MIT researchers have apparently broken-down what has long been a major obstacle to large-scale solar power: the efficient storage of energy for use when there is a solar deficit. It may well be a revolutionary advancement that could change solar power electricity from a marginal power alternative to traditional electricity generation into a mainstream energy source.
Because storing solar generated electricity has traditionally been prohibitively expensive and very inefficient, solar power has been largely limited to a daytime-only energy source. MIT researchers have apparently developed a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy that requires nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials. If this announcement is accurate, it represents a major advancement for the complete solar power house.
Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. For additional details and a video on the announcement please click here: MIT News