Carbon dioxide has become far too prevalent in our atmosphere and is a large component of greenhouse gases that many believe are responsible for climate change. But what if this excess carbon dioxide could be harvested from the atmosphere, repurposed, and used to make a clean, renewable energy source that already exists more efficient?
It sounds like a plan Doc Brown would have concocted and then hurriedly told Marty McFly about as a group of angry terrorists bared down on them, but this isn’t the stuff of science fiction like a flux capacitor, this is very much based in reality.
GE believes it has found a way to harvest CO2 and use it to create solar batteries, Digitaltrends.com reports. Solar energy is a great source of renewable energy, but there is a problem: the sun needs to be shining in order to harness its power. Currently, there isn’t a very efficient means of storing energy produced from solar power to keep it available to the grid whenever it is needed, even if the sun isn’t currently shining, but that could all change.
Here is how the two-stage process works: solar energy would be captured and stored in a liquid of molten salt. Harvested and stored CO2 would then be cooled into dry ice and, when power is needed, the salt would turn the dry ice CO2 into a “supercritical” fluid (which is defined as matter that does not have specific liquid or gas phases). This supercritical fluid would then flow into a CO2 turbine called a sunrotor and the energy would be disseminated as needed.
If it seems complicated, well, that’s probably because it is. But don’t worry, just because something being complicated often times means it is inefficient and/or expensive, that isn’t the case here.
Not only would the process be cheap since energy isn’t being made, just transferred, the sunrotors would also be able to operate with 68% efficiency. Gas power plants are typically only able to achieve 61% efficiency.
However, this process and the sunrotors are still a good five to 10 years away from actually being put into use, but the fact that the technology exists to not only suck some CO2 out of the atmosphere but to also use it to make renewable, clean energy sources more efficient and practical makes this a classic two birds with one stone scenario.
The overall effect of these sunrotors and this CO2 harvesting/storing process is reduced usage of fossil fuels for power generation, which would only work to eliminate even more CO2 from the atmosphere.
Related Stories
Green | Jan 29, 2016
USGBC names top 10 states for LEED green building
Illinois leads the list for the third straight year.
Green | Jan 4, 2016
Florida lagging on development of green roofs
Florida lagging on development of green roofs.
Green | Dec 23, 2015
Austin, Texas mandates construction recycling
Projects larger than 5,000 sf must recycle or salvage at least half of their trash.
Green | Dec 15, 2015
USGBC aims to scaling LEED buildings to 5 billion sf in five years
Plan revealed at UN climate conference.
Green | Dec 13, 2015
Detroit plans massive effort to convert vacant properties to green spaces
Effort aims to improve property values, city life.
Greenbuild Report | Dec 10, 2015
AASHE’s STARS tool highlights the university sector’s holistic approach to sustainability
Buzzwords like “living lab” and “experiential learning” are indicative of the trend toward more holistic sustainability programs that incorporate all facets of college life.
Greenbuild Report | Dec 8, 2015
Is ‘green’ still a selling point in the office sector?
Some developers are missing an opportunity by downplaying sustainability at a time when demand for such features is palpable among lessee firms who are trying to attract younger workers.
Greenbuild Report | Dec 1, 2015
Data centers turn to alternative power sources, new heat controls and UPS systems
Data centers account for 2% of the nation’s electricity consumption and about 30% of the power used annually by the economy’s information and communications technology sector, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Greenbuild Report | Nov 30, 2015
10 megatrends shaping the future of green building
Increased competition among green building rating systems, the rise of net-zero buildings, and a sharper focus on existing structures are among the trends that will drive sustainability through 2020, according to author and green building expert Jerry Yudelson.
Green | Nov 30, 2015
Federal agencies aim for major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
A 42% cut to come from buildings, vehicles, supply chain.