When we think about solar energy we tend to focus our attention on solar panels, those relatively inefficient pieces of pressed silicon that trap solar rays and convert them into energy. When you really consider that we are dealing with a massive chemical reactor that spits out mind-boggling amounts of ambient energy every second, you come to realize that this might be a slightly limited view on its potential for generating electricity.

But behold, the good people at MIT are providing us with a new way to look at our dear star’s productive capacity. Instead of capturing sunlight on panels, why not accumulate it in a chemical substrate? We already have a precedent for the gradual accumulation of solar energy over time, we call it fossil fuels.

Fascinating reading, especially for the sustainability set.

…the sun’s energy could theoretically be used in any number of ways. In fact, most of the forms of energy we recognize are, in some way, “solar” power. This includes coal and oil, which as fossil fuels contain ages’ worth of the sun’s energy accumulated as rich carbon over time. The same goes wind power, as heat from the sun is what drives wind currents.

Recently there have been some exciting advances in one decades-old idea for capturing and utilizing the sun’s energy, thanks to a team of MIT researchers lead by Jeffrey Grossman. The so-called “thermo-chemical approach” is described by MIT News Office’s David Chandler like so:

“solar energy is captured in the configuration of certain molecules which can then release the energy on demand to produce usable heat. And unlike conventional solar-thermal systems, which require very effective insulation and even then gradually let the heat leak away, the heat-storing chemicals can remain stable for years.

Read MIT Researcher Explains New “Third Way” Solar Innovation (Via GOOD) (Images)

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