Here’s an interesting piece that was sent to me just one day after the last post (hat tip: Lee Erickson):

“Major Discovery” From MIT Primed to Unleash Solar Revolution

Thursday 31 July 2008

by: Anne Trafton, MIT News

Scientists mimic essence of plants’ energy storage system. In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.

Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. With today’s announcement, MIT researchers have hit upon a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy.

Read full story is here:

http://www.truthout.org/article/major-discovery-from-mit-primed- unleash-solar-revolution

The system apparently uses a kind of electrolysis to separate hydrogen and oxygen in a common molecule of h20, which of course has been known for years. But this system seems to be far more efficient.