthiru embarked on his entrepreneurial journey after taking a trip on Lake Naivasha and getting moored in the hyacinth for 5 hours. At the time, the Kenyan economy was adjusting to a government decision to ban single-use plastic items. No domestic supply of alternative products was available, and plastic shopping bags became a common item of choice for smugglers.

Looks like the program is also being used in Germany and the US and will be moving to India and El Salvador as well.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Virginia Sets Date for First Nuclear Fusion Plant in the U.S. to Produce Emission-Free Electricity

In a bold step towards the future of energy, a location and date have been decided for the first commercial nuclear fusion power plant in America.

Secured by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin with help from eastern seaboard utility company Dominion Energy, Chesterfield County will welcome Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ experimental ARC plant on the site of a decommissioned coal power plant.

Founded on the campus of MIT in Boston, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is one of the world’s leaders in advancing the quest for commercial nuclear fusion energy—the ultimate energy source for humanity which replicates the process that forged our Sun to create emission-free, pollution-free energy.

Work will begin on the ARC plant next year, even before a smaller, prototype reactor is finished in Fort Devons, Massachusetts.

“Dominion will provide us with development and technical expertise while we’ll provide them with knowledge about how to build and operate fusion power plants,” said CFS chief executive officer Bob Mumgaard.

Governor Youngkin said Virginia managed to attract CFS over 100 other global locations. Receiving $2 billion in funding from an estimated 60 private investors that include Google and the Italian oil and gas giant Eni, CFS hasn’t suggested a price for the ARC plant, but Engineering News Record quoted outlets putting the figure around $3 billion; significantly less than the ITER fusion reactor in Europe.

CFS said the development of Northern Virginia as an artificial intelligence and data center hub of the East Coast attracted them to the Chesterfield site. The first component of the ARC plant will be the fusion complex, and is slated to be finished in 2026.

Nuclear is the way.

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Pretty cool and painless way of helping dry forests thrive.

'Milking' the Air for Water: Zero-Energy Technique Doubles Survival Rate for Young Trees to Reforest After Fires

In the Canary Islands, in Barcelona, and in Chile, a unique fog catcher design is sustaining dry forests with water without emissions, or even infrastructure.

Replicating how pine needles catch water, the structure need only be brought on-site and set up, without roads, powerlines, or irrigation channels.

Fog catching is an ancient practice—renamed “cloud milking” by an EU-funded ecology project on the Canary Islands known as LIFE Nieblas (nieblas means fog).

“In recent years, the Canaries have undergone a severe process of desertification and we’ve lost a lot of forest through agriculture. And then in 2007 and 2009, as a result of climate change, there were major fires in forested areas that are normally wet,” said Gustavo Viera, the technical director of the publicly-funded project in the Canaries.

The Canaries routinely experience blankets of fog that cloak the islands’ slopes and forests, but strong winds made fog-catching nets an unfeasible solution. In regions such as the Atacama Desert in Chile or the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, erecting nets that capture moisture particles out of passing currents of fog is a traditional practice.

LIFE Nieblas needed a solution that could resist powerful winds, and to that end designed wind chime-like rows of artificial pine needles, which are also great at plucking moisture from the air. However, unlike nets or palms, they efficiently let the wind pass through them.

The water is discharged without any electricity. There are no irrigation channels, and no machinery is needed to transport the structures. The natural course of streams and creeks need not be altered, nor is there a need to drill down to create wells. The solution is completely carbon-free.

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I've wondered how this would end up working. Apparently it's working better than I would have expected.

Another Study Shows Incredible Results of Pairing Solar Panels With Agriculture: 'Getting more from the land'

Another study has shown that combining solar panels with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, while conserving water and generating renewable energy for areas vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown.

Research led by the University of Sheffield reveals that ‘agrivoltaics’—the practice of using the same land for farming and producing solar electricity—leads to greater crop yields with less water, compared to crops grown in open fields.

