hybrid technology efficiently generates electricity and stores thermal energy” title=”MOST-PV hybrid device. Credit: Paulius Baronas” width=”800″ height=”530″/>
Revolutionizing Solar Energy: The MOST-PV Hybrid Device
A groundbreaking innovation from an international research group, spearheaded by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC), introduces a unique hybrid system that synergizes molecular solar thermal energy storage with traditional silicon photovoltaic technology. Notably, this pioneering device has achieved a remarkable energy storage efficiency of 2.3%, alongside an impressive total solar energy utilization rate of 14.9%.
The Need for Enhanced Energy Storage Solutions
As the world pivots towards renewable energy sources, photovoltaic solar power stands out as a crucial contributor to sustainable electricity generation. However, challenges persist due to the variable nature of sunlight and fluctuating demands for electricity. To mitigate these issues, effective storage solutions are critical for ensuring that energy is available during peak demand times.
The current systems have yet to reach their full potential primarily because excess heat diminishes both efficiency and longevity in photovoltaic configurations. Moreover, conventional storage options like batteries often depend on materials that have sustainability concerns.
A Breakthrough in Hybrid Technology
In response to these challenges, Professor Kasper Moth-Poulsen from ICREA has led his team at UPC’s Department of Chemical Engineering in developing a novel prototype combining silicon solar cells with an avant-garde thermal storage technique dubbed MOST—representing Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage systems. Their pivotal findings were recently published in the journal Joule.
The MOST architecture comprises organic molecules capable of capturing high-energy photons such as ultraviolet light through chemical transformations that store this absorbed energy for subsequent utilization. A particularly advantageous feature is how these molecules help cool down the photovoltaic cells by serving as optical filters; they block specific photons responsible for increasing temperature, thereby enhancing overall system efficiency.
Significant Gains in Energy Efficiency
This revolutionary device showcases substantial improvements in terms of energy performance metrics; experiments confirm a record-setting efficient usage rate of 2.3% regarding molecular thermal solar storage capabilities alone while lowering temperatures within photovoltaic cells by up to 8°C—contributing directly to minimizing losses associated with heat and boosting operational efficiency by roughly 12.6%. Consequently, this advanced setup operates at up to 14.9% total solar utilization—a notable advancement over previous methods relying solely on separate systems.
The fusion of photovoltaic power with molecular thermal storage not only enhances overall efficacy but also plays a pivotal role in diminishing dependency on fossil fuels while reducing ecological impacts linked with traditional battery technologies composed of harmful or scarce materials.
Further Insights on This New Development
Zhihang Wang et al., have detailed their study entitled “Hybrid Solar Energy Device for Simultaneous Electric Power Generation and Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage,” which can be consulted via Joule, under DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.-21.
Citation: Innovative hybrid technology generates electricity and stores thermal energy sustainably (2025).
This content may not be reproduced without explicit permissions except under fair use provisions for academic or private inquiry purposes.
