Thursday, July 18, 2019

Science & Technology: Geothermal Battery Claims to Generate Electric Power at less than 100 Degrees Celsius

Could the heat of the Earth’s crust become the ultimate energy source? (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology and Sanoh Industrial created a very stable battery cell with the potential to directly turn heat into electricity, thus ultimately offering a method for making use of geothermal energy in a sustainable manner.

Generating electricity from geothermal energy requires devices that can somehow make use of the heat within the Earth's crust. Recently, a team of scientists at Tokyo Tech, led by Dr. Sachiko Matsushita, have made great progress in the understanding and development of sensitized thermal cells (STCs), a kind of battery that can generate electric power at 100℃ or less.

The team is very excited about their discovery because of its applicability, eco-friendliness, and potential for helping solve the global energy crisis. "There is no fear of radiation, no fear of expensive oil, no instability of power generation like when relying on the sun or the wind," remarks Matsushita. Further refinements to this type of battery will be the aim of future research, with the hope of one day solving humanity's energy needs without harming our planet.

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