15 votes

Scientists Create Liquid Fuel That Can Store The Sun's Energy For Up to 18 Years

2 comments

  1. Weldawadyathink
    Link
    I started this article with a very cynical mindset. After all, you can heat up any liquid and it can "store the sun's energy". Oil itself is even a very indirect store of the sun's energy. But...

    I started this article with a very cynical mindset. After all, you can heat up any liquid and it can "store the sun's energy". Oil itself is even a very indirect store of the sun's energy.

    But this material is fascinating. As a tl;dr, when heated, the molecule changes it's bonds into a higher energy state. Then it can be stored at room temperature and catalysed to get the energy back. It has twice the density of a Tesla powerwall. The reaction seems reversible indefinitely.

    I am curious about the thermal efficiency. Either the article doesn't mention it or I missed it. Either way, this technology seems truely revolutionary for the power industry.

    10 votes
  2. chromakode
    Link
    If they achieve the energy release temperature of 110°C we might see a new era of steampunk 😂

    If they achieve the energy release temperature of 110°C we might see a new era of steampunk 😂

    2 votes