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
| Apr 25, 2012
J.C. Anderson selected for 50,000-sf build out at Chicago’s DePaul University
The build-out will consist of the construction of new offices, meeting rooms, video rooms and a state-of-the-art multi-tiered Trading Room.
| Apr 24, 2012
ULI Real Estate Consensus Forecast, projects improvements for the real estate industry through 2014
Survey is based on opinions from 38 of the nation’s leading real estate economists and analysts and suggests a marked increase in commercial real estate activity, with total transaction volume expected to rise from $250 billion in 2012 to $312 billion in 2014.
| Apr 24, 2012
McLennan named Ashoka Fellow
McLennan was recognized for his work on the Living Building Challenge.
| Apr 24, 2012
AECOM design and engineering team realizes NASA vision for Sustainability Base
LEED Platinum facility opens at NASA Ames Research Center at California’s Moffett Field.
| Apr 20, 2012
McCarthy completes Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Replacement Facility
The new hospital’s architectural design combines traditional Santa Barbara Spanish colonial architecture with 21st century medical conveniences highlighted by a therapeutic and sustainable atmosphere.
| Apr 20, 2012
Registration open for Solar Power International 2012 in Orlando
President Bill Clinton to deliver keynote address at ?largest solar energy event in the Americas.
| Apr 18, 2012
Positive conditions persist for Architecture Billings Index
The AIA reported the March ABI score was 50.4, following a mark of 51.0 in February; greatest demand is for commercial building projects.
| Apr 17, 2012
Princeton Review releases “Guide to 322 Green Colleges”
The guide profiles 322 institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Canada that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
| Apr 17, 2012
FMI report examines federal construction trends
Given the rapid transformations occurring in the federal construction sector, FMI examines the key forces accelerating these changes, as well as their effect on the industry.
| Apr 17, 2012
Freese and Nichols awarded Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award
Freese and Nichols is the only engineering and architecture firm to ever receive this recognition.