Team Solid: Metal Fuels

A big challenge in the coming decades is the storage, transportation and application of sustainable energy. Solar, wind and other energy sources will create the energy we need when oil won't be around. But the sun doesn't shine at night, and barely at all around the arctic. In the summer there will be more energy than can be used, while in the winter we would like to have that energy. You also can't attach solar panels directly to transportation services, like ships, trains and trucks. That's why the world is going to need new forms of cheap, big scale energy storage.

Current energy storage techniques like batteries and hydrogen all have their limitations. Batteries aren't scalable enough for trucks, ships, trains, factories and neighbourhoods. They're also expensive to build and have a low energy density. Hydrogen is simply very explosive.

To solve the issue of energy storage, transportation and application we - Team Solid - are working on a principle called "Metal Fuels". Let's take Iron as an example. If iron powder is burned, heat is released and the iron turns into rust (iron oxide) powder. This heat can be used to drive a truck, heat and power a house, run a train or sail a ship. The created rust powder can be captured. Later, using clean electricity from solar or wind energy, the rust can be reduced back to iron powder. This creates a clean carbon-free energy cycle in which iron is used as an energy carrier. We started out as an Honor's project this year, and we are working on building a proof of principle to show the amazing potential that we believe Metal Fuels have. Best of all? We are recruiting new team members. Find this concept cool or want to know more? Be sure to leave a message. Kind regards, Team Solid