Suncatcher

One of the big challenges for increasing the contribution of solar power to the global energy mix is storage. Power from solar cells needs to be extracted just as it is produced, but we don't always blow-dry out hair when the sun is shining. This necessitates expensive infrastructure for stockpiling the energy until it is used. For this episode of the science ramble, we look at a recent paper which reports on a new type of solar device which can be charged in the light and discharged in the dark. Further reading ----------------------- The original paper covered in this episode: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.217401 A short, accessible summary on the research: https://physics.aps.org/articles/v14/163 A recent review into the economics of solar power: https://oxfordre.com/environmentalscience/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.001.0001/acrefore-9780199389414-e-491