The international team, which included the University of Arizona, along with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), found certain crops, such as maize, Swiss chard and beans, thrived under the partial shade provided by solar panels.

The shade helped to reduce water loss through evaporation, while additionally using the rainwater harvested from the panels to supplement irrigation needs.

“Imagine a future where farms are powered by clean energy and crops are more resilient to climate change,” said senior author of the study, Professor Sue Hartley from the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences and Vice-President for Research and Innovation.

“Agrivoltaics can make this vision a reality by offering a sustainable solution to the pressing challenges of food insecurity, water scarcity, and energy.”

“By shading crops with solar panels, we created a microclimate that helped certain crops produce more, but they were also better able to survive heat waves—and the shade helped conserve water, which is crucial in a region severely threatened by climate change.”

Beyond increased crop yields and water conservation, the study showed agrivoltaics can also provide a reliable source of clean energy for rural communities. Off-grid solar power systems can power homes, businesses, and agricultural equipment, improving the quality of life for many.

Additionally, vegetation growing underneath a solar panel has been shown in multiple studies to keep the panel cooler, thereby allowing it to generate electricity more efficiently.

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This is interesting.

Ferries, Planes Line up to Purchase 'Solar Diesel' a Cutting-Edge Low-Carbon Fuel from Swiss Start-Up

From Switzerland comes a new technology that aims to decarbonize the transportation methods we use right now.

Through a thermochemical process driven 100% by solar power, the energy startup Synhelion can synthesize gasoline, diesel, kerosene, or any other fossil fuel currently in use.

Their colloquially termed ‘solar fuels’ are carbon neutral, as they emit only as much CO2 as was used in their production, compared to fossil fuels that come from deep underground and add to the global carbon cycle.

The technology that powers the DAWN solar fuel plant pictured above relies on concentrated solar radiation reflected from a bank of mirrors into a receiver that creates temperatures as high as 1,500C°. This not only powers the production of fuels through synthesizing H20 and CO2, but also is fed into a storage system that powers the production after dark.

Launched in 2016, Synhelion has needed some time to get its feet under itself, but with its first industrial-scale plant in operation, transportation services are starting to take notice.

In September, Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft signed a five-year agreement with Synhelion that includes a commitment to purchase solar kerosene for their aircraft starting in 2027. Under the agreement, Pilatus will acquire 200 tons of solar fuel per year.

Just 8 days later, Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SVG) and Synhelion announced an identical five-year agreement for 100 tons per year. The company’s iconic steamboats, integral to Lake Lucerne’s landscape for over a century, were originally powered by coal and later by heating oil.

There's a four minute video at the bottom of the article. The cool thing about this is it doesn't require any changes to current engines in order to use.

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More solar progress.

Transparent solar cells generate power 1000x more efficiently than traditional panels

Solar energy has become a beacon of sustainability, yet traditional solar panels remain limited in their applications due to size, rigidity, and opacity.

These constraints have long restricted solar technology to specific settings like rooftops or open fields. However, recent advances in transparent solar cells (TSCs) promise a transformative leap, offering the potential to harvest solar energy from unexpected surfaces like windows, vehicles, and even human skin.

Conventional solar cells, despite their efficiency, disrupt aesthetics and limit functional integration with everyday structures. Transparent solar cells, especially the latest innovation termed near-invisible solar cells (NISCs), overcome these challenges.

With an average visible transparency (AVT) exceeding 70%—and in some cases reaching 79%—these cells blend seamlessly into their environment while efficiently generating energy.

One of the key breakthroughs enabling this advancement lies in the use of two-dimensional (2D) materials like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These materials are known for their ultra-thin structures, exceptional light absorption capabilities, and tunable band gaps in the visible light range.

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Spin-powered crystals could boost clean hydrogen production 200 times

Hydrogen is increasingly seen as an important element in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Now, researchers have discovered a new approach to improve the efficiency of water splitting, a process that produces clean hydrogen fuel.

