MIT researcher creates solar panels from agricultural waste

The world around us is relying on abundant sunlight to meet its ever-growing energy requirements and of course, to make up for worsening condition of the energy deposits. However, its initial set up costs are too high for generating energy. Conventional solar panels are made out of silicon that makes the entire production cost shoot up, resulting in a hesitant adoption of solar energy in most of the countries and continents. What if this could be reduced? Well, it is all set to be true, thanks to a researcher at MIT, Andreas Mershin. He has devised a way to develop solar panels from agriculture wastes such as grass trimmings and dead plant leaves. A complete replacement of silicon with agricultural waste is on the way. Let us find out how!

creating solar cell

We are aware of the natural process called photosynthesis, dominant in plants that convert photons from sunlight into energy. Chlorophyll, the key element of this entire process actually transforms photons into electrons, through a mechanism that involves two different sets of molecules, also called Photosystems. These Photosystem involves the functioning of three different kinds of Chlorophyll molecules. These molecules can be extracted easily from leaves and grass clippings. These agricultural products are nothing but wastes which would not be destined to any better place than a dumping yard or a compost-bin, or worse, a dustbin.

According to the researcher, by extracting Chlorophyll and stabilizing and spreading it on a glass substrate, its characteristic of tapping sunlight and converting it into active energy can be utilized on a massive scale. The glass substrate is tinted with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanowires. As soon as sun light falls on to this surface, molecules along with titanium dioxide harness the sun’s energy, converting it into electricity which is then passed on to zinc oxide nanowires.

This process, however, is still only in theories. Its application on a mass scale remains an ordeal because the proven efficiency of such solar panels is merely 0.1 percent. In order to power more than one LED lights in one house, these solar panels need to have an efficiency of at least 1 to 2 percent. The job of the scientists, now, is to boost the efficiency of these solar panels so that they can be used across homes and offices. Once increased, the power efficiency of these cells can run electric arrangements, all in a cost that would just keep your mandibles dangling down.

Initiatives such as these can actually prove to be quite helpful to emerging nations and areas that don’t have access to electricity. Solar panels built by using plant waste can alter the entire economics of solar energy generation and bring down the overall costs.

Via: Extremetech