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God’s gifts to humankind

God’s gifts to humankind. Silicon/Si oxide. Hubble Space Telescope (HST). 2.5 mm. Part of 2 nd batch of Hubble solar cells, retrieved after 8.25 yr in space. NEEDED New materials, Better optics. Make “bad” materials “good” better use of sunlight easy cell fabrication. HOW?

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God’s gifts to humankind

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  1. God’s gifts to humankind Silicon/Si oxide

  2. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) 2.5 mm Part of 2nd batch of Hubble solar cells, retrieved after 8.25 yr in space

  3. NEEDED New materials, Better optics • Make • “bad” materials “good” • better use of sunlight • easy cell fabrication • HOW? • Self-healing materials • Smarter Optics • Self-assembly • Solar paint

  4. 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 1 1 2 2 Bandgap (eV) Better use of sunlight

  5. NEEDED New materials, Better optics • Make • “bad” materials good” • better use of sunlight • easy cell fabrication • HOW? • Self-healing materials • Smarter Optics • Self-assembly • Solar paint

  6. Solar paint Idea: paint solar cell onto glass /plastic: For nanoparticle-based cells - no need for high temperatures Speculative Schematic: Warning! Sci-Fi (after G. Hodes)

  7. Solar Cell Power Stations TODAY World’s Largest Solar-Electric Plant (2009) 0.2 GWp ( ~40 MWc) plant at Golmut, PRC 03/’12 Global Cumulative installed PV power ~0.07 TWp PRC goal >2012 ≥0.002 TWp/yr 10 TW / 10 MWc~ # of human lengths 2 x Israel trail Nellis AFB (S. Nevada) 30 TWp(~ 6 TWC) requires 1 such plant, every HOUR, for the next ~ 20 years + “a bit of” storage

  8. Wind Energy WIND 10/’11 Cumulative ~ 0.24 TWp ~ 0.08 TWc Off Shore Wind Farm

  9. Wind Energy BIOFUEL: 2010 production ~ nearly 0.1 TW if 50 x  5 TW WIND 10/’11 Cumulative ~ 0.24 TWp ~ 0.08 TWc World’s largest wind farm: Roscoe Wind TX, ~ 0.8 GWp To get 10 TWc 5 / day for 22 yrs PRC goal:>~0.1 TWc in 10 yr Off Shore Wind Farm

  10. 10TWelectricity from COAL ? Brazil’s electricity generation capacity: ~ 0.1 TW (0.5 kW/capita) Israel’s electricity generation capacity: ~ 0.012 TW (1.6 kW/capita) CHINA’S ELECTRICITY GROWTH PLAN: 0.1 TW / YEAR …… So, “if you want to, it won’t be a fairy tale” One such plant, every day, for the next … 11 years

  11. Solar as Energy Source • * Solar Heat • - direct Heat, Cool • - to chemicalsFuels(via high temperatures) • - to electricity indirect (also wind)  turbinesbut… STORAGE ●As Light - to chemicals Photosynthesis, Biofuels -to chemicals Artificial Photosynthesis -to electricity Solar cells (photovoltaics)

  12. To provide the necessary Alternative Energy scientists need to pursue BASIC SCIENCE to realize what are DREAMS today, such as: * Efficient, Affordable Artificial Photosynthesis * Cheap, Efficient Solar Cells: smart optics; solar paint …… ? • Smart Natural Photosynthesis: genetic/metabolic engn.; synthetic biology …… ? • 3-D (Holographic) Video-Conferencing • “Memory-shape” wind turbine blades • Clean(er) and Safe(r) Nuclear Energy and … • Where Creativity & Curiosity Will Lead Us !

  13. Weizmann Institute’s Alternative, Sustainable Energy Research Initiative Energy, it’s the Global Challenge Meeting it requires scientists, engineers, business governments, & industry to work together Rising to the ENERGY (TW) CHALLENGE can be science’s most important breakthrough but … for that we need RESEARCH & EDUCATION …

  14. Weizmann Institute’s Alternative Sustainable Energy Research Initiative http://www.weizmann.ac.il/AERI/ Presentations are at http://www.weizmann.ac.il/AERI/presentations.html research & education now

  15. Weizmann Institute’s Alternative, Sustainable Energy Research Initiative Some proven Weizmann strengths in • Basic Multi-& Inter-Disciplinary Science • Materials -nano- and molecular-science; electronics phys/biol/chem • Life Sciences-Structural Biology, genetic engn., plant science chem/phys/math • Physics- plasma physics, optics • materials • Chemistry-catalysisphys/biol/math • ------------------------ • Solar Energy: Solar Cells (2nd& 3d generation) • Photosynthesis (e.g., algae) • Concentrated Solar (tower)

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