DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

God’s gifts to humankind

Silic

on/S

i

oxid

e

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Part of 2nd batch of Hubble solar cells,

retrieved after 8.25 yr in space

2.5 mm

Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

NEEDEDNew materials, Better optics

Make • “bad” materials “good”• better use of sunlight• easy cell fabrication

HOW?• Self-healing materials• Smarter Optics • Self-assembly • Solar paint

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Better use of sunlight

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

NEEDEDNew materials, Better optics

HOW?• Self-healing materials• Smarter Optics • Self-assembly • Solar paint

Make • “bad” materials good”• better use of sunlight• easy cell fabrication

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Solar paintIdea:

paint solar cell onto glass /plastic:

For nanoparticle-based cells - no need for high temperatures

Speculative Schematic:

Warning! Sci-Fi

(after G. Hodes)

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

0.2 GWp ( ~40 MWc) plant at Golmut, PRC

World’s Largest Solar-Electric Plant (2009)

30 TWp (~ 6 TWC)

requires 1 such plant ,

every HOUR, for the next ~20 years + “a bit of” storage

Nellis AFB (S. Nevada)

Solar Cell Power Stations TODAY

10 TW / 10 MWc ~

#of human lengths

2 x Israel trail

03’/12 Global Cumulative

installed PV power ~0.07 TWp

PRC goal >2012

≥0.002 TWp/yr

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Wind Energy

Off Shore

Wind Farm

WIND10’/11

Cumulative ~0.24 TWp

~0.08 TWc

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Wind Energy

Off Shore

Wind Farm

WIND10’/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

BIOFUEL:

2010 production ~ nearly 0.1 TW

if 50 x

5 TW

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

One such plant, every day,

for the next …

11 years

10 TW electricity from COAL ?

So, “if you want to ,

it won’t be a fairy tale”

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 ……

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

● As Light- to chemicals Photosynthesis,

Biofuels

-to chemicals Artificial Photosynthesis

-to electricity Solar cells (photovoltaics)

Solar as Energy Source

* Solar Heat- direct Heat, Cool

- to chemicals Fuels (via high temperatures)- to electricity indirect (also wind) turbines

but… STORAGE

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

* 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 !

To provide the necessary Alternative Energy scientists need to pursue BASIC SCIENCE

to realize what are DREAMS today, such as:

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

Weizmann Institute’s

Alternative, Sustainable Energy Research InitiativeEnergy, it’s the Global

Challenge

for that we need RESEARCH & EDUCATION…

Rising to the ENERGY (TW) CHALLENGEcan be science’s most important breakthrough

but…

Meeting it requires scientists, engineers, business governments, & industry to

work together

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

research & education now

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

DC, WIS-AERI 11/2011

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-catalysis

phys/biol/math------------------------• Solar Energy: Solar Cells (2nd & 3d

generation) Photosynthesis (e.g., algae)

Concentrated Solar (tower)

Weizmann Institute’s

Alternative, Sustainable Energy Research Initiative