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Advancing Solar Energy Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Explore the potential of new materials and optics to enhance solar energy technologies for a sustainable future. Discover self-healing materials, smarter optics, and self-assembly techniques to revolutionize solar cells. Join the quest for efficient and affordable artificial photosynthesis and solar cells through innovative research. Learn about alternative energy initiatives at Weizmann Institute and the global challenge to meet rising energy demands. Collaboration between scientists, engineers, and industry is crucial for breakthroughs in sustainable energy. Visit Weizmann Institute’s Alternative Sustainable Energy Research Initiative for more information.

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Advancing Solar Energy Innovation for a Sustainable Future

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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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