BIOS 255: Solar energy conversion and storage

Course Description

This course introduces different technologies for harvesting and storing solar energy, the most abundant source of renewable energy on earth. This course will cover ways to generate electricity (solar cells) and molecular fuels (biofuels and solar fuels) and the key solutions for short and long-term solar energy storage, including batteries, supercapacitors, electrolyzers, and fuel cells. For each topic, we will cover the existing and emerging technologies, how they work, what role they fill in the energy transition, and how they need to be improved. Students will give a final presentation where they cover a technology or proposed technology of their choosing.