Max Planck Institute researchers used a special type of crystal called topological chiral crystals.

These crystals, with their unique chiral structure, possess extraordinary quantum properties. They can manipulate the spin of electrons, allowing for a highly efficient water-splitting process.

“By leveraging the unique spin properties of electrons, we’ve created a catalyst that outperforms traditional materials by a factor of 200,” said Binghai Yan.

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Things like this make some sense on smaller scales and can be quite the benefit outside of just the pollution aspect.

Officials launch futuristic train connecting two major US cities — here are some of its major perks

Zero-emission electric train service is now available between San Francisco and San Jose.

As Electrek reported, the Caltrain no longer runs on diesel fuel and is fully electric.

This rail corridor has existed since 1863. Federal, state, and local partners helped to fund the train electrification project, and Stadler built the trains in Salt Lake City and tested them at high speeds to comply with Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.

Not only does the new train run on clean energy, but its service is now also faster and more frequent. The trains run every 15 to 20 minutes during peak times, and the ride can take less than an hour.

Other perks of the new electric cars include a quieter ride, more under-seat storage, free Wi-Fi, and additional seat power outlets.

These updates are significant because they encourage more people to ride the train for their commutes. More rides translate to fewer polluting vehicles on the roads and less pollution in the air.

Clean, quiet, and efficient. All good things.

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This is how solar should be utilized.

RV Business - Airxcel's RV Products Adds Rooftop Solar to Kansas Facility

RV Products, a division of Airxcel that includes Coleman-Mach, Maxxair and Solace, has made significant strides in its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility by installing solar panels at its facility in Wichita, Kan., according to a release.

Earlier in 2024, the company undertook a major expansion of its facility, during which it installed an impressive array of 72 solar cell panels. This ambitious project is a key component of RV Products’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and promoting renewable energy sources.

The solar power system became operational in October 2024. Since then, it has been operational for approximately one and a half months, during which it has already begun to make a substantial impact. The newly established solar farm is now generating a substantial portion of the facility’s total power requirements. This development marks a significant milestone in RV Products’ journey towards sustainable energy solutions and reflects the company’s dedication to integrating eco-friendly practices into its operations.

“This is just one part of our efforts to utilize renewable energy sources,” said Rob Leach, division president for RV Products. “We’ve installed LED lights throughout the facility and are also looking at filling our own propane tanks to reduce the waste of dumping cylinders. At RV Products, we are dedicated to investing in innovation and sustainability to help elevate the RV industry.”

Leach also emphasized, “For over five decades, we have been a proud member of the Wichita community, continuously innovating and investing in our shared future. Our new solar panels represent not just a leap forward in sustainable technology, but also our unwavering commitment to supporting the community that has supported us since 1967. We are excited to bring cleaner energy solutions to Wichita, reinforcing our dedication to both environmental stewardship and local growth.”

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Interesting potential within geothermal.

Superhot rock energy could power geothermal systems anywhere

Geothermal energy holds the potential to provide abundant renewable energy at equivalent cost to fossil fuels, and targeted investments could quickly speed its development, according to a new report from Cornell researchers and the nonprofit Clean Air Task Force (CATF).

The "Gaps, Challenges, and Pathways Forward for Superhot Rock Energy" reports explore current and emerging technologies to expand geothermal energy and identify priority areas for research investments.

Subject experts explore technology gaps and strategies to overcome them in drilling, well construction, heat extraction, power production and siting. The siting report is co-authored by Seth Saltiel, assistant research professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, a shared department in the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Chanmaly Chhun, a postdoctoral associate in Saltiel's lab; Pascal Caraccioli Salinas, a doctoral student in Saltiel's lab, and colleagues at Cascade Institute.

Conventional geothermal energy systems are limited to regions where concentrated heat exists near the Earth's surface, especially near the boundaries of tectonic plates where the crust is thinner and volcanic activity provides heat. However, next-generation technologies seek to make geothermal energy possible almost anywhere.