Nov 30 2010
The Tata group endeavors to bring in low-cost solar gadgets to power the homes of poor people in India and in other developing countries. The company has recently announced its intentions to invest $9.5 million in Sun Catalytix, a company launched by Professor Daniel Nocera of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and engaged in energy storage and renewable fuels research.
The prototype model introduced by Sun Catalytix is designed to separate hydrogen from any type of water such as sea water, river water and human waste. The separated hydrogen is utilized to power the fuel cells. The end product to be priced around $20 is anticipated to be available in the market in the next 18 months.
According to Daniel Nocera, the developed device can generate enough power to light a household by utilizing only two bottles of water from any water resource. The research has overcome the current problems of storing solar energy in batteries after the sun set. The research has taken cue from the photosynthesis process, which utilizes sun energy to produce sugar. The sugar is then converted to Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), believed by biologists as the energy wealth of life. The device offers a number of benefits over current electrolysers, which separate water utilizing electricity and whose usage is mostly confined to industries.
It is learnt that Ratan Tata, Chairman of TATA Sons, has taken individual interest in the project and providing workforce from its group company to make the project productive. Earlier, the company had entered into a joint venture with another clean energy producer, BP Solar to form TATA BP Solar, a well-known company in Asia.
Source: http://www.tata.com/