AN ENERGY ALTERNATIVE
Editor's Note: The following, by Lucy M. ('16), was written in response to a Science Times article for her Advanced Chemistry class.
A large part of scientific culture in America is now focused on sustainable energy and finding ways to become self-sufficient and not dependant on foreign oil. Many scientific advancements are said to have been made in this field, such as the artificial leaf, but none of them end up being available to the public. The artificial leaf is actually an excellent advancement in potential energy sources- it simulates photosynthesis, producing usable hydrogen when light strikes the water inside of it. In the New York Times article discussing the artificial leaf, created by Harvard chemist Daniel Nocera, it is stated that if you “Prowl the edges of contemporary invention, and you experience a lot of this frustration. A Scientist announces a breakthrough in, say, battery technology or algae biofuel, and the talk ramps up quickly to full-throttle utopian, tapping into a frontier dream that’s so alluring to Americans: energy from light, self-sustaining, untethered from the grid.” It has been the goal for years for many Americans to find a reliable source of clean, self-sustaining energy. There have been well documented movements, with the intent of disrupting use of fossil fuels, fracking, or other environmentally dangerous activities. The problem with alternate sources of energy at the moment, according to The Washington Post, is the high cost of these sources. Things like solar energy and geothermal energy are so expensive- hence the search for new sources.
At first glance, the artificial leaf is the key to this problem. It produces hydrogen merely from sunlight, and once the hydrogen is converted to usable energy, provides more than a decent amount. It is, however, not a novelty. Apparently chemists and academics at schools such as University of Wisconsin, Free University of Berlin and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been creating and replicating the artificial leaf. So why aren't they available for public use? There is certainly a demand for this technology, especially after the excitement over its reveal. But there are numerous logistical issues with actually having it become a functional part of daily life. Converting hydrogen into usable energy was not as easy on a day to day basis as it was once thought. There are issues with energy storage. And there is the problem of making sure the general public understands how it works, and how to use it in their homes. This type of thing has happened before- with wind energy. It was proclaimed as the new source for America, a green, fuel free solution to our growing environmental issues. But again, a host of logistical problems prevented the use of it in reality. Wind is not always consistent, and inconsistent energy is often produced. Birds are killed when flying through the turbines. And people then decided they don’t actually like the look of turbines, deeming them and eyesore.
Although many Americans dream of a future of dependable, self-sustaining energy, but scientific inventions, though hailed as the solutions, often fall short of actually becoming implemented in society.
At first glance, the artificial leaf is the key to this problem. It produces hydrogen merely from sunlight, and once the hydrogen is converted to usable energy, provides more than a decent amount. It is, however, not a novelty. Apparently chemists and academics at schools such as University of Wisconsin, Free University of Berlin and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been creating and replicating the artificial leaf. So why aren't they available for public use? There is certainly a demand for this technology, especially after the excitement over its reveal. But there are numerous logistical issues with actually having it become a functional part of daily life. Converting hydrogen into usable energy was not as easy on a day to day basis as it was once thought. There are issues with energy storage. And there is the problem of making sure the general public understands how it works, and how to use it in their homes. This type of thing has happened before- with wind energy. It was proclaimed as the new source for America, a green, fuel free solution to our growing environmental issues. But again, a host of logistical problems prevented the use of it in reality. Wind is not always consistent, and inconsistent energy is often produced. Birds are killed when flying through the turbines. And people then decided they don’t actually like the look of turbines, deeming them and eyesore.
Although many Americans dream of a future of dependable, self-sustaining energy, but scientific inventions, though hailed as the solutions, often fall short of actually becoming implemented in society.
Eskew, C. (2013, July 29). The insiders: The consequences of affordable green-energyoptions. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post- partisan/wp/2013/07/29/potential- consequences-of-affordable-green-energy-options/
Disadvantages of wind energy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Disadvantages_WindEnergy.php
Hitt, J. (2014, March 29). The artificial leaf is here. again. The New York Times. Retrieved April 7,2014,from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/technology/the-artificial-leaf-is-here- again.html?ref=science&_r=1
