Industry perspective of nanotechnology and energy

Energy and Nanotechnology Media Round Table: Sandton March 2011

Presentation overview

Energy consumption of the world.

Uncertain future of fossil fuels.

Energy sources available.

Available technologies to utilise solar energy

Some factors inhibiting large scale application of solar energy.

Role of nanotechnology in making solar energy commercially viable.

Summary

World’s energy consumption

Annual global world energy consumption is ±500 Exajoule

80% of world’s energy from non-renewable fossil fuel

10% Biomass, 5% Hydro and 5% Nuclear

Less 1% other renewable like wind and solar

Uncertain future of fossil fuels

The use of fossil fuel could be constrainted by the “Perfect Storm” and the advent of the “electron-economy”

Availability and cost

Peak oil (±2017) ?Peak coal (±2050) ?

Political incentivesEnergy being used as a political toolSpecial tariffs for alternative energy

Global warming and the role of CO2

CO2 reduction targets.Possibility of CO2 tax

Improvements of battery technology and increased popularity of electric car

Hybrid vehicles: Prius, HondaElectric vehicles: Tesla, Joule, LeafImprovements in Li-Ion battery

Energy sources available

Solar energy 10 000 more than global energy consumption

Technologies for Solar Energy

•CSP Plant in Spain •Parabolic Trough in the USA

Technologies for Solar Energy (continued)

cSi PV Panels Thin Film PV panels

Direct production of electricity via photovoltaic (PV) panels

Cost factor inhibiting large scale application of solar energy

Scale factor inhibiting large scale application of solar energy

10% of world’s energy from PV by 2020

Must install PV panels at 15km2/day

Highway of 300km long and 50m wide per day

Current production techniques not suitable

High temperatures

High vacuum

Role of Nanotechnology

Composition of a typical Thin Film PV panel

Role of Nanotechnology (continued)

Reduce cost by improving efficiency

Role of Nanotechnology (continue)

Roll-to-Roll printing

•High material utilization (> 95%)

•Throughput 2-5x faster than on glass

•50% less energy

Summary

Solar electricity from photovoltaic (PV) panels has great potential

Large scale application prevented by:Cost

Manufacturing techniques

Nanotechnology key to develop cost effective solutionsNew materials to reduce cost by efficiency improvements

Alternative production techniques e.g. roll-to-roll printing