Batteries aren’t perfect, they have their shortcomings. For instance, they are made of scarce minerals often obtained through unsustainable mining practices. When dumped, they release harmful chemicals into the environment and have limited lifespans.
When it comes to energy storage, although we currently rely heavily on batteries, we need a much greener and cleaner solution. One such promising avenue is thermal energy (electrical) storage (TES) systems, which store electricity as thermal energy by converting it into heat, which can later be converted back into electricity when needed.
TES require low-cost materials, have much longer lifespans compared to batteries, and are easier to scale up for grid-sized systems. They can stabilize renewable energy grids by storing extra solar or wind power when it’s available and supplying it during peak demand.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a highly efficient thermal emitter that can contribute to the development of practical and scalable TES systems. A thermal emitter is the key component in TES that absorbs heat, gets hot and converts heat into electromagnetic radiation, which is then captured by a photovoltaic cell to generate electricity.
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