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...continued... Solar power systems: Solar power is clean, renewable, safe, reliable and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, it's expensive to install, and the single greatest cost often comes from the batteries, not the solar panels. Batteries for solar systems are typically large, heavy, dangerous (risk of explosions), expensive and short-lived (many need replacing in a mere five years). A breakthrough in power density and storage costs could revolutionize the solar industry, making residential and commercial solar systems far more affordable. If battery costs could be halved, it would subtract five years from the average twenty-year return on solar systems. These are just a few of the many important applications of high density portable power. Remember, though, it's not just the density that matters: it's the cost as well. To herald a genuine breakthrough, the next wave of technology needs to be better on all counts: size, weight and cost.
Fuel cells look promisingThe most promising candidate technology that meets this requirement is fuel cell technology. Fuel cells are clean, small and lightweight, and will eventually be cheap to produce. The choice of fuels for those fuel cells, however, remains undecided.One of the promising contenders is zinc -- one of the most abundant minerals on the planet (or, more precisely, "in" the planet). With the help of fuel cell membranes, zinc particles release electricity when oxidized by exposing them to air. Once all the zinc is oxidized, the zinc particles can be quickly "recharged" (reversing the oxidation process with the help of electricity) and used again. This process can be endlessly repeated, since the zinc never wears out. Zinc is promising because it offers high density portable power (far greater power density than chemical batteries), a widely-available element, and outstanding safety (zinc won't explode if exposed to flames or high temperatures). The industry leader in portable zinc power is Metallic Power (http://www.metallicpower.com)
Methanol fuel cellsZinc power isn't seeing many headlines these days. Much of the news about portable fuel cells seems focused on methanol. These so-called Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) convert methanol (a common alcohol that can be derived from corn, among other renewable sources) into electricity. NEC, Samsung, and Hitachi already have working prototypes of DMFCs for notebook computers or portable electronics.The problem with methanol is its combustibility: methanol ignites easily and has a flash point ranging from room temperature to 130 degrees (F), depending on the concentration of water in the mixture. That makes it an illegal explosive according to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), meaning that DMFCs would not be allowed on airplanes unless existing regulations are changed. Methanol also has the drawback of not being easily renewed by consumers. Few people have the know-how to distill methanol in their own garage, meaning that consumers would be dependent on DMFC manufacturers for methanol recharge kits. Like ink jet printer refill kits, this is where DMFC manufacturers will probably make the bulk of their profits. In the end, however, the choice of fuel isn't as important as the widespread adoption of a fuel cell battery standard. Today's chemical batteries are holding back promising applications for emerging technologies, and only a breakthrough in portable power can overcome those limitations. Fuel cells can make the leap, and their adoption by consumers and manufacturers alike is all but assured. Next: Part 6 - Fuel cell vehicles This article has been adapted from, The Ten Most Important Emerging Technologies For Humanity, an ebook by futurist Mike Adams. ### |
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