Clim-Sci
46 w
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The May edition of the Climate Spectrum is out in partnership with We Don't Have Time, The POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement, and Ervis Foundation! This edition covers the effect of climate change in different equatorial zones. Be sure to read about it in detail at: www.climsci.in/climate-spectrum If you want to join our team, have any words of advice or anything else write to us at: operations@climsci.in/ dm us on our instagram or to our linkeldin! We look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Clim-Sci
50 w
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The second edition of the Climate spectrum is now live, covering Climate science from the perspectives of the natural and social sciences. From Biology, Physics, and Chemistry , to Economics and Sociology, we have got it covered. Check out the journal at: https://www.climsci.in/climate-spectrum
Clim-Sci
55 w
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This article is a part of a series of articles published in our later journal, you can find the others through: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/078d27ff-5666-46fc-8490-25c5594ecdd8 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/cd022ec8-714b-43a8-88c6-db38d813de6f https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/b06b17ec-5cee-40ee-b7dd-e2a02a318430 For more information check out our website: www.climsci.in, or write to us at, contact@climsci.in if you are interested in joining a diverse team working on a big problem! The Advances in Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most promising sources of renewable energy that has gained quite a lot of attention recently. The increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy as well as the switch over to renewable energy has fuelled the development of new technologies and innovations in the field of solar energy. The use of solar energy has not only helped us reduce our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy, but has also contributed significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which play a big role in the increasing rates of global warming. This research paper will discuss the recent advances in solar energy and its evolution as well as its impact on the global energy industry. To understand solar energy, we must first know its history and how it has evolved. In the United States alone, there are currently more than 37,000 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar projects operating, with another 112,000 MW under development. Today there are more than 2.9 million individual solar installations in the US and 103 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed, which is enough to power 18.6 million homes. So what makes Solar Energy so important and talked about? To understand that we must first define solar energy. Solar energy is a form of renewable energy that is obtained from the sun’s rays (radiant light and heat). It is harnessed through the use of solar panels, which are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. This electrical energy can then be used to power homes, businesses, hospitals and many other facilities. To get into more detail, solar panels are usually made from silicon installed in a metal panel frame with a glass casing. When photons or particles of light (sunlight) hits the thin layer of silicon on top of a solar panel, they knock electrons off the silicon atoms. A charge is created, and this PV charge creates an electric current (Direct current or DC) which is then captured by the wiring in the solar panels. The DC electricity is then converted into AC electricity (Alternating current) by an inverter. This electricity is now ready to use. The conversion from DC electricity to AC electricity happens as AC is the type of electrical current that is used when you plug appliances into normal wall sockets. AC is also the most widely used type of current as it is more efficient and is used in almost all households. The basic idea of Solar energy can be dated back to the 7th Century B.C. when humans use sunlight to light fires with magnifying glass materials. In the 3rd Century B.C., the Greeks and Romans were known to harness solar power with mirrors to light torches for religious ceremonies. In the late 1700s and 1800s, sunlight was used to power ovens for long voyages and harnessed to produce solar-powered steamboats. Solar power has had a lot of improvements over the past decade, such as perovskite-based cells which were invented in 2009 but only got implemented recently. Some of the advancements in solar technology are minimal but have increased efficiency quite a lot. The efficiency of solar cells has accelerated at a staggering rate over the last decade. Solar efficiency is measured by the amount of sunlight (irradiation) that falls on the surface of the solar panel and the amount ready for energy conversion. With advances in photovoltaic technology, the average conversion efficiency has increased from 15% to 20%, however, solar power has its drawbacks. A very specific one that many scientists, researchers and even common folk pointed out. How would solar panels or solar farms generate electricity if the sun wasn’t facing its direction or if it was nighttime? However, solutions to this were invented soon enough. Solar tracking systems, which were designed to tilt and position the panels towards the sun, to absorb maximum sunlight first came around in the late 80s. However, it was in its prototype and raw stage. Today, sun-tracking solar panel systems with a single axis have increased in performance from 25% to 35% and continue to increase. In May 2016, Enel Green Power North America created a solar power plant that had the ability to produce electricity at night by storing energy collected from the sun during the day and storing it into a battery system to be used at night. However, further improvements could still be made. Stanford university researchers created solar panels that could generate electricity at night through thermoelectric generators. The thermoelectric generator molecules (TEGs), convert temperature differences into electrical energy. Nighttime energy conversion produces about 25% of the wattage a full day of sunlight does. Researchers then proved that the electricity generated was enough to power a cellphone. The latest and most innovative breakthrough in solar power was the use of perovskite crystals and cells over silicon. Perovskite crystals were 20% more efficient than silicon-based solar cells. While silicon still outperformed perovskite-based cells in terms of commercial use. In June 2022, researchers at Princeton University developed the first commercially viable perovskite solar cells, which can be manufactured at room temperature and even require less energy to produce than silicon-based solar cells. The cheaper production cost and improved sustainability applied to a larger scale with a 30-year life expectancy is certainly good news for the energy industry. Perovskite cells are also more flexible and can be transparent as well which opens up many possibilities for its application. By- Mohammed Emaad
