How many times have you wondered how wonderful it would be to be able to store all that solar energy that accumulates in the summer and then use it to warm up on cold winter days? It's the perspective it offers us Photoncycle, a Norwegian startup that has pulled a truly revolutionary battery out of the hat (literally!). The secret? Solid hydrogen, which allows you to cram 10.000 kWh of energy in a system the size of a wardrobe. Stuff that makes lithium batteries pale.
Solid hydrogen? And what is it?
Solid hydrogen is an allotropic form of hydrogen in which the H2 molecules are so close together and compressed that they form a solid. This state occurs at extremely low temperatures and pressures. Solid hydrogen has a crystalline structure and has different phases depending on temperature and pressure conditions. For comparison, the hydrogen commonly found on Earth is in a gaseous state at room temperature and pressure. To obtain solid hydrogen, it is necessary to cool it to temperatures close to absolute zero (-273,15°C or -459,67°F) and subject it to high pressures.
Solid hydrogen is being studied in various fields, including solid-state physics, cryogenics, and superconducting materials research. However, the production and storage of solid hydrogen requires specialized and expensive equipment, which limits its large-scale practical applications. Evidently Photoncycle plans to remove these limitations.
A “magic cylinder” to capture the sun
Imagine a nice cylinder, similar to those used for gas cylinders. Here, now think about filling it with an almost magical substance, solid hydrogen, capable of trapping solar energy like a modern genie lamp. This, in a nutshell, is the concept behind the Photoncycle battery. I still don't hear anyone joking saying "well, if the house explodes it will end up in orbit, no matter what". Ah here. It's because I'm still writing the article. Then I'll read the comments. Let's get back to us, meanwhile.
The idea is simple: during the summer, when solar panels produce more electricity than we need, instead of wasting it or selling it at a discount, we use it to produce hydrogen throughelectrolysis of water (I linked the definition to you: if it seems difficult or you don't like it, ask that Apulian professor who should teach physics but knows a little about everything). The hydrogen is then stored in our “magic cylinder” in solid form, ready to be used in times of need.
Mind-boggling energy density
But why bother with solid hydrogen when we already have good old lithium batteries? Simple: because the energy density of this new technology makes traditional batteries look like brooms compared to a Ferrari.
While a lithium battery can accumulate approximately 0,3 kWh for every kilogram, Photoncycle's solid hydrogen reaches 3,5 kWh/kg. Simply put, it means that up to 3 kWh of energy can be crammed into a system only 10.000 cubic meters large (more or less the size of a wardrobe). To give you an idea, that's enough to keep a house going for months, even with full heating.
From Norway with fury
But who are these people from Photoncycle who want to revolutionize the world of energy? It's a Norwegian startup, which isn't surprising: with all those fjords and northern lights, there must be something in the air that stimulates inventiveness. Jokes aside, the Photoncycle team is certainly not sitting idle: this year they plan to test a full-scale prototype of their battery, and are aiming for a market launch by 2025. Of course, the technology is still in the patent phase, but the premises are decidedly exciting.
From the top hat a brighter future than ever
There's no need to beat around the bush: Photoncycle's solid hydrogen battery has the potential to be a game-changer in the energy sector. renewable energy storage. Think about the possibility of accumulating excess solar energy during the summer and then using it in the winter months, when the sun is desired. Or to have an energy reserve always ready for emergency moments, without having to worry about theself-discharge typical of traditional batteries.
It will still be a while before we see a sun-catching cylinder in every home, but the direction is good. Maybe one day we'll look at old lithium batteries the way we look at rotary phones today: with a mixture of nostalgia and disbelief at how we got by for so long.
If you have a garage, start freeing up space: you might have a new guest.
