Solar fuels versus batteries

We have now seen that we can store energy in either a solar fuel or battery. Which would be a better option for a sustainable future?

As Prof. Maria Forsyth suggests in the video the answer is not straight forward. The energy storage capability of batteries and fuels are;

Lithium-Ion Batteries – 0.2 kWh/kg

Liquid H₂ fuel – 39 kWh/kg – (2.3 kWh/L)

Liquid Ammonia NH₃ – 7.2 kWh/kg – (4.3 kWh/L)

So it appears that liquid H₂ would be much better for storage that you could carry around in a car. However, splitting water produces H₂ gas that takes up a lot of space and needs to be compressed to a liquid, which takes an energy cost.

Those are just a few of the considerations. We also have to think about the materials, we use to make the batteries, how much waste we generate, how much C0₂ we produce, how safe the process is and so on.

Conversation Starter

How do you think that we can use solar fuel and batteries to provide energy for the world in the way coal, gas or nuclear power plants do?