Clim-Sci
55 w
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This article is a part of a series of articles published in our later journal, you can find the others through: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/078d27ff-5666-46fc-8490-25c5594ecdd8 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/b06b17ec-5cee-40ee-b7dd-e2a02a318430 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/86fbebc5-0335-45dc-b1af-c762294905b8 For more information check out our website: www.climsci.in, or write to us at, contact@climsci.in if you are interested in joining a diverse team working on a big problem! Nuclear Fusion: The future of our energy Energy is a fundamental requirement for modern society. It is needed to power our homes, transport, and industries. The overuse of traditional energy such as fossil fuels can cause long-term environmental impacts such as climate change and global warming. Nuclear fusion is a promising alternative energy source for the future. It is the process where tiny atoms are fused together to form a larger atom, while releasing significant amounts of energy without producing any greenhouse gas or carbon emissions. Nuclear fusion in its essence takes place in our Sun and other stars, where tiny plasma particles fuse together releasing tremendous amounts of heat. The conditions to achieve nuclear fusion require extreme temperatures and atmospheres of pressure. To replicate nuclear fusion on Earth, scientists would require the same temperature and pressure conditions. One promising approach to achieving these conditions is with magnetic confinement. Which involves using a large magnetic field to confine plasma particles together. This process is done using a Tokamak, a toroidal-shaped device that generates giant magnetic fields using super magnets. It creates a plasma of deuterium and tritium at extremely high temperatures and swirls it around its chamber to fuse them together. Despite its potential, the magnetic confinement method faces difficulties with plasma confinement and finding suitable materials that can withstand high temperatures. When plasma is hot, it tends to form uncertainties and tries to escape the magnetic confinement which would result in its cooling and termination in the reaction. This makes the magnetic confinement method a dangerous one. Current materials pose a risk due to the high heat flux that would act on the inner modules of the reactor, and finding proper materials to withstand high temperatures is necessary. Inertial confinement, a recent breakthrough in 2022, is another approach to achieving the conditions of nuclear fusion. This process involves heating and compressing a small cluster of plasma of deuterium and tritium using high-powered lasers. Unlike magnetic confinement, where plasma is fused whilst being spread out, inertial confinement directs multiple high-powered lasers at a small cluster of plasma to fuse them. This process is very quick as it lasts only a few billionths of a second. There are difficulties associated with inertial confinement as well. These include the cost and complexity of the lasers and equipment, the efficiency of the reactions, and current materials that are unable to withstand the extreme heat and radiation generated during the process. Companies can merge the two methods of fusion together for precision and efficiency, called Magneto-inertial confinement. It uses high-powered lasers to compress and heat a small cluster of plasma to the necessary conditions for fusion and then magnetically confines the small cluster to maintain the necessary temperature and pressure for the fusion reaction to take place. One company that does Nuclear Fusion using magneto-inertial confinement is called Helion. Helion works with deuterium, a form of hydrogen found in water. If Helion is successful with their technology, one glass of deuterium oxide can generate nine million kilowatts of safe and clean electricity. This is equivalent to the energy needed to power one home for 865 years, power an electric car for 35 million miles, or replace 10 million pounds of coal as well as 1 million gallons of oil. This makes it a complete replacement for fossil fuels. Nuclear fusion is a safer and more efficient option compared to other forms of energy. Other methods such as fossil fuels can produce harmful pollutants and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and nuclear fission has led to tragic accidents like Chernobyl. Nuclear Fusion is clean, reliable, and widely available. The process of fusion emits zero carbon emission, and can produce energy any time of the day regardless of weather conditions by utilizing deuterium found in water; the same water that is found in the Earth’s oceans that contain enough deuterium to generate billions of years of clean energy. Energy is a vital requirement for modern society, but the overuse of traditional energy can have detrimental long-term environmental impacts. Nuclear fusion offers a promising alternative energy source for the future, as it releases clean energy without producing any greenhouse gas or carbon emissions. Companies like Helion are working towards developing Nuclear Fusion as a complete replacement for fossil fuels. The future of Nuclear Fusion is promising as it has the potential to be much safer and effective than other forms of energy. By- Sathwik Harrahanapali
Clim-Sci
55 w
