Zhang Shuai, Liu Zekun, Zhang Xiaotian, Wu Zhenhua, Hu Zhiyu
Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Innovation (Camb). 2024 Feb 7;5(2):100591. doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100591. eCollection 2024 Mar 4.
Electricity is the lifeblood of modern society. However, the predominant source of electricity generation still relies on non-renewable fossil fuels, whose combustion releases greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The increasing demand for energy and escalating environmental concerns necessitate proactive measures to develop innovative green energy technologies capable of both cooling the Earth and generating electricity. Here, we look forward to an interdisciplinary power system integrating solar absorbers, radiative coolers, and thermoelectric generators. This system can simultaneously harvest thermal energy from the sun and from cold space, thereby transforming the challenges posed by global warming into opportunities for the production of clean electricity. We underscore recent advancements in this field and address key challenges while also exploring forward-looking opportunities in the foreseeable future. The proposed integrated energy technology achieves uninterrupted power supply through the unrestricted capture of thermal energy, offering a robust alternative pathway for next-generation sustainable energy technologies.
电力是现代社会的命脉。然而，发电的主要来源仍然依赖不可再生的化石燃料，其燃烧会释放温室气体，导致全球变暖。对能源的需求不断增加以及环境问题日益严重，这就需要采取积极措施来开发创新的绿色能源技术，既能冷却地球又能发电。在此，我们期待一个整合太阳能吸收器、辐射冷却器和热电发电机的跨学科电力系统。该系统可以同时从太阳和寒冷的太空收集热能，从而将全球变暖带来的挑战转化为生产清洁电力的机遇。我们强调了该领域的最新进展，探讨了关键挑战，并在可预见的未来探索了前瞻性机遇。所提出的集成能源技术通过不受限制地捕获热能实现不间断供电，为下一代可持续能源技术提供了一条强大的替代途径。
