Nature Energy scientists have developed algae solar cells that could be used to store energy in remote rural communities. Biological solar cells use single-celled plants – algae – to harvest solar energy through photosynthesis. In a paper in Cambridge , researchers outlined how they successfully developed a system that separates charging and power delivery. This means cells are more efficient, with less internal resistance and lower electrical losses, said Professor Kadi Liis Saar from the university's department of chemistry. This could prove useful in rural Asia and south Africa , as cells could be made locally without the need for high-tech factories.
Cambridge scientists have developed algae solar cells that could be used to store energy in remote rural communities. Biological solar cells use single-celled plants – algae – to harvest solar energy through photosynthesis. In a paper in Nature Energy, researchers outlined how they successfully developed a system that separates charging and power delivery. This means cells are more efficient, with less internal resistance and lower electrical losses, said Professor Tuomas Knowles from the university's department of chemistry. This could prove useful in rural Africa and south Asia, as cells could be made locally without the need for high-tech factories.