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This article is a part of a series of articles published in our later journal, you can find the others through: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/cd022ec8-714b-43a8-88c6-db38d813de6f https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/078d27ff-5666-46fc-8490-25c5594ecdd8 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/86fbebc5-0335-45dc-b1af-c762294905b8 For more information check out our website: www.climsci.in, or write to us at, contact@climsci.in if you are interested in joining a diverse team working on a big problem! The Promise of Solar Cells Currently the fastest growing source of renewable energy powering an average of 158 million homes and employing over 3 million people globally, Solar cells (also known as photovoltaic cells) offer a promising solution for the future. By efficiently converting sunlight into electricity, solar cells employ the use of silicon, a semiconductor material, to absorb photons from the sun and produce a flow of electrons or an Electric current. The absorption of the photon transfers its energy to an electron within the material. This excites the electron, allowing it to break bonds and produce an electric current. The imposition of a built-in electric field causes a flow of electrons to move in opposite directions, producing a DC current which can be used by devices or stored in batteries. To further elaborate on the mechanism of solar cells, it is important to understand the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect is the process of generating voltage when exposed to sunlight; this is made possible by two different types of semiconductors (p-type & n-type) that are joined to create a p-n junction. The p-type region has an excess of positively charged holes, whereas the n-type region has an excess of negatively charged electrons. The diffusion of electrons across the junction creates a depletion region. In a solar cell, the p-type region is intercalated with boron, an element that has one less valence electron compared to silicon whereas the n-type region is doped with phosphorus, an element with one additional valence electron compared to silicon atoms. When the cell is then exposed to sunlight, the photons – which are essentially carriers of electromagnetic radiation (energy) transfer their energy to the electrons in the p-n junction. The transfer of energy excites the electron allowing it to jump to a conduction band, which is simply a higher energy state. As the electron jumps from the valence band to the conduction band, a ‘hole’ is created in the valence band, resulting in an electron-hole pair. With the implementation of a p-n junction, the electric field separates the electrons and holes, where the freed electrons move to the n-side instead of the p-side and the hole moves to the opposite direction to the p-side. This movement of electrons results in the generation of current in the cell. The mechanism behind solar cells is what makes them the world's most preferred source of renewable energy. From a technological standpoint, solar cells are a wonder for all our energy needs. They offer many advantages, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less dependence on fossil fuels making them an environmentally friendly alternative. Furthermore, the cost of solar panels has decreased significantly by almost 80%, making them a more economically viable option for businesses and individuals. In a nutshell, the benefits of solar cells are clear: they are clean, renewable, and cost effective. However, every invention has its limitations, and solar cells are no exception. The potential of solar cell technology may be hindered by a number of factors, including large scale land use, weather dependence, energy storage challenges, geographical limitations, and hidden environmental impacts. For example, solar cells require a significant amount of land, which can exacerbate existing issues related to soil and habitat conservation. Additionally, the disposal of solar cells at the end of their life can result in the release of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gasses, which raises the question about whether this technology truly qualifies as ‘renewable’. In addition to this, such processes only account for 25% efficiency, and even with advancements in multi-junction solar cells, the efficiency has only reached a maximum of 40% efficiency in a laboratory setting. This is caused due to the materials used, the amount of reflection which leads to a significant amount of sunlight lost from the surface, and losses of electricity due to electrical contacts. However, issues regarding efficiency and its environmental implications are not a dead end. Materials that are more light absorbent such as perovskites can be used to enable an absorption of a range of wavelengths. Issues regarding reflection can be solved using surface texturing or using anti reflective coatings, further to this- enhancing electrical contacts can reduce the loss of electricity. To address the land issue, using areas that are not suitable for other activity or even designing solar cells that are more efficient for land by integrating photovoltaics (BIPV) or concentrating solar power (CSP) can be an alternative. In terms of the toxic chemicals, developing methods to recover chemicals can allow the recycling and the proper disposal of chemicals. Perovskites are also more sustainable. The basic crux of the problem lies in its efficiency; the more efficient we make it, the less we need to manufacture and the less we need to dispose of. To conclude, Solar cells provide a bright future in terms of its potential for efficiency, cost effectiveness and sustainable energy generation. The ongoing development of new designs and materials can enhance its working potential and can live up to its poised reputation as the future of sustainable energy. By- Diya Madhusoodan
Clim-Sci
55 w
