Dubai: Imagine your house not just sheltering you, but also storing the energy that powers it. This futuristic concept is inching closer to reality thanks to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who have developed a special cement that can transform entire buildings into giant batteries.
Supercharged cement
The secret behind this innovation is the readily available material called carbon black. When mixed with cement and water, this highly conductive substance creates a supercapacitor within the concrete itself.
Unlike traditional batteries, supercapacitors excel at rapidly charging and discharging energy, making them ideal for capturing the bursts of power generated by renewable sources like solar and wind.
A proof of concept
Last year, MIT researchers unveiled this revolutionary concept. Now, they've taken it a step further by creating a working model – a concrete battery! The next target is a 45 cubic meter behemoth capable of powering a typical home. The beauty of this technology is that it can be integrated into existing construction processes, eliminating the need for additional building costs.
Beyond houses
This energy-storing cement represents a significant leap forward in renewable energy storage. It has the potential to go way beyond houses. Researchers envision using it on roads, enabling them to wirelessly charge electric vehicles as they drive. This would be a game-changer for electric car adoption, eliminating the need for frequent stops at charging stations.
Beyond battery walls
The MIT innovation is just one piece of the exciting puzzle. Other advancements are emerging, like photovoltaic windows that generate electricity directly from sunlight, and even solar-powered paints that can be applied to any surface to harvest solar energy.
Additionally, flexible solar panels could harvest natural and artificial light and hold immense promise for powering our everyday devices.
Imagine never needing to replace batteries in your headphones or remote controls again! Companies like Exeger in Sweden are already developing advanced solar cells for consumer electronics.