Happy new year! Thanks for coming back to Seeds of Hope. I'm still here, reminding myself that amidst the chaos, we've got so much to be hopeful about, starting with an exciting bit of news I came across just this morning:
Norbornadiene, or MOST (Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage).
MOST a molecule that can store energy from the sun, release that energy at a later date, and then be reused for up to 18 years. i.e. this is a very exciting, up-and-coming zero emissions energy source!
“We have made many crucial advances recently, and today we have an emissions-free energy system which works all year around,” says Professor Kasper Moth-Poulsen, MOST research leader.
Scientists are currently envisaging MOST as part of home heating system, like in this picture here. And there isn't really that long to wait - it is predicted to be on the market within ten years. As 25% of our global emissions come from heating and electricity, this is a great step towards combatting climate change.
According to the 2015 Paris agreement, we need to cut our emissions by 60% by 2050, yet in that time consumption is predicted to double. This shows how crucial emissions free energy is, if we want to continue living the way we are living today. As Professor Moth-Poulsen and his team have shown, this is not just a pipe dream.
So I'm going to carry on learning about and being grateful for this wonderful world (and encourage you to be too), to ensure I'm motivated to do my bit. Planet friendly recipe ideas on their way!
(If you want to to know more about how MOST works, click here for a really informative, engaging press release, and here for a short video!)