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This article is a part of a series of articles published in our later journal, you can find the others through: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/b06b17ec-5cee-40ee-b7dd-e2a02a318430 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/86fbebc5-0335-45dc-b1af-c762294905b8 https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/cd022ec8-714b-43a8-88c6-db38d813de6f For more information check out our website: www.climsci.in, or write to us at, contact@climsci.in if you are interested in joining a diverse team working on a big problem! Hydrogen Splitting: Potential for Clean, Renewable Energy Hydrogen splitting, also known as water splitting or electrolysis, is a process that separates water into its two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. This is done through by using an electric current that passes through the water, causing a chemical reaction that separates its atoms. The chemical equation for this process is: 2H2O(l) → 2H2(g) + O2(g) In this reaction, water is oxidised (loses electrons) to produce oxygen gas, while hydrogen gas is produced by the reduction (gain of electrons) of water molecules. The overall reaction is described as “energetically unfavourable” which means it requires an external source of electrical energy to drive it. This process usually takes place in an electrolysis cell that has a positive and negative end. When an electric current passes through the water in the cell, one end of the cell loses electrons to form oxygen gas while the other end gains electrons to make hydrogen gas. There are a range of factors that influence the effectiveness of this process. They include the type and concentration of electrolyte, the size and shape of the electrodes, the applied voltage, and the temperature and pressure of the environment in which the reaction takes place. For a long time, it has been studied as a potential source of renewable energy, as the hydrogen gas that it produces can be used as a clean fuel. However, right now the process is not very efficient, as it requires a significant amount of external energy (as mentioned earlier) to split the water molecules. There are many methods that have been tried out, including alkaline electrolysis, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, and solid oxide electrolysis. And while each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, researchers are getting closer and closer to finding a way to make the process more efficient and affordable. Despite this, Hydrogen Spliting is very promising. In fact, in some industries, such as power and transportation, are already making use of Hydrogen fuel cells. Further development that would allow this fuel to come from renewable sources (solar or wind power) would make this technology even more sustainable and widely used. One other interesting application that makes hydrogen fuel even more appealing is how it can be used in energy storage. Specifically, excess energy from renewable energy sources can be used to produce hydrogen which can be stored and used as fuel whenever necessary. In conclusion, hydrogen splitting has the potential to be a key aspect in the world’s shift to a future of more sustainable energy. As it’s not yet in the position to be used on a large, global scale, continued research and development is crucial to improve the efficiency and affordability of the process, thus allowing us to make the most of hydrogen as a clean, renewable energy source. By- Abhiram Boddu
Clim-Sci
62 w
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Although considered to be a natural element, the myth that carbon is not a pollutant and carbon emissions are of little concern has been scientifically proven false since the scale at which it's being introduced into the environment has produced adverse effects. To address this and reduce the detrimental effects of climate change, certain people thought - why not put a price on goods and services to reflect their true costs to society? Thus came the concept of carbon pricing wherein a price is placed on carbon pollution that aims to bring down carbon emissions and promote investment into cleaner options, encouraging low-carbon behaviour (e.g. cutting down on the use of plastic, cycling/walking/biking instead of driving a car, using public transport, etc). There are two main approaches for establishing a ‘carbon price’ - either implementing a carbon tax or having an emissions trading system (ETS), also known as the cap-and-trade system. Carbon tax essentially means to set a direct price on carbon emissions, so companies are charged a set amount of money for each ton of CO2 emitted. As it increases costs for the companies, the prices of the goods/services will also increase since companies would not want to lose all profits. This results in the substitution effect where consumers switch to cheaper alternatives, hence encouraging companies to develop cleaner methods of production. On the other hand, an emissions trading system or cap-and-trade system is a form of a quota system that ‘caps’ the level of pollution, putting a limit on the level of carbon emissions. Companies are either given or sold carbon permits which allows them to release a certain level of CO2. If this level is exceeded, companies will have to purchase more carbon permits and those companies that produce fewer emissions than what the permit allows can sell their carbon permits to other companies. In a nutshell, the total CO2 emissions are ‘capped’ and companies can ‘trade’ these permits amongst themselves. As compared to a carbon tax, carbon permits do not have a fixed price. Prices are determined by the forces of demand and supply. Now the choice of approach largely depends on the national and economic circumstances, but both these instruments can be implemented simultaneously. Both these methods have their pros and cons, but one major setback is the accurate monitoring of emissions and whether or not company reports state the actual value. Such reports will have to be verified by other officials to prevent evasion, which may prove to be expensive. However, assuming that the limit set on carbon permits is chosen well and a carbon tax results in lower carbon-intensive behaviour, emissions would gradually reduce and make way for a cleaner environment. Such practices also distribute the cost of carbon emissions across generations instead of bombarding it to the future generation. As it is with all policies, change will only be possible in the long term and just using ‘carbon pricing’ is not the sole solution for alleviating climate change. Albeit effective, we still require improvements in technology, greener solutions and a united willingness to be sustainable. References https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/what-is-a-carbon-price-and-why-do-we-need-one/ https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/pricing-carbon Content By: Vedika Agarwal for ClimSci
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62 w
I don't think is a good way to restore the planet. We should consider stopping the emissions completely.
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62 w
Interesting, thank you for sharing! Don't you think that companies trading their permits could create massive fraud and issues?
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