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01 / 05
Electricity and Air Converted into Synthetic Natural Gas

TechCrunch | Energy Production

Electricity and Air Converted into Synthetic Natural Gas

“Instead of reducing humanity’s dependence on hydrocarbons — which is impossible or undesirable or both, depending on who you ask — Terraform Industries’ solution is to produce this resource, using electricity and air, via a system it calls the Terraformer. Today, the startup is announcing that it has commissioned a demonstrator Terraformer and produced synthetic natural gas for the first time.

Roughly the size of two shipping containers, the Terraformer consists of three subsystems: an electrolyzer, which converts solar power into hydrogen; a direct air capture system that captures CO2; and a chemical reactor that ingests both these inputs to produce pipeline-grade synthetic natural gas. The entire machine is optimized for a one-megawatt solar array.”

From TechCrunch.

New Atlas | Energy Production

France Runs Fusion Reactor for Record 22 Minutes

“France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes – a new record. The milestone was reached on February 12 at the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) WEST Tokamak reactor.

Achieving the dream of commercial fusion power is the Holy Grail of engineering and has been for 80 years. With a single gram of hydrogen isotopes yielding the energy equivalent of 11 tonnes of coal, a practical fusion reactor would hold the promise of unlimited, clean energy for humanity until the end of time.”

From New Atlas.

Interesting Engineering | Energy Production

Pods That Convert Aircraft Wind Into Energy Installed at US Airport

“JetWind Power Corporation, a company based in the United States, has installed first-of-its-kind Energy Capturing Pods (ECPs) at Dallas Love Field Airport. 

This technology is designed to capture aircraft-generated wind and transform it into renewable energy, marking a significant step forward in sustainable energy solutions for transportation infrastructures worldwide.

Dr. T.O. Souryal, the founder and president of JetWind, highlighted the potential impact of this system, which has been operational at the airport. 

‘The main goal of our project is to harness the consistent wind created by jets and convert it into an eco-friendly energy source,’ he explained. ‘What was once considered wasted energy can now benefit energy grids, ultimately promoting smarter and more sustainable infrastructure across the globe.'”

From Interesting Engineering.

pv magazine | Energy Production

Australian Researchers Set World Record with Kesterite Solar Cell

“UNSW researchers have achieved a world record energy conversion efficiency of 13.2% for high-bandgap kesterite (CZTS) solar cells with a laboratory scale cell that had been enhanced with hydrogen.

CZTS, a compound of copper, zinc, tin and sulfur, is a high-bandgap thin film, flexible material suitable that offers a promising alternative to the more widely studied perovskite as a tandem top-cell candidate because it is environmentally friendly, cost-effective to manufacture, and is known to maintain its performance over a long period.”

From pv magazine.