Let’s Talk About Solar Fuels
Photo Credit: mattwalker69 - 91957046 via photopin (license)
This week I am trying something different here on my Science, Tech, Health blog. Instead of writing an article about a specific research study, I will be using a couple resources I received from Dr. Dick T. Co—a Chicagoland chemistry and solar energy specialist—to explain the basics of solar fuels.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending his public presentation titled, “Solar Fuels: New Pathways for Customers, Utilities, and Energy Companies to Interact and Innovate” (sponsored by Science Cafe Northwestern|Northwestern University). My main goal was to learn more about the science behind solar energy, and thanks to the guidance of Dr. Co, I’ve learned a great deal.
According to one of the two sources he shared with me, the United States, the Netherlands, South Korea, China, and Japan are working alongside each other to create advanced innovations in the renewable energy field on a global scale. Even though they are all working towards one goal, different scientific and mechanical methods are being used to determine the best long-term product.
So, what are solar fuels and why are they important?
The Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research broadly defines solar fuels as the material produced when water and carbon dioxide is transformed into fuel via solar energy (https://www.differ.nl/research/solar-fuels). Does this process sound familiar to you? It should!
For over 50 years, scientists have tried to mimic and enhance nature’s photosynthesis technique to create solar fuels. (Kudos to you if you made the connection!)
Currently, there are three approaches which they study and use to produce these natural fuels:
Artificial photosynthesis— harvests sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into hydrogen and carbon based fuels (e.g. carbon monoxide, methane, methanol)
Natural photosynthesis— studied to research the photosynthetic structures in living organisms such as bacteria and algae; gathered information is then used to design materials and technologies that mimic natural photosynthesis
Thermochemical production— uses sunlight to heat materials to create reactions (steam- or carbon dioxide-based) which produce hydrogen or carbon monoxide
These approaches to further understand the basis of photosynthesis and the production of solar fuel are immensely important because the energy produced from the sun’s rays will significantly lessen our reliance on oil, natural gas, and coal—otherwise known as fossil fuels.
Since these nonrenewable resources require and even displace a great deal of energy, new technologies designed for trapping and storing released carbon dioxide should be constructed to assist future sustainable energy developments, such as fuel cell technologies which convert energy to electricity.
Members within the scientific community have had major breakthroughs in:
Understanding microscopic mechanisms in natural photosynthesis and the processes of chemical reactions
Developing technologies that gather sunlight and use the collected energy to create electricity
Nanotechnology advancement and new energy components (e.g. fuel cells, carbon capture and storage)
However, there are of course some challenges associated with the extensive manufacturing of solar fuels. For example, finding suitable, dependable, and robust materials to build solar energy systems may be hard to cost-effectively acquire and maintain due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Furthermore, newly engineered technologies are needed to provide energy storage and proper distribution of solar power.
So, what’s the bottom line about the future of solar fuels?
To benefit from solar fuels in the coming years, we would first need to integrate it with other types of renewable energy until we meticulously construct a reliable system which is durable, efficient, and economical for future use.
Bonus Material
Check out this informative video on how solar energy is turned into electricity and the future of solar power from DNews! It focuses on some hard science aspects, but it's fairly easy to understand the big picture. (Published April 2015)
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Source: "Solar Fuels and Artificial Photosynthesis- Science and innovation to change our future energy options." RSC|Advancing the Chemical Sciences. January 2012. 3-11. (PDF: http://www.rsc.org/images/Solar-fuels_tcm18-221433.pdf)
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