Our Clean Energy Future:Science on the Frontier of the Cleantech

Revolution

Gavin D. J. Harper

Feynman Talk for Charterhouse School17/03/2016

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide DataDirect Measurements

Monthly measurements (Average seasonal cycle removed)Redrawn from: http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/Data Source: NOAA

Carb

on D

ioxi

de (p

arts

per

mill

ion)

405

400

395

390

385

380

3752005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide DataIndirect Measurements

Indirect Measurements of Carbon DioxideRedrawn from: http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/Data Source: NOAA

Carb

on D

ioxi

de (p

arts

per

mill

ion)

Thousands of years before today (0= 1950)

Highest Historical CO2 Level

Current

1950

380

340

300

260

220

180

400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Addressing CO2 Emissions

• Global ambition to limit temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

BUT

• So far, we have seen a 1°C temperature rise.• We need to keep CO2 levels below 450ppm.

• So far, CO2 levels are between 350ppm – 400ppm and rising at a rate of 2ppm annnually.

Decarbonisation Scenarios Post COP21

2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Carb

on in

tens

ity (t

CO2/

$mGD

P 20

14)

Redrawn from PriceWaterhouseCoopers Low Carbon Economy Index 2015http://pwc.blogs.com/sustainability/2015/12/pwc-cop21-briefing-paris-climate-summit.html

To stay within the 2°C global carbon budget

the decarbonisation rate needs to be 6.3% every

year to 2100.

Average G20 INDCs imply a decarbonisation

rate of 3% per year.

Global carbon intensity fell by an average of 1.3% per year from 2000 to

2014. At this rate the 2°C carbon budget will be spent by 2036.

1.3% - Business as Usual

3% - Paris Targets

6.3% - 2°C a yeartemperature rise

Change In Energy Demand in Selected Regions2014-2040

By 2040, demand in India closes in on the U.S. – even though per capita demand is still 40% below

Oil Discoveries vs. Oil Production

Peak Oil

The Energy Trilemma

Security of Supply

SustainabilityAffordability

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

19741976

19781980

19821984

19861988

19901992

19941996

19982000

2002

US$

equ

ival

ent (

$m) TOTAL NUCLEAR FISSION/FUSION

TOTAL OTHER TECH./RESEARCH

TOTAL POWER & STORAGE TECH.

TOTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY

TOTAL FOSSIL FUELS

TOTAL CONSERVATION

Source: Data reported to the IEA by IEA Member countries

R&D Energy TrendsA most depressing graph, signifying colossal political failure.

But ‘Peak Oil’ might provoke action where climate change does not

A selection of future energy technologies.

FUEL CELLS

Hydrogen & Fuel Cells : Brief Introduction

First demonstrated by Welsh scientist

Sir William Robert Grove in February 1839.

Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre

Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre

Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre

The University of Birmingham was the First UK campus to have it’s own Hydrogen filling station.

Storing Hydrogen in Hydrides

Hydrogen Fuel Cell PoweredCanal Boat

Hydrogen is Stored In HydridesThese cylinders are heavy, but replace the boat’s ballast.

Tubular Fuel Cells at the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham is

Building a 350W micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stack

Which will silently power an Unmanned Autonomous

Vehicle. Providing a high powerdensity in a small compact

package.

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS

Phosphorus AtomUndoped Silicon N-Type Silicon

P-Type Silicon

Dye Sensitised Solar Cells The modern version of a dye solar cell, also known as the Grätzel cell, was originally co-invented in 1988 by Brian O'Regan and Michael Grätzel at UC Berkeley

Dye Sensitised Solar Cells• Simple to make using conventional roll-printing

techniques• This could allow for “continuous” rather than “batch”

production.

• Semi-flexible and semi-transparent which offers a variety of uses not applicable to glass-based systems• Utilises many low cost materials.

• HOWEVER, uses small amounts of platinum and ruthenium which are expensive and have proven very hard to eliminate from the process.

• Challenges with dye stability / degradation mechanisms.• European Photovoltaic Roadmap suggests that these

degradation mechanisms can be overcome and DSC’s will make a significant contribution to the solar generation mix by 2020

Pythagoras Solar Windows

Image from: Pythagoras Solar, www.pythagorassolar.com

Pythagoras Solar Windows

Image from: Pythagoras Solar, www.pythagorassolar.com

Honeycomb Patterned Thin Film Devices

• Honeycomb patterned thin film devices capture some sunlight from PV material deposited in a “honeycomb” pattern, but allow light to pass through the middle of the hexagons.

• The material blends “Fullerenes” (carbon) and semiconductor materials.

Images Brookhaven / Los Alamos National Laboratory

Honeycomb Patterned Thin Film Devices• “The material stays transparent because the polymer

chains pack densely only at the edges of the hexagons, while remaining loosely packed and spread very thin across the centers…The densely packed edges strongly absorb light and may also facilitate conducting electricity…while the centers do not absorb much light and are relatively transparent.”

• “Combining these traits and achieving large-scale patterning could enable a wide range of practical applications”

Lead scientist Mircea Cotlet, Brookhaven’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials

DOING COLD SMARTER

Thermal Energy Storage• Thermal Energy Storage (TES) refers to the family of

technologies that store excess energy in the form of heat and uses the stored heat either directly or indirectly through energy conversion processes when needed.

• TES is based on heating a storage medium so the thermal energy in the system can be used at a later time.

• Our research helps to provide a balance between the energy demand and supply, and utilise waste heat generated in various applications including energy production, conversion processes and in the process industry produced from energy generation or industrial processes.

Highview Power Storage Pilot PlantAt the University of Birmingham

Thank you for your time!