Startup backed by Bill Gates on solar breakthrough
- Alexandre Esteves
- Nov 20, 2019
- 1 min read
Heliogen, a clean energy company, has discovered a way to use artificial intelligence and a field of mirrors to create a solar oven. The mirrors reflect so much sunlight that they generate extreme heat above 1,000 degree Celsius.
For the first time, solar energy can be used to create the extreme heat required in many industrial processes, such as to make cement, steel, and glass. This carbon-free sunlight technology offers the perspective of replacing carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
Heliogen believes the patented technology will be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industry. Unlike traditional solar power, which uses panels to capture the energy from the sun, Heliogen is improving "concentrated solar power". This technology is not new, and has already been used to produce energy in a limited way, without achieving such high temperatures.
One problem with solar energy is that the sun doesn't always shine, and industries have a need for constant heat. Therefore, Heliogen needs now to demonstrate how to store this energy and also how to use it in large-scale, in order to convince industries to make the investment to switch from fossil fuels.
Can this promising technology one day replace fossil fuels? The future will tell.
Source:
CNN Business - Secretive energy startup backed by Bill Gates achieves solar breakthrough
Kommentare