Collecting Sun

A recent discovery from MIT researchers sheds light on a problem that has been plaguing solar power for years. Formerly, solar energy was fairly simple to collect and use during the daytime, but due to a highly inefficient and expensive storage process, valuable energy was lost during the night hours.

Now researchers have created a process using non-toxic materials to accrue energy for later use. This advancement in clean energy was inspired by photosynthesis. “The key component in Nocera and Kanan's new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas.” The researchers hope that this breakthrough will have every American household in America using solar power within 10 years.

Creative Commons Image Via Flickr "Me and Kristin bonding over a solar panel" by davidgljay.