Scientists have developed a specialized fluid that can help the solar industry overcome the issue of energy storage. The fluid, which has been called a solar thermal fuel, can store energy from the sun for well over a decade by trapping the solar heat between its chemical bonds. When the energy is needed, the fluid can simply be drawn through a catalyst that releases energy in the form of a heat. If all goes as planned, solar thermal fuel could be used commercially in 10 years’ time.
