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WASHINGTON, DC, US, August 31, 2005 (Refocus
Weekly)
Solar power provides only one-millionth of the
world’s total supply of electricity, and biomass provides less than
0.1% of the total energy consumed around the globe, according to a
report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“Sunlight provides by far the largest of all carbon-neutral
energy sources,” with more energy from the sun striking the earth in
one hour than all the energy consumed on the planet in a year,
explains ‘The Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization.’
The report was produced by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences in
DOE's Office of Science following a workshop earlier this year, at
which 200 scientists from the United States, Europe and Asia
examined the challenges to developing solar energy as a competitive
energy source.
“The huge gap between our present use of solar energy and its
enormous undeveloped potential defines a grand challenge in energy
research,” it notes. “Sunlight is a compelling solution to our need
for clean, abundant sources of energy in the future. It is readily
available, secure from geopolitical tension, and poses no threat to
our environment through pollution or to our climate through
greenhouse gases.”
“World demand for energy is projected to more than double by 2050
and to more than triple by the end of the century,” it explains.
“Incremental improvements in existing energy networks will not be
adequate to supply this demand sustainably. Finding sufficient
supplies of clean energy for the future is one of society’s most
daunting challenges.”
The report describes the basic research that is needed to produce
"revolutionary progress in bringing solar energy to its full
potential in the energy marketplace,” and explains that progress in
research could lead to artificial ‘molecular machines’ that turn
sunlight into chemical fuel; ‘smart materials’ based on nature's
ability to transfer captured solar energy with no energy loss;
self-repairing solar conversion systems; devices that absorb all
colours in the solar spectrum for energy conversion; more efficient
solar cells using nanotechnologies; and new materials for
high-capacity, slow-release thermal storage.
“The tax credits contained in the historic energy bill signed by
President Bush will greatly help expand the use of renewable
energy,” says Raymond Orbach of DOE's Office of Science. “This
research will help improve a critical component of renewable energy,
solar technology, in the future.”
“Increasing the use of renewable energy is a clear way to help meet
our growing energy needs using environmentally-friendly power
sources,” says Orbach. “Science and basic research can and must play
a key role in addressing the energy security needs of our nation.”
Workshop participants considered the potential of solar electric,
solar fuels and solar thermal systems, and identified 13 priority
research directions. Research directions include coaxing cheap
materials to perform as well as expensive materials; developing new
solar cell designs that surpass traditional efficiency limits;
finding catalysts that enable inexpensive, efficient conversion of
solar energy into chemical fuels; and developing materials for solar
energy conversion infrastructure, such as transparent conductors and
robust, inexpensive thermal management materials.
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