SSF Future Research Leader Grant
NewsPosted by Kasper Moth-Poulsen Fri, November 08, 2013 19:39:04The Swedish Strategic Research Foundation (SSF) has decided to support our molecular solar thermal work through a 10 M SEK "future research leader" grant.Utilization of solar energy in either photovoltaic or solar
thermal power generation is limited by the inherent challenge of intermittency
and load leveling. In these power generation systems, development of large
scale electrical and thermal energy storage technologies that would mitigate
these constraints has been challenging. In conventional oil- and coal-based
power generation, energy that has been stored over geological time scales in
the form of chemical bonds is released by combustion ‘‘on demand’’. A great
deal of current scientific research effort is devoted to mimicking these
processes on a shorter time scale by the creation of solar fuels via the
splitting of water to form H2 and O2, or similar schemes
to produce alcohols and other fuels from CO2. In this context, a
closed cycle that reversibly stores energy upon exposure to sunlight (a
photochemical reaction), followed by a second, on demand reaction, that
generates heat and regenerates the original reactant, is very attractive as a
renewable storage media for solar energy.
The aim of this project is to explore such molecular systems that allow for direct conversion of solar energy into storable chemical energy in a molecular based material, so-called molecular solar thermal (MOST).
The MOST energy storage process is reversible with full
reuse of the materials in a closed cycle, meaning that it is 100% emission free
and pollution free, once the materials has been manufactured and the devices
installed.
the news about the funding has be featured in the local Swedish newspapers:
http://www.gp.se/nyheter/goteborg/1.2168507-10-miljoner-till-chalmersforskare
http://www.goteborgdaily.se/chalmers-researcher-receives-sek-10-million
Kasper
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