19 April 2022

Breakthrough in research on solar energy storage

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden have succeeded in getting the MOST-system (Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems) to produce electricity by connecting it to a thermoelectric generator. The generator is an ultra-thin chip that could be integrated into electronics. Though still in its early stages, the developed concept could potentially pave the way for self-charging electronics that use stored solar energy on demand. So far, the researchers have been able to store solar energy in Sweden and release it in Shanghai, without causing any CO2 emissions. 

“This is a radically new way of generating electricity from solar energy. It means that we can use solar energy to produce electricity regardless of weather, time of day, season, or geographical location”, said Kasper Moth-Poulsen, Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers. 

Press release

RISE Processum builds new facility for biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik

Gary Cass, CEO of RISE Processum has announced his decision to move his entire business from Australia to the High Coast Innovation Park in Örnsköldsvik. The new company will be named Cass Materials AB. “After searching around the world for specialists in the cellulose world, I understood that Sweden, and specifically Örnsköldsvik, had the resources and experts that I knew I wanted to work with to take my innovation to the next level. I believe that Örnsköldsvik will become a global innovation hub in the bio-based area, and I want to be a part of that”, said Gary Cass. 

Allehanda

Majority of Swedes negative to wind power as their neighbour 

Recently unpublished figures from the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg show that for the first time in the 2000s, a majority of Swedes are negative (40%) rather than positive (33%) about having wind turbines within a geographical proximity to one’s housing. Apparently, the attitude towards wind power varies in different parts of the country, as people in rural areas are generally more negative towards wind power than people in bigger cities. “You want it, but not where you live”, said Erik Jönsson, assistant researcher at the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg. 

Swedish radio

What we’re reading

• Honda Motor to spend USD40bn on developing electric cars by 2030 (Seneca ESG)
• Japan’s Osaka Gas participates in USD 11bn green hydrogen project in Australia (Seneca ESG)
• US natural gas export fever tempered by costs and climate concerns (Financial  Times)
• Diversification from Russian gas ‘possible and feasible,’ says Draghi (Politico)
• Analysis: Soaring battery costs fail to cool electric vehicle sales (Reuters)

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