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Researchers have devised a way to extract energy from the photosynthesis process of algae, according to an announcement from Concordia University.

Suspended in a specialized solution, the algae forms part of a "micro photosynthetic power cell" that can actually generate enough energy to power low-power devices like Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.

> Photosynthesis produces oxygen and electrons. Our model traps the electrons, which allows us to generate electricity," [says Kirankumar Kuruvinashetti, PhD 20, now a Mitacs postdoctoral associate at the University of Calgary.] "So more than being a zero-emission technology, it's a negative carbon emission technology: it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and gives you a current. Its only byproduct is water.

> [...] Muthukumaran Packirisamy, professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering and the paper's corresponding author, admits the system is not yet able to compete in power generation with others like photovoltaic cells. The maximum possible terminal voltage of a single micro photosynthetic power cell is only 1.0V. But he believes that, with enough research and development, including artificial intelligence-assisted integration technologies, this technology has the potential to be a viable, affordable and clean power source in the future.

> It also offers significant manufacturing advantages over other systems, he says. "Our system does not use any of the hazardous gases or microfibres needed for the silicon fabrication technology that photovoltaic cells rely on. Furthermore, disposing of silicon computer chips is not easy. We use biocompatible polymers, so the whole system is easily decomposable and very cheap to manufacture.

In the paper the researchers also described it as a âoemicrobial fuel cellâ...

Abstract credit: https://slashdot.org/story/429671

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/17201348

Archived copy of the article

California is cranking out impressive numbers for clean energy production, with its combined wind, solar, and hydro power exceeding demand on 91 of 102 days up to and including June 16.

"Quantum dot technology has been in TVs for years, so why isn’t it already in solar panels? Well, there are a few challenges. If we can engineer around these challenges, then these little devices could have a BIG impact - breaking the limits of our current solar panels, and ushering in a new and radically more efficient age of solar energy."

cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/14787358

> This is exciting right? If we can turn skyscrapers into massive power generators, that's huge!

Solar photovoltaic energy is riding the wave of the future. Gas and oil have powered the previous hundred years of economic and industrial development, but demand for solar energy is growing even faster than China’s investment in green energy. Seven massive solar energy companies in China are building enough solar power that it has begun to overtake the energy reserves of the seven largest oil companies. The largest of them, Tongwei Co., builds enough solar panels in a year to power all of Italy.

Translation:

Germany will be able to erect more wind turbines in the North and Baltic Seas over the next ten years than originally planned. Instead of the legally stipulated 40 gigawatts of capacity, areas for 50 gigawatts will be available by 2035, as the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on Friday. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has identified these areas in its new area development plan. By 2037, there will be space for 60 gigawatts.

"The draft of the area development plan shows that offshore wind energy is also a key pillar in the transformation of the energy system in the long term," said Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens). According to the plan, there is even space for 60 gigawatts by 2037. Around more than half of these are so-called acceleration areas. These are particularly favourable locations for construction, the wind turbines have a comparatively low environmental impact and can be erected with faster approval procedures.

The 60 gigawatts would bring us close to Germany's long-term target of 70 gigawatts, which is to be achieved by 2045. By then, Germany wants to produce no more CO2 at all, which requires corresponding energy capacities from renewables.

> The world's largest solar farm, in the desert in northwestern Xinjiang, is now connected to China's grid. The 3.5-gigawatt (GW), 33,000-acre solar farm is outside Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital. The state asset regulator's website cited the Power Construction Corp of China and said it came online on Monday. The solar farm will generate about 6.09 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. Assuming an EV consumes about 3,000 kWh per year, 6.09 billion kWh could power 2.03 million EVs annually.

> The world's largest solar farm in Xinjiang is part of China's megabase project, a plan to install 455 GW of wind and solar. The megabase projects are sited in sparsely populated, resource-rich areas and send their generated energy to major urban centers, such as on China's eastern seaboard. China now boasts the three largest solar farms in the world by capacity. The Ningxia Tenggeli and Golmud Wutumeiren solar farms, each with a capacity of 3 MW, are already online.