The developed thermophotovoltaic cell can convert heat into electricity quite efficiently.

A group of researchers has designed a heat engine with no moving parts that converts heat into electricity with over 40% efficiency. The team says the new technology, which outperforms conventional steam turbines, could one day enable a completely decarbonised power grid.

‘To mainstream renewable energy’

A new design from MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will absorb excess energy from renewable sources such as the sun and store it in an isolated environment. When energy is needed, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells will convert heat into electricity and send it to an electrical grid.

TPV cells can passively capture high-energy photons from the heat source and convert them into electricity, while the new design makes it possible to generate electricity from a heat source at 1,900 to 2,400 degrees Celsius.

MIT researcher Asegun Henry: “Thermophotovoltaic cells were the last important step in demonstrating that thermal batteries are a viable concept. It’s an absolutely critical step towards mainstreaming renewable energy and achieving a fully carbon-neutral grid.” said.

Team, new TPV announced that they had successfully tested key parts of the system in separate, small-scale experiments. Aiming to scale up the system to replace fossil fuel-powered power plants, the researchers will expand the tests to a larger scale.